It was a moment four decades in the making.

On April 3, horror maestro John Carpenter was finally honored with a long-overdue star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — and fans of The Thing got an unexpected bonus: a reunion of co-stars Kurt Russell and Keith David, who hadn't appeared in public together with Carpenter since the 1982 cult classic premiered.

The emotional gathering was a celebration not just of Carpenter's iconic career — with films like Halloween, Escape from New York, and Big Trouble in Little China — but of the creative family he's built along the way. Greg Nicotero, special effects legend and longtime Carpenter collaborator, opened the tribute, saying, “He’s altered the way we watch movies.”

Nicotero jokingly hoped the event would finally reveal who was The Thing — to which Keith David smiled and replied, “It wasn’t me.”

Russell followed with a hilarious story about his “ridiculously large sombrero” on the set of The Thing, a moment that only underscored Carpenter’s quirky genius and influence. “He’s a creator of cinematic change,” Russell declared.

The crowd was packed with fellow icons, including PJ Soles, Adrienne Barbeau, and even Slash of Guns N’ Roses. For Carpenter, it was a full-circle moment. “I was a skinny kid from Kentucky walking these streets,” he said. “Well, I found my career.”

The horror master signed off with his trademark wit: “Thanks for the star — now people and dogs can pee on me.”

Cinematic history, horror legends, and old friends — this wasn’t just a ceremony, it was a love letter to genre filmmaking.