Horror icon Robert Englund is officially among the Hollywood greats.
The actor, 78, who portrayed Freddy Krueger on the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise has been awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In a nod to the spooky season, his ceremony occurred on Halloween – and a swarm of Freddy Kreugers arrived to celebrate Englund’s achievement.
Hand slipped into Krueger’s iconic clawed glove, Englund posed up a storm beside his newly-minted star with billowing smoke offering a spooky touch.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Englund appeared on stage to the crowd chanting ‘Freddy!’
After expressing gratitude to those who helped him during his career, he ended his speech with, ‘Trick or f***ing treat!”
Robert Englund received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, aka Halloween
Englund famously portrayed Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise
Englund’s A Nightmare on Elm Street co-star Heather Langenkamp took to the podium to praise the actor and the glove for which he has become synonymous with.
‘They did a lot of months of preparing the special effects makeup that he would wear,’ she said, according to People. ‘They had many weeks of preparing a costume that would bring forth that incredible silhouette of Freddy Krueger that we all know so well. And when I look at this five-pointed star in front of me with Robert’s name on it, I think of the five fingers of that oily, dirty glove that he wore on his right hand.’
She also praised his portrayal of Kreuger, calling his voice ‘gravelly.’
‘It was sneering. There was a little spittle involved. It was incredibly just… it stuck your teeth on edge. The minute Robert took on Freddy’s voice, and he married that demented sneer with this wonderful portrayal of the most evil character you can think of.’
Robert was supported by his wife of 37 years, Nancy Englund, who posed with him before his new star.
A Nightmare on Elm Street hit theaters in 1984, with Englund playing the terrifying character of Freddy Krueger.
The actor went on to play the Springwood Slasher in all seven Nightmare films, as well as the 2003 Friday The 13th crossover Freddy vs. Jason.
Freddy is the evil spirit of a child murderer who had been released by law enforcement on a technicality, but then caught and burned alive by the parents of his victims.
The character – famed for his terrifying burned face and trademark knife-fingered glove, red and green sweater and Fedora hat – then terrorized children by praying on their fears during dreams and also killing them in real life.
Freddy’s iconic clawed glove made an appearance
Smoke flooded the scene, adding to the spooky ambiance
Englund’s A Nightmare on Elm Street co-star Heather Langenkamp praised her co-star
Robert was supported by his wife Nancy Englund
Englund’s award-winning performance paved the way for a global horror franchise that consisted of numerous movies plus TV series, novels and comic books.
Freddy Krueger’s character was created by film director Wes Craven, who also produced the Scream series.
Before he landed his iconic part he also tried out for a starring role in Star Wars, auditioning to play the roles of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.
After missing out he graciously referred his friend Mark Hamill for the role that went on to make his name.
Englund went on to play the Springwood Slasher in all seven Nightmare films, as well as the 2003 Friday The 13th crossover Freddy vs. Jason
Heather praised Robert’s portrayal of the evil character
The suit-clad star posed casually by his newly-minted star
Englund last reprised his Freddy Krueger role in 2018 during a Halloween episode of ABC’s The Goldbergs, but has continued to play spooky, sci-fi characters over the years.
The iconic movie villain recently appeared in the fourth season of Stranger Things, as Pennhurst Asylum patient Victor Creel.
His final big screen turn as the character came in the 2003 crossover film Freddy Vs. Jason, pitting his character against Jason Voorhees from Friday The 13th.
Englund played Freddy one last time as a lark for the sitcom The Goldbergs, on a 2018 episode cheekily called Mister Knifey-Hands.
Even Freddy Krueger made a cameo at the event
Adoring fans came dressed as the evil character for the event
The character made an appearance in Hollywood, claws and all
Outside of the franchise, his career includes guest shots on TV series including MadTV, Knight Rider, Walker Texas Ranger and Stranger Things.
In the 2023 documentary Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, Englund modestly denied that he was an icon.
‘I know who icons are,’ he said. ‘I’m not an icon. Maybe Freddy Krueger is, but I’m not. I’m just a character actor, a utility actor who’s been very lucky.’
He also ruled out playing the character again, explaining that he had become ‘too old and thick’ and could no longer meet the role’s physical requirements.
‘I just can’t do fight scenes for more than one take anymore, I’ve got a bad neck and bad back and arthritis in my right wrist. So I have to hang it up, but I would love to cameo,’ he said in the documentary.
