Spielberg to receive first Walk of Fame star

Director Steven Spielberg has been chosen to receive the first star of 2003 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The star, honouring the maker of movies like Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and ET, will be dedicated to Spielberg this Friday outside the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Walk of Fame chairman and honorary Hollywood mayor Johnny Grant said this is the first time Spielberg has made himself available to be awarded a star.

“We’re just pleased that we finally got him,” Grant says “He could have been approved 20 years ago.”

Spielberg has collected three Oscars – two for directing and producing best-picture winner Schindler’s List and a third for directing Saving Private Ryan.

His most recent films are futuristic crime drama Minority Report starring Tom Cruise and con-artist caper Catch Me If You Can starring Leonardo DiCaprio.