Tim Burton was immortalized in Hollywood history on Tuesday afternoon.
The director, who has been turning out classic films since the ’80s including “Beetlejuice,” Edward Scissorhands,” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” landed a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Actors Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton spoke at the ceremony. Ryder and Keaton both starred in Burton’s 1988 movie “Beetlejuice” and its 2024 sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Additionally, Keaton played Batman in Burton’s 1989 “Batman” and 1992’s “Batman Forever.” Ryder starred opposite Johnny Depp in 1990’s “Edward Scissorhands.”
Burton’s films are often known to be quite quirky, something both Ryder and Keaton acknowledged and loved about the director.
“Giving him this star is sort of like pinning a star on Mount Everest to me,” Ryder explained. “Tim has such a beautiful understanding of the human heart. He knows the heartache of the misunderstood, the strange and unusual.”
Keaton touted his 30-year friendship with Burton and praised the director’s ability to make him feel at ease on the set.
“When I hear Winona and all these other people use this word ‘weird,’ well then count me in because I feel really, really comfortable working with this guy right here,” he explained. “It’s just a joy.”
Actor Danny DeVito was also in attendance, he was The Penguin in “Batman Returns.”
Burton grew up in Burbank, California watching Vincent Price’s horror films, which influenced the gothic themes woven into his films.
He received his star in the motion pictures category and it’s appropriately placed in front of Hollywood Toys & Costumes, as it’s a location that means a lot to him.
“I used to come down here (Hollywood) and visit the Larry Edmunds Bookshop,” he reminisced. “When I found out it (the star’s location) was here, I almost started crying because I’ve been coming here ever since I was a little child and this store hasn’t changed at all. So for me, it’s just an honor to have a star but also to have it right here in front of this incredible shop.”
Burton’s latest film, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” is set to hit theaters on Sept. 6.