John Waters to receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Last Updated on September 7, 2023

The Pope of Trash is about to be the Trash of Tinseltown, as John Waters is slated to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The 77-year-old John Waters will receive his star – designated as the 2,763rd – on September 18th as he is surrounded by frequent collaborators Ricki Lake, Mink Stole and Greg Gorman. As part of Waters’ Dreamlanders troupe, Lake has appeared in five films for Waters, most notably Hairspray, while Stole has appeared in every single one, beginning with 1969’s Mondo Trasho. Meanwhile, Gorman has photographed Waters numerous times, capturing some famous images of the director’s trademark pencil mustache.

As per Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, “John Waters has been a huge part of pop culture for many years…As a director, he has created some of our historic and favorite film moments and we’re thrilled to welcome him to our landmark location for this well-deserved and permanent tribute.” Now, the question is what people will leave at the location, with (fake?) dog poop, barf bags and, of course, pink flamingos being the most likely options.

John Waters hasn’t made a feature since 2004’s A Dirty Shame, spending time touring his one-man show (which I highly recommend, especially for the Q&A session) and writing books. One of these, “Liarmouth: A Feel Bad Romance” – which Waters calls “the craziest thing I’ve written in a while” – will mark his return to directing. Key films in his oeuvre include Multiple Maniacs, Serial Mom and Pink Flamingos, which was actually added to the National Film Registry in 2021.

Receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is just one of numerous industry-wide recognitions for John Waters. The day before the unveiling, Waters will be the showcase for an exhibit at the Academy Museum. John Waters: The Pope of Trash will conclude on August 4th, 2024, will offer hundreds of pieces designed to give museumgoers a glimpse into the filthy world of John Waters, exploring the themes and utterly distinct approach and style of the director’s 60-year career in cinema.

t explores Waters’s process, themes, and unmatched moviemaking approach over his sixty-year career of filmmaking. A robust film program complementing the exhibition will begin with a screening of Water’s early short, Eat Your Makeup (1968), on Sept. 17 and continue with an extensive retrospective.There will also be screenings of his filmography and you do not want to miss even his earliest works, like the incredible short Eat Your Makeup. No word yet if Polyester will have scratch-and-sniff cards…

Do you think John Waters deserves a Hollywood Walk of Fame star?