LOS ANGELES — Bill Nye, the scientist who made science fun for an entire generation, has just been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

At 69, Nye was recognized in the television category on Monday, Sept. 22, joining the ranks of entertainers and educators whose work has left a lasting mark.

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Bill Nye to the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” said Ana Martinez, the Walk’s longtime producer. “His star is a tribute to his dedication to making science accessible and entertaining for all ages.”

Nye first caught public attention as Bill Nye the Science Guy back in the late 1980s. His unusual path started in Seattle, where he mixed stand-up comedy with his day job as an engineer at Boeing. He wrote and performed sketches for KING 5’s comedy show Almost Live!, and when the producers needed to fill time one day, the character of “Bill Nye the Science Guy” was born.

That character became the foundation of the syndicated series that aired on Disney and PBS from 1993 to 1998. Through it, Nye set out to “help foster a scientifically literate society” and to give people everywhere a better understanding of the science behind the world around them.

Over the years, Nye has picked up honors far beyond television. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—for his role as one of America’s most beloved science educators.

In addition to writing several books, Nye serves as CEO of the Planetary Society, the largest space-interest group in the world, and sits on the board of the Mount St. Helens Institute.