There are many talented, respected, and famous actors in the film world. These actors receive praise and recognition through awards such as the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and many more. But for some, there is no greater honor than the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Having one’s name enshrined is a big deal, as it highlights the talent and significance of said actor.
With so many actors, deciding who deserves to be immortalized on the Walk of Fame and who doesn’t can be difficult. However, no matter how challenging the decision may be, some actors absolutely deserve to be inducted and, for some reason, still aren’t. It wasn’t until May 4, 2023, that the late Carrie Fisher was inducted, even though her Star Wars co-stars were already previously on. The reasons range from being too young to not wanting to be on it, or for no reason at all. These legends deserve to be remembered on the most important sidewalks in the world.
10 Oprah Winfrey
Years Active in the Industry: 1973-present
Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Oprah Winfrey is one of the most well-regarded talk show hosts of all time, at a time when talk shows are on the decline. According to Forbes, Winfrey earned an estimated 3 billion dollars as of 2024, making her one of the wealthiest TV stars in America. Her work has also earned her many awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Cecil B. DeMille Award, making it only a matter of time before she gets her name on the Walk of Fame.
While most know Winfrey from The Oprah Winfrey Show, where she interviews guests like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, she has also starred in her fair share of television and movies. Her talk show’s groundbreaking work and importance are enough to earn her a spot on the Walk of Fame, but her Oscar-worthy performances in The Color Purple and A Wrinkle in Time prove her acting talents.
9 Jim Carrey
Years Active in the Industry: 1977-present
When thinking of some of the most iconic comedy actors, Jim Carrey should be at the top of the list. He starred in some of the biggest comedy movies in the mid-90s and early 2000s with his trademark goofy acting style. Carrey has no shortage of comedy movies and has even made a resurgence with his role as Doctor Robotnic in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise.
The characters portrayed by Carrey are some of the most well-known to this day, including The Grinch, The Mask, and Ace Ventura. There is no modern-day actor with the same style and impact that Carrey did, making him a no-brainer to be on the Walk of Fame. Carrey was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2004, making his Hollywood Walk of Fame induction long overdue.
8 Al Pacino
Years Active in the Industry: 1967-present
Best known for his intimidating gangster performances in Scarface and The Godfather, Al Pacino is a well-respected and phenomenal actor. Despite taking on many villainous roles in movies, Pacino’s performances are moving and realistic, with his body speaking more than his mouth. The legendary actor has starred in many great movies, leaving a lasting imprint on Hollywood that isn’t a star on the Walk of Fame but his legacy.
Pacino may have some over-the-top movie performances, but that only shows his dedication and passion, which helped him earn eight Oscar nominations and one win for Best Actor. Pacino has been nominated for the Walk of Fame but never picked a date and thus was never selected. Even if he was supposed to be inducted, it’s shocking that he hasn’t been nominated again as one of the most influential actors of all time.
7 Emma Stone
Years Active in the Industry: 2004-present
Following her recent Oscar win for her performance in Poor Things, Emma Stone will star in another Yorgos Lanthimos film, Kinds of Kindness. Stone has already proven herself to be one of the best actresses in Hollywood, with many rewatchable movies. Along with La La Land co-star Ryan Gosling, Stone’s hand and footprints were etched into the concrete outside the TCL Chinese Theater, but she has yet to get her name on the elusive sidewalk.
In her 20-year career, Stone has never been nominated for the Walk of Fame, even with her impressive catalog of movies. Despite being the youngest actress on this list, she has already built an impressive resume, including two Oscar wins for Best Actress. Her being so young may be why she hasn’t earned a star yet, but as mentioned, her resume speaks for itself, making it inevitable before she finds her way to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
6 Leonardo DiCaprio
Years Active in the Industry: 1989-present
Regarded as one of the greatest actors of this generation and all time, Leonardo DiCaprio is a name no one thought wouldn’t be on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Known for his performances in Titanic, The Wolf on Wall Street, and Inception, DiCaprio stars in some fantastic movies with countless Oscar wins and nominations. Through immersion, he breathes life into characters and carefully picks who he wants to play, showing his expertise.
The reason why Dicaprio doesn’t have his name on the Walk of Fame is uncertain, considering many recognize his incredible talent. Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that DiCaprio isn’t on the Walk of Fame yet, considering he was long overdue for an Oscar win. It took him almost a decade to deservingly win with his performance in The Revenant. He was an Oscar snub for the longest time, and now he may be a Walk of Fame snub; let’s hope for not as long.
5 Judi Dench
Years Active in the Industry: 1957-2022
Despite being one of the most prominent names in Hollywood, Judi Dench didn’t find massive success until later in her career. She spent over a decade in theater acting until her rise to stardom in the 1970s and late 1980s; she established herself in the 1990s and continues to prove her talents to this day. Dench has a plethora of fantastic movies, including Shakespeare in Love and Casino Royale, where she puts her versatility to the test.
Considered one of Britain’s best actresses, Dench is more than deserving of a spot on the Walk of Fame because of the versatility that she displays on camera and on stage. Her distinguished career is highlighted by the numerous awards she has received, such as an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, two Golden Globes, and seven BAFTAs in both film and television. Her absence from the Walk of Fame is befuddling. Maybe there is a hesitance because she is British or because of her late-found success, but she boasts too much of an impressive gallery of performances to be left out.
4 Clint Eastwood
Years Active in the Industry: 1954-present
Clint Eastwood is synonymous with the Western genre, where Eastwood made a name for himself. Known for classics such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, many of the greatest Western movies include Eastwood. Eastwood was the leading figure in Hollywood’s Western movie craze during the 1960s, one of the biggest eras for movies. His iconic and cool characters made Westerns popular, and he still delivers fans with modern-day Westerns.
Eastwood didn’t only have the acting chops; he also directed several successful Western films, cementing himself as the greatest figure in Western movies, which should have earned him a spot on the Walk of Fame decades ago. However, Eastwood is missing from the Walk of Fame because he doesn’t want to be on it despite being nominated multiple times. Just because he doesn’t want to be on it doesn’t mean he isn’t deserving; in fact, he’s probably the most deserving on this list.
3 Julia Roberts
Years Active in the Industry: 1987-present
Many know Julia Roberts for her standout performance in Pretty Woman, which delivered one of the most iconic scenes in movie history. There’s a reason Roberts is considered the rom-con queen, and that is because the movies she’s starred in have made over $818 million. Despite being an icon for romance comedies, she has also shown great versatility and proven herself adept in the thriller genre.
As one of Hollywood’s most recognizable and decorated female stars, it is confusing why her name isn’t on the Walk of Fame. She reportedly turned down a nomination in 1995 because she didn’t like the idea of her name being stepped on. But that doesn’t answer why she hasn’t been nominated since or if she will change her mind. With four Oscar nominations, one win, and countless incredible performances, she will likely receive another nomination sooner rather than later.
2 Denzel Washington
Years Active in the Industry: 1975-present
Denzel Washington is one of the current greats in the acting scene and has delivered numerous great movies. He has starred in a range of movies, from crime thrillers to political dramas to heart-pounding action movies, and has excelled in all of them. Washington has a reputation for being cool in films like The Equalizer and Flight, where he can even win fans over with morally flawed characters.
Washington has shown longevity in his impressive career, earning Oscar nominations from 1988 to 2022 and everywhere in between. He even won two of said nominations in 1990 and 2002, for Glory and Training Day, respectively, and joined the exclusive list of actors nominated for the Academy Awards in five different decades. His vast talent and list of accolades put him above many other stars on the Walk of Fame, making fans wonder why he isn’t there. Washington was selected to receive the honor but never set a date and missed his chance. However, it’s only a matter of time before he gets another nomination.
1 Robert De Niro
Years Active in the Industry: 1963-present
Robert De Niro doesn’t need an introduction. He has established himself as one of the greatest actors of all time and continues to prove that to this day with standout performances in movies such as The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon. De Niro is most well-known for his appearances in Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull, where his talent shines, making those movies some of the best of all time. De Niro has played some great villains on screen but has also shown incredible versatility in his work.
De Niro often partners up with director Martin Scorsese, one of the best to ever do it, which is partly what makes both of them so good. Putting the most influential and talented actors and directors together is a recipe for success that has gone on for years, making them some of the biggest names in the world. Something must be wrong when possibly the greatest actor of all time isn’t on the Walk of Fame. Maybe he doesn’t want to be on it, but there hasn’t been any explanation for why this generational talent’s name hasn’t been immortalized on the Walk of Fame.
