10 Famous Names Who Turned Down The Walk Of Fame
Hollywood’s Walk of Fame is one of the most recognized symbols of stardom in the world.
Getting a star on that famous sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard sounds like a dream come true, right? Well, not for everyone.
Believe it or not, some of the biggest names in entertainment have looked at that glittering offer and said, “No thanks.”
Here are 10 famous celebrities who turned down one of Hollywood’s most iconic honors.
1. Prince
Offered a star not once, but twice, Prince said no both times.
Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez confirmed he felt he simply “wasn’t ready.” That’s a very Prince thing to say, honestly.
The man who made purple cool, invented his own unpronounceable symbol, and changed his name just to prove a point was not about to let anyone walk on his legacy. Literally.
2. Madonna
When the Queen of Pop says no, the world listens.
Madonna was reportedly offered a star back in the 1990s and turned it down, though her exact reasons remain a mystery.
For someone who has reinvented herself more times than most people change their phone wallpaper, skipping a sidewalk honor kind of makes sense.
She’s always been two steps ahead of everyone else anyway.
3. Julia Roberts
How would you feel about thousands of strangers stepping on your name every single day? Julia Roberts apparently thought about that and said, hard pass.
She reportedly declined her star partly because the idea of people walking over her name felt deeply uncomfortable.
She was later re-nominated, so the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce clearly has a lot of persistence. You have to respect the hustle, even if Julia Roberts doesn’t.
4. Clint Eastwood
Nominated multiple times and consistently unimpressed, Clint Eastwood has made turning down the Walk of Fame look like an art form.
The man directed some of cinema’s greatest films and still has zero interest in a sidewalk tribute. That’s a very Dirty Harry move.
If the Walk of Fame were a villain in one of his westerns, Eastwood would have squinted at it, said nothing, and walked away. And honestly?
That’s iconic.
5. Bruce Springsteen
The Boss accepted a nomination but never showed up to the ceremony, letting the whole thing expire.
This unusual situation actually inspired what became informally known as the “Springsteen clause,” requiring nominees to commit to attending before anything moves forward.
Only Springsteen could accidentally create a Hollywood policy just by not showing up.
Born to Run, apparently, but not to stand on a star. New Jersey would probably agree that’s perfectly on brand.
6. Al Pacino
Scarface himself has reportedly been cool on the idea of a Hollywood star for years.
Al Pacino, a man who has played crime bosses, detectives, and everything in between, apparently doesn’t feel the need for a bronze circle on a sidewalk to validate his career.
With two Tony Awards, an Oscar, and a filmography that reads like a greatest-hits album, maybe he’s got a point. Some legends are too big for a five-pointed star.
7. Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman has long been associated with roles that challenge what it means to be a movie star.
So perhaps it’s fitting that he also challenged the idea of accepting Hollywood’s most glittery badge of honor.
Reports suggest he was nominated and quietly passed.
For an actor who once stayed in character for an entire film shoot, skipping a sidewalk ceremony feels surprisingly low-key. Then again, Hoffman has always done things his own way.
8. Sandra Bullock
America’s sweetheart isn’t always interested in America’s sidewalk tributes, it turns out.
Sandra Bullock reportedly turned down her Walk of Fame star, and given how private she tends to be about her personal life, it’s not a huge surprise.
She’s won an Oscar, headlined blockbusters, and charmed audiences for three decades.
If she wants to skip the star ceremony and spend that afternoon doing literally anything else, nobody’s going to argue with Miss Congeniality.
9. Denzel Washington
If there’s one actor whose name belongs on every list of the greats, it’s Denzel Washington.
Yet for years, he reportedly showed little enthusiasm for a Hollywood star, which tracks for someone who has always seemed more focused on the work than the spotlight.
Two Academy Awards, a Tony, and a filmography that hits differently every single time. Denzel doesn’t need a star to prove anything.
His movies already do that, loudly and brilliantly.
10. Lisa Lu
Here’s one of the most genuinely touching stories behind any Walk of Fame refusal.
When Lisa Lu was first offered a star back in 1960, she turned it down because she couldn’t bear the thought of people walking on her name. It felt deeply disrespectful to her.
Decades later, she changed her mind and accepted the honor. Sometimes a little time and perspective changes everything.
