Batman becomes first superhero on Hollywood Walk of Fame: See other fictional characters with stars

The Caped Crusader becomes the 20th fictitious honoree, joining the Simpsons, Godzilla, and more.

Citizens of Gotham, turn your eyes to… Hollywood Boulevard! Batman finally received his own star on the Walk of Fame.

The Caped Crusader was honored with one highest achievements Hollywood bestows upon its entertainers during a Sept. 26 ceremony. What began as eight stars installed on a modest stretch of sidewalk at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Gower St. in 1960 now span 1.3 miles in four directions, encompassing 2,789 stars. Batman's becomes the 2790th, and is located on the prominent corner of Hollywood and Highland, in front of the Guinness World Records Museum.

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"Batman is one of the world's most iconic characters, standing for justice, strength, and fearlessness," said Steve Nissen, the president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, who opened the ceremony. "For more than 85 years, Batman has shown up for fans in comic books, cartoons, TV, movies, toys, and video games. Batman has literally been everywhere, and now we're so proud that he's the first superhero to land right here to receive his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame."

Nissen was joined in commemorating Batman's star by Chamber of Commerce board chair Sarah Zurell, DC Comics' president, publisher, and CEO, Jim Lee, Anna DePies, the company's SVP and general manager, Los Angeles City Council District 13 Representative Hugo Soto-Martínez, and Guinness World Records adjudicator Michael Empric, who presented Lee with the Dark Knight's official Guinness title as the first superhero star-holder.

As has become custom at Walk of Fame ceremonies honoring fictional characters, an actor in full Batman garb silently presided over the proceedings, posing for pictures with the speakers and his star.

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Batman is only the 20th fictional character to receive a star on the Walk of Fame — 20 out of 2,780 is less than .01%, making this a truly historic occasion. It took the Chamber of Commerce 18 years to award the first star on the Walk of Fame to a fictional character — and that went to Mickey Mouse, without whom this town wouldn't even be standing! The other 18 stars have gone to TV families, animated animal companions, and live-action characters so memorable they've transcended the actors who embody them.

To commemorate this bit of industry history, let's walk back through the fictional characters whose stars dot the sanctified stretches of Hollywood.

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Batman

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's… the 2,780th Hollywood Walk of Fame star honoree! Batman is the latest character to receive the ultimate entertainment honorific. The Caped Crusader's star rests on the storied corner of Hollywood and Highland, sharing space with the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Arsenio Hall. Batman was created by comic book artist and writer Bob Kane, and first appeared in a 1939 issue of Detective Comics. Many of the early cornerstones of his persona — the brooding persona, the thirst to avenge his murdered parents, the penchant for nocturnal vigilantism — endure in contemporary depictions. Since his humble origins, Batman has grown to an international superstar, having been portrayed by the likes of George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Robert Pattinson. Arguably the most iconic and beloved superhero in pop cultural history, he marks the first to be honored on the Walk of Fame. Now that the doors have been opened, it's easy to imagine Superman, Wonder Woman, and others getting their turns.

Alvin and the Chipmunks

The animated rodent rock band were honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in a 2019 ceremony, timed to the 60th anniversary of their creation. Alvin, Simon, and Theodore were created by Ross Bagdasarian, stage name David Seville, in 1958. Bagdasarian recorded and sped up his own voice in postproduction to create the chipmunks' signature screwball singing styles, leading to unprecedented success with two Billboard No. 1 singles the year of their creation. Originally conceived as a group of fictional children's recording artists, Alvin and the Chipmunks have grown into a virtual media empire, with a comic book, multiple animated TV series, both live-action and animated film adaptations, and tons of merchandise.

Minnie Mouse

Minerva Mouse, better known by her stage name Minnie, first appeared in the animated Disney short Steamboat Willie alongside her longtime beau Mickey — also his first appearance. But she had to wait 40 years to join him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Pop star Katy Perry, who doesn't yet have a star herself, presented the fictional mouse and fashion icon with her star in a 2018 ceremony, in honor of her 90th birthday. Minnie remains one of the hardest-working women in the business, having appeared in more than 70 films, including most recently the Once Upon a Studio 100th anniversary special, which aired in 2023.

Snoopy

The majority of fictional Walk of Fame inductees are the intellectual property of the Walt Disney Company or some subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Not so with Snoopy, the beloved animated beagle who has kept the Peanuts gang popular decade after decade. First appearing in 1950, in the original run of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy is the relaxed, lovable, adventurous, and monosyllabic dog of Sally and Charlie Brown. Further Peanuts comics would flesh Snoopy's profile out to include an assortment of fictional alter egos, including a WWI fighter pilot, an author, and a college student named Joe Cool. Snoopy has since appeared in feature films, TV specials, and documentaries, and pops up every year in gigantic balloon form in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Snoopy was honored with a star in a 2015 ceremony, which marked the 65th anniversary of the first Peanuts comic strip.

The Muppets

Created by the beloved animator and puppeteer Jim Henson in 1955, the Muppets are an ensemble troupe of big-personality puppets who've joked, danced, sang, and adventured their way into the hearts of millions of fans around the world. By now it's easy to forget that characters like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, who are full-wattage stars in their own rights, originated as simple hand-animated puppets on a segment of the forgotten TV variety series Sam and Friends. Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Pepe the King Prawn, and the rest have since starred in nearly a dozen video games, hundreds of comics, 18 films, 45 TV series, specials, and films, and have made hundreds guest appearances on shows like Dancing With the Stars and Saturday Night Live. Kermit was already honored with his own star in 2002, but the rest of the Muppets got theirs in 2012, in front of the El Capitan Theatre.

Tinker Bell

If Disneyland and the Walt Disney Co. were to have a mascot aside from Mickey Mouse, it would undoubtedly be the fairy Tinker Bell. The miniscule winged sprite with a green dress and blond pixie cut was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in 2010 at a ceremony attended by Raven-Symoné and Pamela Adlon, voice stars of the animated film Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue. Tinker Bell is one of the few A-list animated characters at Disney that were not only created outside of the auspices of the Mouse House, but before Walt Disney ever even drew his first figure. Tink was created by J.M. Barrie, first featuring in his 1904 play Peter Pan. Generally silent and consigned to decorative roles, Tinker Bell has nevertheless persisted as an icon of children's entertainment. Disney's 1953 Peter Pan adaptation also places her in the rarefied class of Walk of Fame stars who have competed for a Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Shrek

The stretch of sidewalk outside the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard should be dubbed "Shrek's swamp" - because that's where the animated ogre's legacy now lies forever, thanks to his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Mike Myers and Antonio Banderas, who voiced characters in the 2002 film, joined DreamWorks founder/former CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and an actor in a gigantic Shrek costume and founder at the 2010 unveiling of the star. The occasion was the 20th anniversary of the publication of William "King of Cartoons" Steig's picture book Shrek! In the time since that publication, the lovable swamp-dweller has reached once unthinkable heights, anchoring seven feature films, eight shorts, a TV series and two specials, a Broadway musical, 14 video games, and four theme park attractions. Shrek is one of a small handful of the already small contingent of fictional characters with their own Walk of Fame stars that can be considered recent creations.

The Munchkins

We thank you very sweetly, for doing it so neatly... In 2007 a unique but most deserved star was awarded to the ensemble of actors who portrayed the "Muchkins" in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. The last of the 124 actors hired to play the diminutive denizens of Munchkinland died in 2018, but the 2007 star ceremony was attended by seven survivors: Mickey Carroll, Ruth Duccini, Jerry Maren, Margaret Pellegrini, Meinhardt Raabe, Karl Slover, and Clarence Swensen. The crew were transported to the ceremony in "horse-of-a-different-color" drawn carriage, and were heralded by the Hollywood High School Marching Band. Though the remaining cast turned out with pride for the event, they haven't all spoken so fondly of their experience over the years. In a 1999 interview on CBS News, Maren said "let's face it, the hours were ridiculous... and then the makeup was a pain in the neck." The cast slept three-to-a-bed at the Culver Hotel and were paid $50 per week, or a little over $1,100 today, adjusted for inflation.

Winnie the Pooh

One of the most beloved characters in children's entertainment for over 50 years, Winnie the Pooh was honored with his own star on the Walk of Fame in 2006. Hollywood Mayor Johnny Grant and Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger presented everyone's favorite honey-loving bear with the honor, and a life-size Pooh character joined with friends Eeyore, Tigger, and Rabbit. The date was chosen to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first appearance of the character in the Disney-verse, the theatrical featurette Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. Pooh and his crew were first conceived by English author A. A. Milne and illustrator E. H. Shepard for a 1925 children's story. After being licensed by Disney in the early '60s, Pooh and friends have appeared in dozens of stage productions, books, films, songs, and even inspired the game Poohsticks.

Godzilla

First appearing in Ishirō Honda’s 1954 film Godzilla, the gigantic, morally complex lizard has stomped his way into the hearts of fans around the globe and across generations. Godzilla received his very own star on the Walk of Fame in 2004, becoming first and only fictional character created outside of the U.S. or England to do so. Tsutomu Kitagawa, who played the fire-breather in six films between 1999 and 2008, crashed through the crowd in a rubber Godzilla suit to accept the award. He was joined by producer Shōgo Tomiyama and L.A. City Councilman Michael Antonovitch, who proclaimed November "Godzilla month" in the city of Los Angeles. The character was born of the paranoia inspired by the 1954 hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, and continues to act as a potent vehicle for metaphorical horror in hit contemporary renditions like Godzilla Minus One.

Donald Duck

Mickey and Minnie Mouse would be nowhere without their lovably ornery quacking companion Donald Duck. The recipient of a 2004 star on the Walk of Fame has appeared in more Disney films than any other character, in fact. Donald debuted in 1934 in the filmThe Wise Little Hen, and has grown to take a wife, Daisy, and now has an uncle (Scrooge) and three nephews (Huey, Dewey, and Louie), each with their own distinct media franchise behind them. He's even an Oscar-winner, taking home the award for Animated Short Film in 1942 for Der Fuehrer’s Face. A life-size Donald character was joined by Mickey, Pluto, Daisy, and former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, who unveiled the star.

Kermit the Frog

Kermit the Frog is one of the rare Walk of Fame honorees who technically has two stars: one with his famous cohort, The Muppets, and one all his own. Kermie was honored in a 2002 ceremony by Steve Whitmire, the longtime Jim Henson Company puppeteer, who manipulated and voiced Kermit through his acceptance speech, as well as Henson's widow Jane and actor David Arquette, who appeared that year in the NBC special It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. Kermit was created by Henson in 1955 and has been a star ever since. A highly decorated puppet, Kermit was also awarded an honorary doctorate degree in "Amphibious Letters" by Southampton College in 1996, and his 1970 Sesame Street song "Bein' Green" was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2021.

Rugrats

The Rugrats earned the distinction of being the only Nickelodeon characters to earn a coveted star on the Walk of Fame in 2001. The ceremony was held only 10 years after the show Rugrats went on the air - a testament to its spectacular popularity. Voice actors Tara Strong, Dionne Quan, E.G. Daily and Cheryl Chase joined creators Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó to accept the award. Life-size versions of Tommy Pickles, Chuckie, and Angelica Pickles were, of course, also in attendance. The original Rugrats series spanned 174 episodes, picking up four Daytime Emmy awards during its 13-year run. A new Rugrats series, which brought back several members of the original voice cast premiered on Paramount+ in 2021, ran for two seasons and was removed from the streamer in 2024.

The Simpsons

It's only right that the family behind the longest-running animated series in American television history would be honored with their own star on the Walk of Fame. Since it premiered on Fox in 1989, The Simpsons has also earned the title of longest-running American sitcom and longest-running American scripted primetime television series. Creator Matt Groening (who has his own star) has led the series to an astounding 37 Primetime Emmy wins, and has evolved the humble family sitcom into a juggernaut of a media franchise, including video games, comic books, regular books, movies, and scads of merchandise. Life-size versions of Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa were joined by voice actors Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright (who also voiced Chuckie on Rugrats), and Groening at the ceremony.

Big Bird

Unlike Kermit, when Big Bird was honored with his own star on the Walk of Fame in 1994, it wasn't ever followed by a star commemorating the work of his Sesame Street peers, like Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and Elmo. Can you believe it, no star for Elmo! But that's how popular Sesame Street's resident golden fowl has become since the children's series premiered in 1969. Big Bird was also created by Jim Henson and was built by famed marionette maker Kermit Love. Standing 7 feet tall, Big Bird was operated by Caroll Spinney for nearly 50 years. Spinney did not attend the ceremony, but Sesame Street actors Ruth Buzzi and Emilio Delgado, executive producer Michael Loman, and Jim Henson's widow Cheryl were there to celebrate. Despite not technically being alive, the gigantic puppet was also honored as a "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress in 2000.

Woody Woodpecker

Woody Woodpecker, the beloved animated children's character and star of the long-running Woody Woodpecker Show was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in 1990. The spirited anthropomorphic bird became a Saturday morning cartoon classic shortly after his TV debut in 1957. The character was designed by Walter Lantz and storyboard artist Ben "Bugs" Hardaway, who's previously created Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck for the Warner Bros. cartoon studio. The Woody Woodpecker Show ran for 20 years on broadcast television, and was picked back up for rebroadcast as recently as Aug. 2023.

Pee-wee Herman

Along with The Wizard of Oz's Munchkins, Pee-wee Herman has the only star on the Walk of Fame that went just to the character, not the actor who portrayed him. Comedian Paul Reubens, who died in 2023, attended the 1988 ceremony in character at the height of his fame. The zany, childlike character was first introduced in Reubens' 1981 stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show, which led to an HBO special, three feature films, and a hit weekend-morning program on CBS. "Anybody who I stepped on to get to the top can come down here every day after this and step on me," Ruebens joked at the ceremony. The other Walk of Fame honoree to be recognized for his character was Clayton Moore, also known as The Lone Ranger. But Moore's name shares space with his character's on the star. That's the power of Pee-wee, whose last big outing was the 2016 Netflix film Pee-wee's Big Holiday.

Snow White

Snow White is the only Disney princess with her own star on the Walk of Fame. And she earned it — not only was she Walt Disney Productions' first princess, she was the star of the studio's first-ever animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Originally conceived in much more sinister fashion by The Brothers Grimm for an 1812 short story, the "Fairest One of All" is a scullery maid with an unusually pale complexion who is put to death by a jealous evil queen, but rescued by seven friendly dwarves, who stow her away in their country cottage. Snow White won an honorary Oscar at the 1939 ceremony, the Winner Grand Biennale Art Trophy at the 1938 Venice Film Festival, and became a permanent fixture in the Hollywood firmament of stars with her 1987 Walk of Fame inclusion.

Bugs Bunny

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce made the sensible decision to honor the iconic animated rabbit Bugs Bunny with a star on the Walk of Fame in 1985, to commemorate the 45th anniversary of his first on-screen appearance. Bugs was the joint creation of Warners cartoonists Chase Craig, Ben "Bugs" Hardaway, Cal Dalton, and Charles Thorson. He appeared first in the Sunday comics, but was made famous in 1940 with the release of Tex Avery's animated film A Wild Hare. With his catchphrase, "What's up, Doc?," Brooklyn accent, and playful mischievousness, he's become one of the most beloved animated characters of all time. His star lies on the north side of Hollywood Blvd. just west of Highland Ave. and the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Mickey Mouse

Simply the greatest of all time. Mickey Mouse was the first-ever fictional character to be honored with a star on the Walk of Fame. How could he not be? The lovable, magic mouse debuted in 1928's landmark animated Disney short, Steamboat Willie, and he was honored 50 years later with a permanent place on the path of stars. Technically Mickey's first onscreen appearances were the animated shorts Plane Crazy and Gallopin' Gaucho, from the same year. Turns in iconic films and series like Fantasia, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse are just the tip of the iceberg. Mickey is the official mascot of Disneyland theme parks around the world and has inspired countless books, stage productions, films, songs, and fashion moments. The character entered the public domain in 2024, which means the 1928 version of Mickey can now be copied and used without express permission from Disney.

Dog Performers

Three iconic dog characters have also been awarded Walk of Fame stars. Lassie, Rin-Tin-Tin, and Strongheart were all honored with their own stars the week the Walk of Fame debuted in February 1960.

While Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart were both real canine performers, Lassie is a character developed Elizabeth Gaskell in the 1859 short story "The Half Brothers." The faithful, virtuous rough collie was made famous by Eric Knight's 1940 novel Lassie Come-Home. MGM bought the rights to the book for a 1943 film starring the canine actor Pal, and ever since Lassie has been the subject of 16 films, two radio plays, the long-running CBS series, seven additional series, a video game, and several dozen books. Nine dogs have played Lassie over the years.

Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart were both German shepherds who became famous movie stars in their own rights in the 1920s. Rin-Tin-Tin was rescued from a WWI battleground by an American soldier and went on to star in 27 studio films, 12 of which are lost or incomplete. He was succeeded by Rin-Tin-Tin Jr., the dog's actual progeny who starred in 14 films in the 1930s, mainly Westerns. There is also the unrelated Rin-Tin-Tin III who starred only in 1947's The Return of Rin-Tin-Tin and bears no relation to the earlier dog stars.

Strongheart is not remembered as well as his canine compatriots, but had a venerable run in the 1920s, particularly in a string of films directed by Laurence Trimble. The German shepherd originally christened Etzel von Oeringen played the starring role in the first film adaptation of Jack London's White Fang.

Honorable Mentions

There are a few other edge cases worth mentioning that aren't quite fictional characters, but aren't real entertainers either.

First and most bafflingly is the Chevy Suburban, which was given a star in front of the Dolby Arches in a 2019 ceremony. Why a Suburban and not iconic vehicles from the annals of film and TV history like Back to the Future's Delorean or James Bond's Aston Martin? Well, according to Hollywood Chamber of Commerce CEO Rana Ghadban, "For six decades the Chevrolet Suburban has been Hollywood’s longest-working actor." Because it has appeared "in classic feature films and on must-see television shows, the Suburban is a well-established industry mainstay." Okay! Two years after it was laid into the ground, the Suburban's star was moved Arlington, Texas, in honor of the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington building its 12 millionth vehicle (a Suburban). So there's no need for debate anyway.

A few corporate entities have also made it onto the Walk of Fame, including Disneyland, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Victoria's Secret. The latter star actually honors the "Victoria's Secret Angels," and several high-profile Angels like Heidi Klum, Karolina Kurkova, and Adriana Lima attended the 2007 ceremony to accept the honor.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.