Wisconsin stars on Hollywood Walk of Fame, from Liberace to Chris Farley to Mark Ruffalo

2024 has been a good year for Wisconsin on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In January, Appleton native Willem Dafoe received his star on the Walk of Fame. One month later, Kenosha's Mark Ruffalo, Dafoe's co-star in the Oscar-nominated movie "Poor Things," got one, too.

They joined a long list of Wisconsinites who've gotten the same honor.

Here are the Wisconsin folk who are on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Don Ameche

Born in Kenosha, Ameche went to Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin before getting into acting. He received his star in 1960, part of the initial 1,500-plus awarded when the Walk of Fame formally opened. A quarter-century later, Ameche won an even bigger honor — an Oscar for best supporting actor for the 1986 movie "Cocoon."

Jack Carson

A career character actor, Carson, who grew up in Milwaukee, cemented his ties to his adopted hometown by co-starring with fellow Wisconsinite Dennis Morgan in "Two Guys From Milwaukee," which had its world premiere in Milwaukee in 1946. Carson received his star in 1960.

Tyne Daly

Born in Madison, six-time Emmy winner Daly ("Cagney & Lacey," "Judging Amy") received her star in 1995.

Willem Dafoe

A four-time Oscar and four-time Golden Globe nominee, Dafoe was born in Appleton, studied theater at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was a member of Milwaukee's experimental theater company Theatre X in the 1970s before he headed to the New York stage and, later, the movies. He received his star on the Walk of Fame in January 2024.

Chris Farley

The Madison-born "Saturday Night Live" star and Marquette University alum received his star in 2005, eight years after he died of cardiac arrest caused by an overdose at the age of 33.

Hildegarde

"The Incomparable Hildegarde," the epitome of cabaret singing in the 1930s and '40s, was born in Adell, Wisconsin, and studied music at Marquette University. She was part of the original 1960 class of inductees.

Jeffrey Hunter

Hunter, best known for movies such as "The Searchers" and "King of Kings" and as the original Captain Pike on TV's "Star Trek," grew up in Milwaukee and went to Whitefish Bay High School. He got his star in 1960, too.

Deidre Hall

Hall, who has played Dr. Marlena Evans on the TV's "Days of Our Lives" since 1976, was born in Milwaukee but moved to Florida when she was 6. She received her star in 2016.

Harry Houdini

Although he was born in Budapest, Houdini always claimed Appleton as his hometown. The magician, escape artist and spiritualist debunker was added to the Walk of Fame in 1975, nearly a half-century after his death in 1926.

Woody Herman

The jazz clarinetist and big band leader — his band was called "The Thundering Herd" — was born in Milwaukee in 1913, and joined the Walk of Fame in 1960.

Al Jarreau

The Milwaukee-born jazz/pop/R&B singer received his star on the Walk of Fame in 2001.

Pee Wee King

Born in Milwaukee and raised in Abrams, Wisconsin, King turned his family roots in polka music into a long career in country music, performing with singing cowboy Gene Autry's band, joining the Grand Ole Opry and writing such classics as "The Tennessee Waltz" and "You Belong to Me." He received his star in 1960.

Liberace

Born Wladziu Valentino Liberace in West Allis, Liberace grew up in West Milwaukee, became an attraction playing piano in Milwaukee theaters and rose to superstardom on television and in Las Vegas. By the time he received his star on the Walk of Fame in 1960, he was one of the most-recognized entertainers in the world.

RELATED: 11 reasons why Milwaukee's own Liberace is a bigger deal than you think

Fredric March

A two-time Oscar winner ("Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "The Best Years of Our Lives"), March was born in Racine and went to the University of Wisconsin. He got his star on the Walk of Fame in 1960.

Fred MacMurray

MacMurray was born in Kankakee, Illinois, but moved to Wisconsin — first Madison, then Beaver Dam — with his family when he was a kid, and later studied at Carroll College. The "Double Indemnity" and "My Three Sons" star, who was a musician and singer before he was an actor, was part of the walk's original class in 1960.

Pat O'Brien

Born in Milwaukee and a Marquette University student, O'Brien became one of the first big stars of the talkies era in movies like "The Front Page," playing a string of tough-talking promoters, politicos and priests. He received his star in 1960.

Les Paul

"The Wizard of Waukesha," the music legend who revolutionized the electric guitar, received his star — sharing it with his then-wife, singer Mary Ford — in 1960. (The couple divorced four years later.)

Mark Ruffalo

Following receiving his Oscar nomination — his fourth overall — for his performance in the surreal comedy "Poor Things," Ruffalo, who was born in Kenosha, was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in February 2024.

Spencer Tracy

Born in Milwaukee, Tracy went to high school in the Milwaukee area before his family moved to Kansas, then came back to Wisconsin to attend Ripon College. After a brief stage career, he became one of Hollywood's top stars, winning Academy Awards for best actor for "Captains Courageous" and "Boys Town." He, too, received his star on the Walk of Fame in 1960.

Orson Welles

Born in Kenosha, Welles moved to the Chicago area by the age of 5, and over the following two decades, he'd conquered Broadway, radio and Hollywood. Welles joined the Walk of Fame in 1960.

Source: Hollywood Walk of Fame

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin stars, Liberace to Mark Ruffalo, on Hollywood Walk of Fame