On November 16, 1999, the day before the premiere of SLEEPY HOLLOW, Johnny Depp received his own star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame. He deserves ithes a great actorand now we can just walk all over him, joked his director and friend Tim Burton. Johnny came to the ceremony with Vanessa Paradis, in their first U. S. public appearance together (their daughter Lily-Rose was then just six months old); his proud parents and siblings were also by his side.
Martin Landau, who won an Oscar playing Bela Lugosi opposite Johnnys Ed Wood, praised his co-star as the best young actor Ive ever worked with . . . . Half of that Oscar belongs to Johnny, Landau told the cheering crowd. Its a joy to work with Johnny. [. . . Hes] one of the nicest human beings Ive ever met in my life. Landau added, prophetically, Youve only seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of his worktheres a lot more to come.
To mark the importance of the occasion, Johnny gave one of the longest public speeches of his life. Wearing a navy peacoat and a striped wool hat, he stepped up to the microphone and said: This is quite possibly one of the weirdest things that has ever happened to me . . . and at the same time, its certainly a great honor to be awarded a star on Hollywood Boulevard. Yes, it allows people to walk all over me, he said, grinning at Tim Burton, thats been happening for years, anywaybut also, its a beautiful old Hollywood tradition. And Im really thankful that its still alive, and Im honored to be a part of that.
Looking at his family, Johnny said, Most important, its great for me because my mom is here, and my father is here, and my brother and my sisters, and my girl Vanessa and her family and all my friends . . . and even beyond that, you know, in 50 or 60 years, if theres a world and if there is a Hollywood Boulevard, my kidmy girlmy Lily-Rosecan walk down the street and look at her dads name . . . and spit on it, if she likes, Johnny added, laughing. Thats up to her.
The Zone thanks Sleepy, Bonnie, AnaMaria, Theresa, and Part-Time Poet for their contributions to this gallery, and we thank, always, Johnny Depp for providing our reason to celebrate. If youd like to visit Johnnys star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you will find it at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard.
--Part-Time Poet
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