Celebrity Gravesites – A Guide To Visiting LA’s Most Famous Graves
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Nearly everyone who visits Los Angeles hopes to catch sight of one of their favorite celebrities, but this is a much rarer experience than some people realize. There is, however, one surefire way to meet some of your Hollywood heroes that often gets overlooked… Checking out some famous graves in the local cemeteries. LA is home to more celebrity gravesites than any other city in the world!
Visiting famous graves has been a hobby of mine for years and it’s something I do every time I take a trip up to LA. It’s kind of like an offbeat, less crowded, more rewarding alternative to seeing all the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend your stay in Los Angeles that isn’t too much of a tourist attraction, I strongly recommend visiting the final resting places of the stars who made Hollywood what it is today. You’d be amazed how few people visit these graves!
That being said, it can be tough to find who you’re looking for if you haven’t done a ton of research. I’ve become a bit of an expert on this subject so I’ve created this guide to save you the trouble of searching dozens of websites (most of which contradict each other).
You could dedicate an entire book to this subject, but I’ll try to cover the most notable celebrity gravesites at each cemetery.
Know Before You Go:
If strolling through cemeteries isn’t something you normally do for fun, here are some helpful tips so you can get the most out of your visit.
- Download the Find a Grave app. This app has come in handy for me so many times, especially when I’ve had trouble locating a specific grave. They tell you the exact coordinates of the grave you’re looking for and it will also specify if they’re in a mausoleum or another specific part of the cemetery.
- Learn what the symbols on the headstones mean. Many headstones include symbols to represent the deceased’s religious beliefs as well as personality traits and professions. You can learn a lot about someone based on the symbols on their headstone. Bookmark this handy guide, 86 Beautiful Headstone Symbols and Their Meanings Explained, for reference.
- Know your cemetery etiquette. Cemeteries are thought of as “morbid” to most people, but they can also be a beautiful place to spend a peaceful afternoon. It’s not uncommon to see people having picnics, taking walks, and even doing yoga classes in these cemeteries. That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that there are some visitors who are still mourning loved ones. Be respectful while you’re there.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Address: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Map of Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Forever Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries you will ever visit. Fans of Hollywood’s early days will be especially excited to see this particular cemetery. This is the ideal resting place for Hollywood royalty. The architecture and fountains are gorgeous. Peacocks roam the grounds freely. They even screen movies at night during certain times of the year. Check out Cinespia to see if there are any movie screenings while you’re in town!
Famous Residents
- Silent film era: Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Marion Davies, Cecil B. Demille, Virginia Rappe, Janet Gaynor, Florence Lawrence, the Talmadge sisters, William Desmond Taylor
- Golden age of Hollywood: Jayne Mansfield, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Vampira (Maila Nurmi), Peter Lorre, Fay Wray, Bebe Daniels, Nelson Eddy, Clifton Webb, Tyrone Power, Darla Hood, Victor Flemming, Joan Hackett, Mel Blanc, Hattie McDaniel, Frances Drake
- Modern celebrities: Anne Heche, Anton Yelchin, Estelle Getty
- Famous musicians: Johnny Ramone, Chris Cornell, George Harrison
- Other notable graves: Toto from the Wizard of Oz is immortalized here with a bronze statue, although her actual grave was destroyed due to freeway construction. Charlie Chaplin’s mother and son (Hannah Chaplin and Charles Chaplin Jr.) are also interred here.
Pro Tip: You can ask for a map of Hollywood Forever Cemetery at the front offices when you first enter. The map also has a list on the back of most of the celebrity gravesites.
Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park
Address: 1218 Glendon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Map of Pierce Brothers Westwood Memorial Park
This peaceful graveyard is in such an unlikely location that most people have no idea it’s there. People drive up and down these city streets and have no idea that Marilyn Monroe is buried just a stone’s throw away. It’s considerably smaller than any other cemetery on this list, but there are a surprising number of big-name celebrities buried here. I highly encourage you to listen to this episode of the Astonishing Legends podcast called “Celebrity Cemetery” while you’re there for a self-guided audio tour of this unassuming little graveyard.
Pro Tip: This cemetery is notoriously difficult to locate. There are no signs, just a small unnamed alley you’d only find if you knew what you were looking for.
If you’re coming down Wilshire Blvd. there is a small alley just East of Glendon Ave. Turn into the alley and drive until you dead end into the cemetery.
Famous Residents
- Golden age of Hollywood: Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Bettie Page, Dean Martin, Jack Lemmon, Merv Griffin, Donna Reed, Bob Crane, Billy Wilder, Kirk Douglas, Don Knotts, Walter Matthau, Peter Falk, Rodney Dangerfield, Janet Leigh, Eva Gabor, Lew Ayres
- Modern celebrities: Farrah Fawcett, Heather O’Rourke, Robert Stack, Hugh Hefner, Frank Zappa
- Other notable graves: Playwright & author Truman Capote, jazz singer Peggy Lee
Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills
Address: 6300 Forest Lawn Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Map of Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills
It’s important to note that Forest Lawn is split into two different locations: Hollywood Hills and Glendale. The Hollywood Hills cemetery is much smaller than the one in Glendale (still pretty big, though), but there are still many famous graves to visit!
Famous Residents
- Silent film era: Buster Keaton, Fritz Lang
- Golden age of Hollywood: Bette Davis, Debbie Reynolds, Stan Laurel, Rod Steiger, Telly Savalas, Steve Allen, Don Rickles
- Modern celebrities: Carrie Fisher, Matthew Perry, Paul Walker, Bob Saget, Brittany Murphy, Marty Feldman, Michael Clarke Duncan, Bob Barker, John Ritter
- Famous musicians: Andy Gibb, Liberace, Lou Rawls
- Other notable graves: Batman creator Bob Kane
Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale
Address: 1712 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205
Map of Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale
A warning: this place is MASSIVE. Be ready to walk (or drive) a lot. Forest Lawn Glendale is second only to Hollywood Forever Cemetery when it comes to the number of celebrity gravesites you can visit. Some might even say the names here are even more exciting (Walt Disney, Michael Jackson, Clarke Gable, Elizabeth Taylor… I don’t know about you but I’m feeling starstruck).
Famous Residents
- Silent film era: Mary Pickford, Theda Bara, Clara Bow, Harold Lloyd, Lon Chaney, Alla Nazimova, Madge Bellamy
- Golden age of Hollywood: Walt Disney, Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Carole Lombard, Lauren Bacall, Jean Harlow, Errol Flynn, Chico & Gummo Marx, Larry Fine, Dorothy Dandridge, Norma Shearer
- Famous musicians: Michael Jackson, Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr, Gene Austin, the Andrews Sisters
The Holy Cross Cemetery & Mortuary
Address: 5835 W Slauson Ave, Culver City, CA 90230
Map of Holy Cross Cemetery & Mortuary
This cemetery is home to some of Hollywood’s predominant Catholic stars. The most famous graves here are probably Bela Lugosi and Bing Crosby, but there are definitely several other celebrities worth paying your respects to while you’re there.
Famous Residents
- Golden age of Hollywood: Bela Lugosi, Bing Crosby, Rita Hayworth, Loretta Young, Mary Astor, Jack Haley, Ray Bolger, Charles Boyer, Mack Sennett
- Modern celebrities: John Candy
- Other notable graves: Manson Family murder victim Sharon Tate
Other Notable Celebrity Gravesites
I’ve done my best to cover as many of LA’s famous graves as I can possibly squeeze into one post, but we’ve just skimmed the surface! There are more celebrity gravesites in the City of Angels than any other place in the world, so don’t be surprised if you find some famous names that weren’t even mentioned on this list. If you’d like to venture beyond the cemeteries I covered in detail, these would be a great place to start:
- Inglewood Park Cemetery: Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Chet Baker, Betty Grable, Gypsy Rose Lee, Sugar Ray Robinson
- Home of Peace Cemetery: Louis B. Mayer, Fanny Brice, Jerome “Curly” Howard, Shemp Howard, Jack & Harry Warner (Warner Brothers)
- Calvary Cemetery: Mabel Normand, Lou Costello, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore, Jack Reagan
- Hillside Memorial Park: Shelley Winters, Leonard Nimoy, Eddie Cantor, Moe Howard
- Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park: Oliver Hardy, Curly-Joe De Rita, Criswell
- Pacific View Memorial Park: John Wayne, Kobe Bryant
- Oakwood Memorial Park: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
- Eden Memorial Park: Groucho Marx
- Rosedale Cemetery: Anna Mae Wong
- Ascension Cemetery: Nicole Simpson
- Desert Memorial Park (Palm Springs): Frank Sinatra
Stay tuned for more content in the future about celebrity gravesites from around the world! I always try to include some famous graves in my itinerary when I travel, whether it’s Chicago’s incredible Graceland cemetery, Bruce Lee’s iconic Seattle grave, or Victorian cemeteries in the English countryside with long histories of legendary hauntings. Meanwhile, check out this amazing guide to famous graves at Arlington National Cemetery!
FAQ’s
Marilyn Monroe is buried (well, interred) at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park in crypt 24 in the Corridor of Memories. If you’re standing at the cemetery’s front gates, turn left and walk towards the large white crypt walls. You’ll find her tomb along the wall that parallels Wilshire Blvd. It’s usually covered in lipstick kiss marks, so you should be able to spot it pretty easily.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery has more celebrity gravesites than any other cemetery in the world. Many actors and filmmakers who made Hollywood what it is today are laid to rest here including Rudolph Valentino, Judy Garland, Cecil B. Demille, and many more. Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale is a close second with nearly as many famous graves as Hollywood Forever.
Lucille Ball was cremated and her ashes were buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, a cemetery known for its many famous graves. However, in 2002, her family had her transported and re-buried in their family plot in Jamestown, NY where she remains to this day.
Yes, you can visit Marilyn Monroe’s grave! Most people are unaware of where Marilyn Monroe is buried and would be surprised to learn that she’s buried at Pierce Brothers Westwood Memorial Park, right in the heart of west Los Angeles. Pierce Brothers is open to the public seven days a week, and it’s free to visit!
Despite urban legends about Walt Disney’s head being cryogenically frozen somewhere under Disneyland, Walt is in fact buried in a grave at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. His grave is open to the public and free to visit.
Matthew Perry is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. His grave is located in the Sanctuary of Treasured Love in the Court of Remembrance, near the graves of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
Pro Tips
- Check out this article, What It Means To Leave Coins On Graves, as you will almost certainly come across this in any given cemetery.
- If you’re having a hard time locating any celebrity gravesites try searching for them on the Find a Grave app or website.
- Most cemeteries have roads throughout that you’re allowed to drive and park on. Just make sure you’re not parking anywhere that might get in the way.
- I’m not sure if every cemetery has this, but I know you can ask for a map of Hollywood Forever Cemetery at the front offices when you first enter.
Wow, what an informative article! I learned a lot and can’t wait to check out some of these gravesites. Andy Gibb, here I come!
Thanks! We’ll have to take another LA trip someday and pay him a visit!
This is a very detailed and informative guide to famous gravesites. Perfect for those looking for an underrated and unique experience when visiting LA. Awesome job with this!
Thanks, I hope it’s helpful!
This is so cool Nena! Informative w/amazing pics! I know you will do well!
Thanks, Teresa!
Wow! This is a very informative article, I had no idea kissing, and/or leaving coins was something people did! The ‘Find a Grave’ app sounds like a real must have. Thank you for diving into this and opening the curtain to Hollywoods lesser visited monuments.
Ps: Are you sure Walt Disneys head isn’t being cryogenically frozen somewhere under Disneyland?
Thanks for the kind words! Definitely check out the Find a Grave app. I never travel without it haha. And I mean, I can’t prove that the grave contains his head 🤔 the mystery continues.
This post is so good it has me dead. Ha ha ha
heh heh… I see what you did there
I love everything about this article. I definitely need to check out Pierce Brothers and Inglewood Park next time I’m in LA.
Well we were supposed to do Pierce Brothers on our last trip, but someone had to go and get sick haha. But yes, definitely add those to your must-see list.
I love this cemetery guide!! I’ve only ever been to the Hollywood Forever cemetery, but it was beautiful. I never knew there were so many different ones in Los Angeles alone. This makes me want to visit every single one. I also didn’t know about kissing the gravestones. I think that’s very cute!
Yesssss, they’re all totally worth seeing! Hollywood Forever is definitely the most iconic, though! Most people haven’t even seen that one so you’re ahead of the game! Bring lipsstick next time haha
Great site. Quite interesting to say the least.
I did notice you have listed at Forest Lawn in the Modern Celebrities list, Bob Barker. Bob Barker isn’t deceased. Maybe it’s his future resting place. Unless there is another famous Bob Barker. I don’t think he ready to “Come on down to Forest Lawn” 😂🤣
You are so right! His wife is buried there and he will be joining her when he passes on, which I probably should have specified haha.
What a fun adventure! Thank you for posting all this information.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for reading! 🙂
What a great write-up!!
Looking forward to more.
If you ever make it to the NYC area, we’ll have to talk 😎
You know, I’ve been really wanting to take another trip out to NYC!
Interesting. I’ve been to La Brea Tar Pits, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, & a bunch of my father’s acting auditions, but never yet to visit a graveyard in LA.
I love all of those! That’s really cool that your dad did acting auditions. I definitely recommend visiting some graveyards next time!
Do they close the cemetery if a celebrity is being interred?
I’m sure it varies from cemetery to cemetery, but I believe they typically remain open to the public even during celebrity funerals. If anything, I believe certain parts of the cemetery would temporarily close to the public. You could always call ahead and ask!