Cantankerous cartoon character Donald Duck was joined by his rival Mickey Mouse on Monday as the fiery fowl received his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
”Donald particularly appreciates this,” Walt Disney chief Michael Eisner said at the unveiling ceremony outside a Disney-owned movie theatre in downtown Hollywood.
”Mickey isn’t even jealous,” Eisner said. ”And all of our characters, particularly Daisy [Duck], want to thank you very much.”
The ceremony also marked the irascible animated duck’s 70th birthday — although belatedly, since he was born on June 9 1934.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse were there for the occasion, as well as the tongue-wagging dog Pluto.
Donald Duck made his debut in 1934, in a Disney Silly Symphony cartoon, The Wise Little Hen.
He was drawn by animator Dick Lundy and was voiced by Clarence Nash for 51 years. Nash earned a Hollywood star before the sailor-suit-wearing duck.
The duck’s often unintelligible dialogue is now provided by Tony Anselmo. Some of Donald Duck’s most memorable lines are ”Oh, yeah?” and ”Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!”.
”From humble beginnings as a barnyard duck, Donald has become one of the most beloved cultural icons on the planet,” said the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which bestows the stars.
In addition to his girlfriend, Daisy, Donald Duck had three troublesome nephews — Huey, Dewey and Louie — and his rich, money-grubbing Uncle Scrooge.
Donald Duck changed over the years. When first created, he was taller with a long beak. Later, animator Carl Barks made his head bigger and eyes wider, while Donald’s beak was shortened.
In the 1940s, Donald Duck starred in more animated shorts than any other Disney character.
But he only became the 2 257th star on the Hollywood walk after younger cartoon characters such as the Simpsons.
Worse, Mickey Mouse, who turned 75 this year, has had his star for years. — Sapa-AFP