Groundbreaking filmmaker John Waters was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday.
The director of cult classics such as “Polyester,” “Crybaby” and “Pink Flamingos” was honored at the ceremony by Ricki Lake, who starred in his 1988 film “Hairspray.”
This film marked an unexpected critical and commercial success for Water, who had been better known for his raunchy and surreal underground films over the past decade.
Other tributes to Waters included his regular actress Mink Stole and photographer Greg Gorman.
Waters, 77, who stood out as always in a statement jacket, paid a touching tribute to his late parents Patricia and John S. Waters at the ceremony as he posed with his new star while holding up a photo of the two of them.
His time to shine: John Waters, 77, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday after spending his career directing cult classics and transgressive films. “Old Friends: Water” was joined by Ricki Lake, 54, who starred in his biggest commercial hit, 1988’s “Hairspray.”
After Patricia’s death in 2014 at age 89, the legendary filmmaker praised her to the Washington Post for teaching him the “articles of good taste” that he said he “made a career of.” although he has focused primarily on exploring bad taste in his filmography.
Waters wore a striking gray striped jacket with red and orange spots and accessorized it with a crimson paisley tie.
His jacket also featured a statement knit collar that complemented the red theme.
The Female Trouble director toned down the rest of his look with dark blue pants and tan leather shoes.
As always, he sported his instantly recognizable pencil mustache that he’s had for decades.
Waters was accompanied by his former leading lady Lake, who shone in a beautiful emerald green satin dress.
She glowed while showing off her natural salt-and-pepper hair and added an extra touch of class with long black gloves that reached her upper arms.
She played Tracy Turnblad, a vivacious high school student who dreams of dancing on television before a social upheaval leads her to advocate for her school’s racial integration.
Sweet: Waters paid a touching tribute to his late parents Patricia and John S. Waters at the ceremony as he posed with his new star while holding up a photo of the two of them. Memories: After Patricia’s death in 2014 at age 89, the legendary filmmaker wrote to the Washington Post praising her for teaching him the “articles of good taste,” which he said he “made a career of.” has. Seeing red: Waters wore a striking gray striped jacket covered in red and orange spots, and he accessorized it with a crimson paisley tie. Stylish: His jacket also featured a statement knit collar that complemented the red theme. Breakthrough Role: In “Hairspray,” Lake starred as Tracy Turnblad, a vivacious high school student who dreams of dancing on television before a social awakening leads her to push for her school’s racial integration
Lake’s role led to an acting career and small roles in most of Waters’ subsequent films.
Her popularity rose in 1993 with the launch of her eponymous talk show, which aired until 2004.
Waters also paid tribute to another member of his regular acting troupe, actress Mink Stole (real name: Nancy Paine Stoll).
She looked colorful in a colorful coat, which she wore with a white blouse and dark pants.
Photographer Greg Gorman wore a sharp black suit with a tieless gray shirt.
Waters, who is openly gay, is considered a major influence on subsequent generations of queer filmmakers due to his films that openly explore various sexualities and sex acts, albeit usually in an absurd and surreal style.
“God, here I am, closer to the gutter than ever before,” the self-deprecating filmmaker joked at the unveiling, according to .
He dedicated the honor to his parents, “who, even though they were appalled by my early films and some of the recent ones, encouraged me to keep going because I guess they thought, what else could I do but be in show business?”
Moving on: Lake’s role led to an acting career and small roles in most of Waters’ subsequent films. Talk show star: Her popularity rose in 1993 with the launch of her eponymous talk show, which aired until 2004. Seeing green: She glowed while showing off her natural salt-and-pepper hair, and she added an extra touch of class with long black gloves that reached to her upper arms. Longtime Collaborators: Waters also honored another member of his regular acting troupe, actress Mink Stole (real name: Nancy Paine Stoll) Artist Friends: Photographer Greg Gorman (standing behind Waters) also honored him, wearing a sharp black suit with a tie-free gray shirt . Laughing: “God, here I am, closer.” “The film is more in the gutter than ever before,” the self-deprecating filmmaker joked at the unveiling, according to . At his side: He dedicated the honor to his parents, “who, although they were horrified by my early and some of the last films.” “They also encouraged me to keep going because they probably thought, what else could I do but in To be in show business?”
The ceremony was sponsored by Warner Bros. and Outfest, and he thanked the organizations for their long-standing support, joking that he was glad they thought he was “gay enough to receive stardom.”
“The Hollywood Walk of Fame, you are the best, and I hope that the most desperate showbiz rejects here pass over me and feel some kind of respect and strength.” “The drains on this magic boulevard will never become the gutter of my gratitude, the flotsam and jetsam my film career or the waste of Waters’ appreciation,” he continued.
“Thanks Hollywood, this time I finally left the valley of the dolls behind me.”
He also recalled running into trouble with the law during an early trip to California after leaving his native Baltimore, Maryland, where most of his films were filmed.
“I got out of my vehicle at Hollywood and Vine in 1970, ran across the street and got a jaywalking ticket, the first one, and I never looked back,” he said proudly.
Waters hasn’t made a film since 2004’s “A Dirty Shame,” whose cast included Johnny Knoxville, Selma Blair and Tracey Ullman.
Exaggerated: “The Hollywood Walk of Fame, you are the best, and I hope that the most desperate showbiz rejects here pass over me and feel some kind of respect and strength.” “The drains on this magical boulevard will never become the gutter of my gratitude , “washing away the flotsam and jetsam of my film career or the waste of Waters’ appreciation,” he continued. Heading into the mainstream: The unveiling coincides with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ John Waters exhibition: Pope of Trash, which runs through August 2024
However, last year it was announced that he would finally return to the director’s chair with the film Liarmouth, an adaptation of his novel of the same name.
The unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame also coincides with the John Waters: Pope of Trash exhibition at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
The museum calls it the first “comprehensive exhibition” to explore his history, filmmaking and artistic style.
The exhibition, which opened Sunday and runs through Aug. 4, 2024, includes a series of screenings of Waters’ films continuing through Oct. 28.