Tyler Perry Delivers Heartfelt Speech at Kerry Washington’s Walk of Fame Ceremony

Today, Kerry Washington was honored with her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing her legacy as a powerhouse in film and television.

The ceremony, held near the W Hollywood Hotel, drew notable figures, including writer-director Tyler Perry and producer Shonda Rhimes, who have both been pivotal in Washington’s career.

Washington, an actress who was in critically acclaimed projects like Scandal and Perry’s For Colored Girls, expressed gratitude to her parents and fans.

“Mom and Dad, can you believe it? An actual star?” she said during her speech. Washington also shared her hope that her starlight connects to the light within others: “My prayer today is that my starlight continues to connect me to that light that shines in each of you.”

Perry, who directed Washington in The Six Triple Eight set to premiere on Netflix, delivered a touching yet humorous tribute. Recalling their first meeting, he shared an anecdote about Washington’s lively personality. “I remember when we met years ago, she comes walking up, she's beautiful. And this little dainty woman, she starts talking. I'm like, where is your inside voice? She was so loud.’” Perry joked, later reflecting on her infectious energy and her deeply heartfelt approach to every role she embodies.

Perry also highlighted Washington’s devotion to her family and her extraordinary work ethic. “I watched how much she loved and honored her parents. I watched how much she loved and honored her husband and her children, how she fiercely protects their privacy,” he shared. “What I know is that no one knows what it took for you to be Kerry Washington—not the fans, not even the people who love you the most. No one could have lived the life of Kerry Washington but you.”

Ending his speech, Perry likened Washington’s resilience and brilliance to the elements of a star. "When I think about a star, it's made of all these different gases, and they're two of the lightest gases in the world that make up 98% of what a star is. But at the core of it, it's all of this matter, this thickness, this heart, and that's what you carry every day."

Congratulations to Kerry Washington!