John Waters, 77, is honored by Hairspray star Ricki Lake and other actors from his transgressive cult-classic films at Hollywood Walk of Fame star unveiling
The pathbreaking filmmaker John Waters was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday.
The director of cult classics including Polyester, Crybaby and Pink Flamingos was honored at the ceremony by Ricki Lake, who starred in his 1988 film Hairspray.
That film marked an unexpected critical and commercial success for Water, who was better known for making raunchy and surreal underground films in the previous decade.
Others honoring waters included his regular actress Mink Stole and the photographer Greg Gorman.
Waters, 77, who stood out as usual in an eye-catching sport coat, touchingly paid tribute to his late parents Patricia and John S. Waters at the ceremony when he posed with his fresh star while holding up a photograph of the two.
His time to shine: John Waters, 77, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday after a career spend directing cult classic transgressive films
Old friends: Water was joined by Ricki Lake, 54, who starred in his biggest commercial success, 1988’s Hairspray
After Patricia’s death in 2014 at age 89, the iconic filmmaker praised her to the Washington Post for teaching him the ‘articles of good taste,’ which he said he ‘turned into a career,’ though he has primarily focused on exploring bad taste in his filmography.
Waters wore a striking gray striped sport coat that was covered in red and orange splotches, and he complemented it with a crimson paisley tie.
His jacket also featured a striking knit collar to complement the red theme.
The Female Trouble director toned down the rest of his look with navy blue trousers and light brown leather shoes.
As usual, he sported his instantly identifiable pencil mustache, which has wore for decades.
Waters was joined by his former leading lady Lake, who glowed in a lovely emerald green satin dress.
She beamed while showing off her natural salt-and-pepper hair, and she added an extra ouch of class with long black gloves that reached to her upper arms.
She starred as Tracy Turnblad, a bubbly high schooler who dreams of dancing on television before a social awakening leads her to push for the racial integration of her school.
Sweet: Waters touchingly paid tribute to his late parents Patricia and John S. Waters at the ceremony when he posed with his fresh star while holding up a photograph of the two
Memories: After Patricia’s death in 2014 at age 89, the iconic filmmaker praised her to the Washington Post for teaching him the ‘articles of good taste,’ which he said he ‘turned into a career’
Seeing red: Waters wore a striking gray striped sport coat that was covered in red and orange splotches, and he complemented it with a crimson paisley tie
Stylish: His jacket also featured a striking knit collar to complement the red theme
Breakout role: Lake starred in Hairspray as Tracy Turnblad, a bubbly high schooler who dreams of dancing on television before a social awakening leads her to push for the racial integration of her school
Lake’s role led to an acting career and smaller roles in most of Waters’ subsequent films.
Her profile increased in 1993 with the launch of her eponymous talk show, which stayed on the air until 2004.
Also paying tribute to Waters was another member of his regular acting company, the actress Mink Stole (real name: Nancy Paine Stoll).
She put on a colorful display with a multicolored coat, which she wore with a white blouse and dark slacks.
The photographer Greg Gorman wore a smart black suit with a tie-free gray shirt.
Waters, who is openly gay, is considered a major influence on subsequent generations of queer filmmakers thanks to his films, which deal openly with various sexualities and sex acts, though usually with an absurd and surreal style.
‘God, here I am, closer to the gutter than ever,’ joked the self-depredating filmmaker at the unveiling, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He dedicated the honor to his parents, ‘who, despite being horrified by my early films and some of the last ones, too, encouraged me to continue because I guess they thought what else could I possibly do but be in show business?’
Moving on up: Lake’s role led to an acting career and smaller roles in most of Waters’ subsequent films
Talk show star: Her profile increased in 1993 with the launch of her eponymous talk show, which stayed on the air until 2004
Seeing green: She beamed while showing off her natural salt-and-pepper hair, and she added an extra ouch of class with long black gloves that reached to her upper arms
Longtime collaborators: Also paying tribute to Waters was another member of his regular acting company, the actress Mink Stole (real name: Nancy Paine Stoll)
Artist pals: The photographer Greg Gorman (standing behind Waters) also honored him and wore a smart black suit with a tie-free gray shirt
Having a laugh: ‘God, here I am, closer to the gutter than ever,’ joked the self-depredating filmmaker at the unveiling, according to The Hollywood Reporter
By his side: He dedicated the honor to his parents, ‘who, despite being horrified by my early films and some of the last ones, too, encouraged me to continue because I guess they thought what else could I possibly do but be in show business?’
The ceremony was sponsored by Warner Bros. and Outfest, and he thanked the organizations for their longtime support while joking that he was glad they thought he was ‘gay enough to receive’ the star.
‘The Hollywood Walk of Fame, you’re the best, and I hope the most desperate showbiz rejects walk over me here and feel some sort of respect and strength. The drains on this magic boulevard will never wash away the gutter of my gratitude, the flotsam of my film career or the waste of Waters’ appreciation,’ he continued.
‘Thank you Hollywood, this time I’ve finally gone beyond the valley of the dolls.’
He also recalled how he had had a run-in with the law during an early trip to California after leaving his home turf of Baltimore, Maryland, where most of his films have been shot.
‘I got out of my vehicle in 1970 at Hollywood and Vine and darted 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, which starred Johnny Knoxville, Selma Blair and Tracey Ullman, among others in its ensemble cast.
Over the top: ‘The Hollywood Walk of Fame, you’re the best, and I hope the most desperate showbiz rejects walk over me here and feel some sort of respect and strength. The drains on this magic boulevard will never wash away the gutter of my gratitude, the flotsam of my film career or the waste of Waters’ appreciation,’ he continued
Going mainstream: The unveiling coincides with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ exhibit John Waters: Pope of Trash, which runs through August of 2024
However, last year it was announced that he was finally returning to the director’s chair with the film Liarmouth, an adaptation of his novel of the same name.
His Hollywood Walk of Fame star unveiling also coincides with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ exhibit John Waters: Pope of Trash.
The museum bills it as the first ‘comprehensive exhibition’ to explore his history, filmmaking and artistic style.
The exhibit, which opened on Sunday and runs through August 4, 2024, includes a series of screenings of Waters’ films that continues through October 28.
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