Christina Applegate was honored for talent and bravery as she collected herstar on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
the Dead to Me star, making her first public appearance since her multiplesclerosis diagnosis last year, debuted her walking stick at Monday’s event,but leaned on her Married … With Children TV mom Katey Sagal, who helpedApplegate to the podium and physically supported her during her speech. Sheattended the event sans shoes to be more comfortable.
“I can’t stand for too long so I’m going to thank the people I really need tothank,” Applegate, 50, said at the start. As for Sagal’s presence, Applegatesaid Sagal was “just gonna be here” holding her steady, joking it was”so Kateyto steal [my] thunder.”
David Faustino and Katey Sagal pose with former co-star Christina Applegateduring their Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. (Photo: Phillip Faraone/GettyImages)
Applegate — also known for the Anchorman movies and TVs jesse and Up AllNight, to name a few— cracked jokes during her speech and did not directlymention the disease of the central nervous system. However, she alluded to thediagnosis she received in the summer of 2021, referring to herself at onepoint as “the disabled lady.” Later, while thanking “the most important personin the world,” her daughter, Sadie, with her musician husband, Martyn LeNoble(who were both there), she said, “Thank you for standing beside me during allthis.” Then, to the audience, she added, “Oh, by the way I have a disease. Didyou not notice? I’m not even wearing shoes Anyhoo, You’re supposed to laugh atthis.”
Applegate also suggested, as she’s hinted previously, that she’s done withacting as she navigates her health challenges. While thanking the stars whospoke on her behalf, she said, “I like that I started with you two — referringto Married … With Children‘s Sagal and David Faustino — “and ended with youtwo” — pointing to Dead to Me co-star Linda Cardellini and showrunner LizFeldman — _ “_and I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. You are mypeople.” (Applegate has previously said she’d like to continue producing, butshe can’t do long days on the set.)
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Christina Applegate poses during her star unveiling ceremony on the HollywoodWalk of Fame in Los Angeles. (Photo: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)
Applegate said that growing up in LA, and getting her showbiz start as a younggirl, she always “effing” wanted her own star. Feldman praised her as a “comicgenius and and one of the greatest actors of her generation.”
Sagal, whom Applegate still calls “Mommy,” it was revealed, spoke ofApplegate’s grace and bravery overcoming her challenges, also including abreast cancer diagnosis in 2008.
“You know, sweetheart, some of us come into this life requiring broadshoulders because what’s coming at us needs support to bear it,” Sagal said.”Broad enough to hold what shows up. I’ve seen you — the high highs, the loveand enormous success, coupled with extreme challenges. But you came in withthose shoulders, and you bear the weight and you bend and you don’ t break. Icontinue to love you, laugh with you and to learn from you. … You are notalone. We’re all here. We love you.”
Applegate was seated by her star — which is adjacent to those of Sagal and_married_ dad Ed O’Neill, who was unable to attend — as it was unveiled,playfully doing a little seated dance with her new cane that she shared asneak peek of on Twitter last month. She later got down onto the ground forphotos — solo shots as well as photos with her co-stars, past and present, andhusband and daughter.
Applegate expressed nervousness ahead of attending the event, which wassupposed to take place in 2020 but was delayed by the pandemic.
“Now my life is a different story,” the actress told variety __ earlier thismonth. “People are going to see me for the first time as a disabled person,and it’s very difficult. So, for me, two years ago would have been so muchbetter!” She’s spoken about her 40-pound weight gain to the _New York Times,_saying, “I want people to know that I am very aware of all of that.”
Applegate also spoke about her health, saying production shut down on Dead toMe for five months last year after re-diagnosis. When she returned to theset, she needed a wheelchair to get to set. She had to be physically proppedup for scenes. She napped during the day to get through it, but she wasdetermined to finish the final season of dead to me, which premieres Nov. 17on Netflix, and bring closure to fans of the show as well as to the cast.
As for the MS, Applegate told the New York Times she is “never going toaccept” her diagnosis, adding, “I’m pissed.”