Family Raises Funds for Toni Vaz Walk of Fame Star
The family of the late stuntwoman and NAACP Image Awards founder is working to cover the costs of her posthumous honor.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Celebrities
Live Poll
Should celebrities be required to pay for their own Hollywood Walk of Fame stars?
The family of Toni Vaz is raising funds to pay for a Hollywood Walk of Fame star following her selection for the honor earlier this year. Vaz, who passed away in 2024 at age 101, created the NAACP Image Awards in 1967.
Why it matters
The campaign aims to ensure that Vaz, a trailblazing stuntwoman for icons like Eartha Kitt, receives permanent recognition on the Walk of Fame. Honorees are required to fund the star themselves to secure their place in Hollywood history.
A Hollywood Walk of Fame star costs between $75,000 and $85,000, and honorees have a two-year window to pay for the cost and schedule their ceremony. Toni Vaz was 101 years old when she died in 2024.
The players
Toni Vaz
She was a legendary stuntwoman who broke racial barriers in Hollywood and founded the NAACP Image Awards.
Toni Vaz Foundation
This organization is responsible for managing the fundraising efforts to pay for the late honoree's star.
The details
The Toni Vaz Foundation has launched a GoFundMe campaign to manage the financing for the star after Vaz was officially selected in 2024. During her career, Vaz performed stunts for prominent stars including Dorothy Dandridge, Eartha Kitt, and Cicely Tyson.
Timeline
1967: The first NAACP Image Awards ceremony was held.
2015: The #OscarsSoWhite movement began.
2024: Toni Vaz was selected for a Walk of Fame star.
2024: Toni Vaz died at the age of 101.
Industry Dynamics
The recognition of Vaz follows decades of advocacy aimed at increasing representation in Hollywood. Her legacy as a founder of the NAACP Image Awards predates the intense industry shift sparked by the 2015 #OscarsSoWhite movement, which criticized the Academy Awards for a lack of diversity.
Fans wishing to support the recognition of Vaz can contribute through the official GoFundMe page managed by her foundation. Once the funding and scheduling requirements are met, the eventual unveiling ceremony will be open for public attendance in Hollywood.
The takeaway
Honoring industry trailblazers often requires dedicated community-led fundraising efforts to ensure their historical contributions are not forgotten. Prospective donors should always verify the legitimacy of crowdfunding campaigns before contributing to ensure funds reach the intended foundation.
Further reading
For more on the industry's focus on legacy and recognition, visit the Celebrities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
Live Poll
Should celebrities be required to pay for their own Hollywood Walk of Fame stars?
