Eugene Levy’s Hamilton roots were at the forefront of mind as he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“Getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is about as far from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada as you can get,” the Schitt’s Creek actor and comedian, 77, said Friday as he was given his award.

“My hometown, Hamilton, was a big steel town when I was growing up, but nobody went into the entertainment business. 

“Fifty-plus years working in comedy, playing comedy characters — how rewarding was that? A lifespan making people laugh,” the actor said. 

Levy, an award-winning actor, writer, and producer, has appeared in more than 60 motion pictures, eight of which have topped the $100 million mark. 

The role of Noah Levenstein in the American Pie franchise made him “America’s favourite dad,” and the box office success of films such as Bringing Down The House, Cheaper By the Dozen 2, and Father Of The Bride Part II established him as one of Hollywood’s most popular comedic actors. 

“Standing on your own star, it’s just, I mean, I don’t even have any words to describe how out of the realm of possibility and reality that is,” Levy said.

Catherine O’Hara, Levy’s friend, fellow Canadian actor and Schitt’s Creek co-star, said she was “very happy to see him suffer in such a lovely way,” pointing to his humility.

“Eugene is slow to anger, slow to judge. Some of his friends joke that he’s just generally slow. No, I say he is patient. He is thoughtful, he is considerate,” O’Hara said. 

“He’s obviously funny, but he is not afraid to laugh at himself. In fact, most of his self-effacing jokes are aimed at the fact that he thinks he’s not funny at all, which is ridiculous.” 

Levy is a Member of the Order of Canada and a recipient of The Governor General’s Performing Arts Award — the foremost honour presented for excellence in the performing arts.

He was born and raised in Hamilton, alongside comedic actor Martin Short — they both attended Westdale Secondary School and McMaster University.