Costume designer Ruth Carter gets Walk of Fame star

Wave Wire Services

HOLLYWOOD — Costume designer Ruth E. Carter, who won an Oscar for her work on “Black Panther,” received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Feb. 25, becoming just the second costume designer to be so recognized.

The first costume designer to receive the honor was eight-time Oscar winner Edith Head, who was among the first 1,558 star recipients when the walk was completed in 1961.

This really is incredible,” Carter said during the virtual ceremony, which also included remarks from Oprah Winfrey and Eddie Murphy. “As I have been reflecting, I think of all the people I’ve met along the way who have helped make this happen. I’ve collaborated with so many of you — directors, actors, producers, friends artists, family — know that you are in my heart. It is full with the deepest gratitude for being able to tell our stories by any means necessary.”

She said she was dedicating the star to all young, aspiring filmmakers.

“I drove to Hollywood 36 years ago in an ’85 Volkswagen Rabbit, no A/C, no airbags, no GPS,” she said. “Nothing was handed to me. Every moment, every sacrifice, every effort was hard work inspired by my passion. It’s my hope that anyone who sacrifices, who beats these streets of Hollywood carrying their dreams and heavy garment bags full of costumes desiring to be the best, like I did, that when you gaze upon my star, feel my energy, feel the power of your own unique story to realize your dreams so you too can reach your star.”

She ended her remarks saying, “Wakanda forever,” the seminal line from “Black Panther.”

When Carter won the 2019 Oscar for best costume design for “Black Panther,” making her the first Black winner in the category, she told reporters backstage that she “dreamed of this night and I prayed for this night honestly [and] what it would mean for young people coming behind me.”

For them, the Oscar “means that there is hope … [that] other people can come on in and win an Oscar just like I did,” she said.

Carter was also nominated in the category in 1993 for “Malcolm X” and 1998 for “Amistad.”

Her star is located at 6800 Hollywood Blvd., across the street from the Hollywood & Highland complex. The ceremony came eight days before the Murphy-starring “Coming 2 America” — on which she did the costuming — begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video. She was also the costume designer for Murphy’s 2019 film, “Dolemite Is My Name.”

Carter began her career working as an intern in her hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts, and at the Santa Fe Opera. She moved to Los Angeles in 1986. While working at the Los Angeles Theater Center, Carter met director Spike Lee, who hired her for his second film, “School Daze.”

Lee also hired her for “Do the Right Thing,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Jungle Fever,” “Oldboy,” and “Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.”

Carter’s other film credits include “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” which co-starred Winfrey, “Selma,” “Marshall,” “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” “Five Heartbeats,” “Baby Boy” and “Rosewood.”

Carter received an Emmy nomination for outstanding costumes for a period/fantasy series, limited series or movie for The History Channel’s 2016 remake of “Roots.” Her other television credits include the pilot of the classic NBC comedy “Seinfeld” and “Yellowstone.”