Keith David is going to have a very special birthday next year! The renowned voice and screen actor, 69, will soon have his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — much to his tearful surprise.
David, who boasts approximately 400 film and television credits and nearly 50 years of experience, shared a sweet video on social media that showed his reaction to hearing his name read out as a member of the iconic attraction’s 35-member Class of 2026, which the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Keith David attends the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ in December 2024
In the video, the Princess and the Frog star is seen watching as the names for next year’s Walk of Fame stars are unveiled. When fellow Walk of Fame recipient Eugenio Derbez announces David’s name, the actor’s jaw drops and he looks around in surprise before clapping his hand to his mouth.
To receive a Walk of Fame star, a celebrity must be nominated by another individual and agree to the nomination when applying. In the video, David’s wife, Dionne Lea Williams, exclaims, “Happy 70th birthday!” when the announcement is made.
“Oh my God,” David replies, visibly emotional and tearing up as his wife comes into frame for an embrace. David wipes away his tears before thanking his wife again.
The actor — who has won three Emmys for narrating PBS programs — was humbly grateful in the caption of his social post, writing, “What a surprise! Being blessed to get to do this for a living is enough for me; to be recognized for my contribution to the arts is the cherry on top. 🙏🏿 Thank you, Hollywood Walk of Fame & Hollywood Chamber for this honor. This will be a wonderful birthday present next year.”
Humbleness aside, David’s filmography makes him more than a worthy Walk of Fame honoree. The character actor has made a prolific career with appearances in hundreds of films and television shows — including They Live, Armageddon, and Platoon — since his first credited role opposite Kurt Russell in 1982’s The Thing.
Universal Pictures
Keith David in ‘The Thing’ (1982)
David, who began his career as a stage actor and received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Jelly’s Last Jam, has also made his distinctive baritone a household favorite by lending his voice to numerous animated series and video game projects. Fans may remember him as the Arbiter Thel ‘Vadamee in the Halo franchise, Julius Little in the Saints Row franchise, and, of course, Admiral Andersen in the Mass Effect series.
More recently, David took over as Commander Zavala in Destiny 2‘s expansion release The Final Shape after the death of his original actor, Lance Reddick. He’s also done notable voice work on animated shows such as Rick & Morty and Amphibia.
Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly‘s free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.
David’s voice has made him a favorite of documentarian Ken Burns. He’s lent his deep voice to an array of Burns projects, including 2001’s Jazz, 2007’s The War, and 2021’s Muhammad Ali.
He’s also worked with many other beloved directors, including John Carpenter, Jordan Peele, Barry Jenkins, Oliver Stone, Shane Black, the Wachowski siblings, and Hayao Miyazaki.
Considering his extensive career, some would say this honor is long overdue.
Leon Bennett/Getty Images; Adult Swim Keith David voices the president on ‘Rick and Morty’
The list of Walk of Fame honorees was chosen from hundreds of nominees and confirmed by the organization’s board of directors last month.
Along with David, the new inductees will include Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Noah Wyle, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, Rami Malek, Rachel McAdams, and more.
Cyrus also shared her reaction to getting a star on social media. The “Party in the U.S.A.” singer and actress posted a video with scenes from her visual album, Something Beautiful, that was released last month.
“Honored to be receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” she captioned the video on Instagram. “When I first came to LA from Nashville as a little girl, my family would stay at a hotel on Hollywood Blvd, and I would go on late night walks with my dad when no one would recognize him. We’d have the gift shops to ourselves & buy knock off Oscars and Marilyn Monroe merchandise.”
She continued, “To now be cemented on this legendary boulevard, surrounded by the icons who inspired me, feels like a dream. This moment will live forever, thank you to everyone in my life who made it possible. I am grateful to share this star with you.”
The ceremony dates for the class of 2026 have yet to be announced, but David hinted at the honor being a birthday present to him next year (he turns 70 on June 2), so it’s likely fans can expect his accolade to come next summer.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
