HOLLYWOOD, CA — Beloved KTLA entertainment reporter Sam Rubin was a fixture on KTLA for three decades with his warm, easy-going style of interviewing some of Hollywood’s most notable figures. Now, an effort is underway after his death earlier this month to have Rubin memorialized alongside the celebrities he interviewed in the form of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A Change.org petition launched Monday has already amassed dozens of signatures, with signatories proclaiming “Sam Rubin Deserves a Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
“Since I moved to LA, I and millions like me, were glued to his morning interviews with celebrities on KTLA 5 and he was the reason for our joie de vivre. I am sure we all want an area to pay tribute to Sam Rubin,” the petition creator wrote.
The Walk of Fame is managed by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which accepts nominations on an annual basis that are considered by a nomination committee, who select about 30 people to be included in each class of recipients. The walk includes five categories, including television.
“The criteria for receiving a star consists of the following: professional achievement, longevity in the category of five years or more, [and] contributions to the community,” according to the Chamber of Commerce.
While Rubin’s positive standing in the Southland and in broadcasting makes him a likely candidate, fans will likely have to wait a while to see his name on Hollywood Boulevard: The chamber requires a five-year waiting period before posthumous nominees become eligible.
Rubin died May 10 at 64. KTLA and other outlets reported that Rubin died of a heart attack; the New York Times a week after his death reported Rubin died due to a “systems failure,” citing his wife.
His cause of death is listed as deferred in Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner’s records.
Rubin joined KTLA in 1991, and over the following three decades became the face of entertainment journalism in LA. He was known for his easy-going interview style, which remained consistent whether talking to Hollywood’s biggest veteran stars or little-known up-and-coming performers.