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Actors arrive for the premiere of 'Gran Torino'

(Nina Prommer / EPA)

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Thursday: The day in photos

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Gran Torino, Herbie and other cool car stars

By Patrick Kevin Day, Stephanie Lysaght, Jevon Phillips and Lora Victorio, Times Staff Writers

How high has the car risen in the power-mad ranks of Hollywood movie stardom? In the case of Clint Eastwood's latest film, "Gran Torino," it's scored a spot on the red carpet. Not too bad for a title character who utters not a single line in the movie. Not even the Death Star got to attend any of "Star Wars" many star-studded screenings.

But the 1972 Gran Torino isn't the only major car to star in a movie or TV show. It's just the luckiest -- expect to see the first paparazzi photos sans hubcaps to crop up sometime early in 2009. In the meantime, let's look back at some of the biggest four-wheeled stars of the big and small screens.