Hollywood Forever is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, cremation services provider, and cultural events center in the heart of Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Founded in 1899, the national cemetery is one of the world's most historic places, and the final resting place of hundreds of Hollywood legends, including Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, Rudolph Valentino, Mickey Rooney, Tyrone Power, Douglas Fairbanks, Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone, Valerie Harper, Chris Cornell, and hundreds of others. And is also the burial site of thousands of neighborhood residents and individuals from across the globe.
The functioning crematory, mortuary, funeral home and cemetery provide lawn spaces, memorial services, cremation niches, cremation services, mausoleum crypts and a range of premium cemetery services. The Beth Olam section is one of the oldest, active Jewish cemeteries in California.
As Los Angeles’ most dynamic cultural event center, Hollywood Forever welcomes families and visitors to concerts, films, and events each year. Since 2000, Hollywood Forever has partnered with Cinespia to present cinema screenings in the summer on the Fairbanks Lawn, and the cemetery’s Dia de Los Muertos celebration is the largest outside of Mexico, attracting visitors from all over the world. Paramount Studios was built on the undeveloped south end of the original site, where the studio still operates, and the cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Sites in 1999.
To learn more about Hollywood Forever's range of premium cemetery services, make funeral or cremation arrangements for yourself or your loved one please visit the links above. For information and advice on a range of end of life questions and issues, you can view Hollywood Forever's helpful articles and resources.
by mjm2273 | Public
Actors/actresses/directors/producers who count this landmark as their final resting place (listed alphabetically)
Hollywood is famous the world over for all of its contributions to the film industry, its birth of celebrities, and its relation to the ultra rich and famous. Hollywood movies depict everything from the lows of the world to the most fantastical planets – all with the help of directors, actors, producers, and more. The Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a final resting place for many individuals who have been involved in the world of Hollywood at one point in some capacity. Let’s take a look at 5 of the most iconic celebrities buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Mel Blanc
Mel Blanc is a man who needs no introduction, but there are many who do not know him due to the nature of his work. As one of the most gifted voice actors ever (his nickname was “The Man of a Thousand Voices”), Blanc contributed to some of the most iconic and landmark cartoons and animated films. Just how iconic? Blanc voiced the following:
- Bugs Bunny
- Porky Pig
- Daffy Duck
- Sylvester
- Tweety Bird
- Pepe Le Pew
- Speedy Gonzales
- Elmer Fudd
- Yosemite Sam
- Foghorn Leghorn
- Tasmanian Devil
- Marvin the Martian
- Wile E. Coyote
- Barney Rubble and Dino on The Flintstones
- Cosmo Spacely on The Jetsons
The chances of you having heard Mel Blanc’s voice are very high!
His tombstone is engraved with Bugs Bunny’s famous words, “That’s All Folks.”
Judy Garland (and Toto)
Judy Garland is immortalized thanks to her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. The movie has injected phrases into the English language to the point that they are commonplace, such as “There’s no place like home” and “We’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Though Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz is undoubtedly her most famous role, Garland appeared in more than 30 feature films over the course of her four-decade-long career – impressive, considering her untimely death at the age of 47.
Garland’s remains were originally located in Hartsdale, NY at Ferncliff Cemetery, but at the request of her children, they were reinterred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Interestingly, Terry, the dog actor that portrayed Toto, is also memorialized at Hollywood Forever Cemetery – the only animal present within the cemetery.
Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds had a film career of ups and downs. He was an American icon after his roles in Deliverance and Smokey and the Bandit, and he later went on to direct and produce films. The Reynolds’ grave is marked with a large bronze bust of himself.
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney was one of the quintessential silent film stars who later progressed into feature films over the course of an extensive career. And when we say extensive, we mean it – he was active in the industry from 1927 to 2012.
Rooney worked alongside the aforementioned Judy Garland in a number of films and had such memorable roles as Andy Hardy, Mickey McGuire, and more. His headstone reads, “One of the greatest entertainers the world has ever known. Hollywood will always be his home.”
Victor Fleming
Victor Fleming was not an actor, but he was a director – and he holds claim to two of the most famous films to ever hit the silver screen: Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. In fact, adjusted for inflation, Gone with the Wind still holds the record for the highest-grossing film of all time, beating out other blockbusters like Avatar, Star Wars Episode IV, and Titanic.
His headstone is very simple, sporting only three words: “He Leadeth Me.”
Bayer Cemetery Brokers
Bayer Cemetery Brokers can help you sell a grave plot if you’re looking to switch burials. Contact us today for more information on how to sell your burial plot.
Although taking road trips up the coast and exploring Los Angeles' amazing cultural scene might be among the most popular things to do in Hollywood, a surprising number of visitors enjoy touring the city's iconic cemeteries. Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a Los Angeles landmark with a history dating back to 1899. The land played a starring role in early Hollywood's growth as Paramount Studios took up residence on the back half of what was originally called Hollywood Cemetery.
It has since become the cemetery of choice for hundreds of Hollywood's brightest stars, studio heads, writers, and performers. People come from all corners of the world to visit graves in the cemetery, both on self-guided tours and official guided walking tours.
Self-Guided Tour of the Most Popular Graves
It may seem awkward or a little macabre to view a cemetery as a tourist attraction, but given the star power of those who count Hollywood Forever Cemetery as their final resting place, it is almost inevitable. The headstones include names you'd otherwise see in lights or in your favorite magazines, with remains housed in a variety of settings ranging from immense mausoleums to lakeside tombs. The cemetery includes the graves of big-name producers, directors, actors, musicians, and other notable Los Angeles figures.
Griffith J. Griffith
For those outside of Los Angeles, this name may not immediately strike a chord, but the locals know it well. The grave of the man who donated the land that is now Griffith Park is marked with an obelisk. The site is near the graves of John Huston and Dee Dee Ramone.
The Ramones
Two of the members of the punk band The Ramones were laid to rest in this cemetery. Dee Dee Ramone, one of the founding members of the band, is buried near the aquarium in the northeast corner of the cemetery, while fellow founding member Johnny Ramone is buried down the road.
Bugsy Siegel
The marker for this notorious gangster is located near the corner of North Gower Street and Willoughby Avenue. Siegel died at age 41 from a fatal gunshot wound in his girlfriend's home.
Jayne Mansfield
Bombshell Jayne Mansfield was often compared to Marilyn Monroe. She died in a car accident at age 34. Her actual grave is in Pennsylvania, but fans still make a pilgrimage to her grave marker in the northeast corner of the cemetery.
Mel Blanc
Kids everywhere know the voice of Mel Blanc, who lent his chops to beloved cartoon characters such as the Tasmanian Devil and Bugs Bunny. His tomb is even inscribed with one of his signature lines, "That's All Folks."
Rudolph Valentino
Although Valentino died decades ago at the age of 31, his grave remains one of the buzziest and most frequently visited in the cemetery. Legend has it that a woman in black roams the grounds mourning the death of this handsome actor, whose grave is located in the southeastern quadrant.
Hobart J. Whitley
Another name that many folks may not immediately recognize, Whitley played a key role in naming this area while he was on his honeymoon. For that reason, he's often called the Father of Hollywood. His grave is in the northwest corner of the cemetery.
Cecil B. DeMille
Renowned for his lavish wedding presents and prolific career as a director, DeMille's tomb in the northwest section of Hollywood Forever Cemetery remains a popular spot for visiting tourists. He directed more than 50 movies, both silent and with sound, including iconic flicks like "Cleopatra" and "The Ten Commandments."
Guided Tours of Hollywood Forever Cemetery
If you prefer taking guided tours, the two-and-a-half hour Hollywood Forever Cemetery Walking Tour is a great way to see the resting places of all the stars buried onsite. The tour company also offers alternate tours, such as the Jewish Heritage tour that focuses on the lives of Hollywood Forever's Jewish residents, including stops at the Beth Olam Mausoleum, Bugsy Siegel's grave, Charles Feldman's grave, and the Anne Frank Memorial. Another alternate tour, Hidden Hollywood, takes you to the graves of more obscure stars, such as director William Beaudine, silent stars Renee Adoree and Karl Dane, and the Talmadge Sisters.
Catch a Flick at the Cemetery
In what can only be described as a surreal experience, you can actually snack on popcorn while watching movies at the cemetery. During the summer months, Hollywood Forever Cemetery opens its gates, dims its lights, and cues "Action!" with its Cinespia outdoor movie series. During movie screenings, Fairbanks Lawn transforms into an outdoor theater as patrons line up with their low chairs, blankets, and pillows. A DJ warms up the crowd before and after the movie.
Other Nearby Attractions
After touring the cemetery, you can continue exploring the darker side of Hollywood with Dearly Departed Tours, a tour company specializing in the tragic history of stars. This multimedia bus tour takes you deep into the macabre side of celebrity deaths, as your guide explores cases such as Michael Jackson, Janis Joplin, and Whitney Houston in addition to lesser known names. You have access to audio clips and crime scene photos and even get to see the final resting places of stars in other cemeteries.
For something a little more lighthearted, you could travel a few blocks away to Paramount Pictures to explore more than a century of Hollywood history on one of its studio tours. Get a behind-the-scenes view of Hollywood's longest running movie studio for a better understanding of what goes into the making of your favorite movies.
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