Roberts and Stephanopoulos receive Hollywood stars
The GMA anchors were honored at a ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard to mark the 50th anniversary of their morning show.
By Ryan Carter ·
Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos received bronze stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, capping a yearlong tribute to the 50th anniversary of Good Morning America. The ceremony took place at 6920 Hollywood Blvd., near the El Capitan Theatre, marking the final public event for the milestone.
Colleagues and friends took the stage to celebrate the duo. Michael Strahan, the show's third anchor, spoke first about his bond with Roberts. He recounted meeting her at the Oscars while he was transitioning from sports broadcasting to morning television. Strahan said Roberts asked if he was nervous and then told him, "Michael, you belong." He noted those three words helped him feel comfortable learning on the job.
Michael J. Fox, a longtime friend of Stephanopoulos, joined the event to share humorous anecdotes. Fox joked that Stephanopoulos often calls at 7 a.m. to make lunch plans, with dinner scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Fox said this timing suggests Stephanopoulos is running out the door at 6 p.m. to avoid paying the bill. He also mentioned their family vacations in Greece, quipping that one becomes invisible when traveling with the anchor.
Stephanopoulos accepted the honor by praising his colleagues. He expressed surprise at sharing a desk with Roberts, a Women's Basketball Hall of Fame member, and Strahan, an NFL Hall of Famer. He described himself as a "height-challenged teammate" who is tolerated by the two sports legends. He also recalled unexpected career moments, including interviewing Kermit the Frog and racing an Olympic medalist to the top of the Empire State Building.
Roberts credited the anchors' differing backgrounds for creating a strong professional bond. She stated that while their resumes are vastly different, their shared passion for storytelling and their families brought them together. The pair holds the record as the longest-running duo in morning television history.
According to Ana Martinez, the producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the new stars are the 2,862nd and 2,863rd installed since the walk's completion in 1961. Stephanopoulos' star is positioned next to Strahan's, while Roberts' star sits adjacent to Stephanopoulos'. Debra O'Connell, chairman of Disney Entertainment Television, and Niecy Nash-Betts also spoke at the event.
Roberts joined ABC News in 1995 and became a Good Morning America anchor in 2005. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. Stephanopoulos joined ABC News in 1997, hosting This Week from 2002 until his transition to GMA in 2009. He was inducted into the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame in 2024.
