Pam Anderson, Eugene Levy among new Walk of Fame inductees
Actors Brendan Fraser, Pamela Anderson and Eugene Levy are part of a new group of Canadians to be inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame today.
Others getting a star on the sidewalk in downtown Toronto are musician Paul Shaffer, Alex Trebek of Jeopardy!, singers Jann Arden and Robert Goulet and The Crazy Canucks— members of the 1970s and 1980s downhill ski team that blasted into the world cup circuit with their seemingly reckless skiing style.
"I honestly don't think there's a greater honour than having your country recognize you for your body of work," Levy told the Toronto Star.
Levy celebrated for comedy
Levy is being recognized for his work on the SCTV comedy series as well as the American Pie movies and other comedies such as A Mighty Wind and Best in Show.
A gala in Toronto on Saturday night includes several notable presenters such as Dan Aykroyd, actress Jennifer Coolidge and Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo.
Olympian Nancy Greene Raine will present honours to skiers Steve Podborski, Ken Read and Dave Irwin. A fourth member of the Crazy Canucks, Dave Murray, died in 1990 of cancer.
The reign of the Crazy Canucks began in 1975 when Ken Read won the downhill at Val d'Isere. He was the first non-European male to win a World Cup downhill race.
Ski records
Soon after, the team dominated the alpine ski circuit. Then, Steve Podborski reached the podium 19 times in 20 straight races between 1980 and 1982.
Inductees must have been born or spent their formative years in Canada and have been successful for a minimum of 10 years.
Goulet was born in America but spent his youth in Edmonton. The singer says he's thrilled to get a star and also eager to gain Canadian citizenship.
Goulet began his career as a radio announcer on CKUA in Edmonton. He became a semi-finalist in 1952 on CBC Television's Pick The Stars.
Starred on stage andon TV
Goulet's star burned bright when he was cast in the musical Camelot as Lancelot opposite Richard Burton's King Arthur and Julie Andrews' Queen Guinevere. He went on to star in several musicals, movies, TV shows and has 15 albums to his name.
Similarly, actor Brendan Fraser (Crash, The Mummy, Gods and Monsters), was born in Indiana but is the son of a Canadian foreign service officer with the tourism department.Fraser spent his childhood in the U.S., as well as Ottawa, the Netherlands and Switzerland. He is fluently bilingual.
The new inductees bring the total number of stars to 101.
The two-hour gala, hosted by wrestler Trish Stratus, will feature performances by Jann Arden and Robert Goulet as well as a duet between Shaffer, DavidLetterman's musical director and sidekick,and Ackroyd.