In 2026, two Italians will receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: Carlo Rambaldi, a pioneer in special effects, and Franco Nero, the legendary face of the spaghetti western. Their names are among the 35 figures from entertainment and sports selected to receive the honor next year.
For Rambaldi, the tribute comes at a particularly meaningful time, as 2025 marks the centenary of his birth. Born in Vigarano Mainarda, in the province of Ferrara, he left an indelible mark on cinema history through iconic creations such as the creature from Alien, the 1976 King Kong, and above all, Spielberg’s E.T., which earned him his third Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Spielberg was searching for an alien that could evoke empathy, but the early American prototypes felt too unsettling. It was Rambaldi who brought the character to life, drawing inspiration from portraits he had painted years earlier of women from Italy’s Po Delta — simple features, elongated necks, and a quiet melancholy. From that unlikely source emerged a remarkably expressive creature, one that could speak not with words but with its disarming gaze and presence.
The Walk of Fame nomination was submitted by Cinecittà and Italy’s Ministry of Culture, with the support of the Carlo Rambaldi Foundation. The effort was made possible thanks to the centenary committee, composed of Silvia Bizio, Raffaella De Laurentiis, and Anna Manunza — all prominent figures based in Los Angeles.
At the helm of the Foundation is Daniela Rambaldi, the artist’s daughter, who will take part in the ceremony in the United States. “Walking beside his star will feel like walking beside his dreams come true,” she says. “And it couldn’t have come at a more fitting time — it’s like closing a circle, in the very year we’re celebrating his legacy.”
She then adds a more personal thought: “If I could, I’d dedicate to him a special effect that rewinds time. One of those intricate mechanisms he used to build so patiently, where every gear felt like a heartbeat. Just to see him at work again, even for a moment”.
The other Italian honoree for 2026 is Franco Nero, a defining figure of the Italian western ever since Django by Sergio Corbucci (1966). Active in film, television, and theater, he has been the focus of numerous tributes and retrospectives in recent years, including one at the Filming Italy Festival in Los Angeles, directed by Tiziana Rocca. This marks the third star awarded to an Italian artist through the festival, following honors for Gina Lollobrigida in 2018 and Giancarlo Giannini in 2023.
“It is a great source of pride to promote this third Italian star, dedicated to the extraordinary Franco Nero,” said Rocca. “This recognition represents a milestone for Italian cinematic culture as a whole.”
A magnetic and remarkably versatile actor, Nero has traversed more than six decades of film history, with a body of work spanning over 200 titles. He has collaborated with some of the most influential directors of his time, including Sergio Corbucci, Luis Buñuel, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and Quentin Tarantino. His portrayal of the mysterious gunslinger in Django remains an indelible contribution to the genre, one that cemented his status as a cinematic icon. Effortlessly moving between auteur cinema and popular blockbusters, from stage to screen, Nero stands today as a powerful emblem of Italy’s enduring influence on global film culture.
The official ceremonies will take place sometime next year, with dates still to be announced.
