Gregory Peck's star was reborn on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after the original was cut out and stolen by someone with a cement saw and "very good taste," as one official said.
A replacement of the world famous pink star set in a black square was unveiled on Hollywood Boulevard by Hollywood's honorary mayor, Johnny Grant, who appealed for the original to be returned.
Grant, a former radio and TV star who is now chairman of the Hollywood Historic Trust, said the star that had honoured Peck for more than 40 years had disappeared sometime in the last two weeks.
"It was somebody who knew how to use a cement saw and was probably dressed as a construction worker," Grant said.
"Whoever it was had very good taste."
"You know now you can't sell it," Grant said in a message to the mystery thief.
"This has become a worldwide story. If you'll just bring it back and leave it right here, I'll forget the whole thing happened."
Peck's star is the fourth to be stolen since the Walk of Fame honouring film, TV and radio celebrities was begun along a stretch of Hollywood Boulevard in 1960. Those of Gene Autry, Jimmy Stewart and Kirk Douglas all disappeared during construction projects several years ago.
There are more than 2,000 show business figures with stars on the Walk of Fame which snakes across Hollywood Boulevard as a major tourist attraction.
Peck, who died in 2003 at the age of 87, was one of Hollywood's best-loved stars, known for his quietly heroic roles. He won an Oscar for his performance as lawyer Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird and appeared in Roman Holiday and The Guns of Navarone.
Police have been notified and are investigating the theft.
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