Famous People Buried in California
Let’s face it: People are obsessed with celebrities. We want to know what they are up to, who they are dating, and what they are wearing. In many ways, it’s because they appear to live a life of glamour, one that so few of us ever get a taste of. And just as we love to know how they are living their lives, we also want to know about their final resting place; another way to glean insight into how the other half lives Sometimes celebrity gravesites are mundane, but other times, they are gaudy and over-the-top, permanently ensconced in mausoleums and some of the most ornate gravesites you can imagine.
While many of our most favorite celebrities choose to be laid to rest in their hometowns, these famous celebrity graves exist in Southern California, mainly in the Los Angeles area.
Marilyn Monroe – Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park
Address: 1218 Glendon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
She’s one of the most iconic women in pop culture history, known for her film career, fashion, and relationships. Marilyn Monroe is buried in Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park, along with other famous actors and artists of her time, including Natalie Wood, Fanny Brice, Truman Capote, Rodney Dangerfield, and fittingly, director Billy Wilder, with whom Monroe collaborated with on Some Like It Hot.
Judy Garland – Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Address: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
The Hollywood Forever Cemetery was founded in 1899 and is home to the final resting place of many of the most iconic Hollywood stars, including Judy Garland who has a mausoleum there; for this reason, it is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Along with Judy Garland, other stars who reside here are Cecil B. DeMille and Douglas Fairbanks. Also more modern icons from the music world like Chris Cornell and Scott Weiland, have been laid to rest here.
Bela Lugosi – The Holy Cross Cemetery & Mortuary
Address: 5835 W Slauson Ave, Culver City, CA 90230
While Dracula is never actually dead, the Romanian actor who famously played him, Bela Lugosi, has a final resting place at The Holy Cross Cemetery & Mortuary in Culver City. The cemetery is known for its lush gardens and ponds and also serves as the final spot for stars like Bing Crosby, Rita Hayworth, John Candy, and Sharon Tate.
Jimmy Stewart – Forest Lawn Glendale
Address: 1712 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205
Even though he was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, actor It’s A Wonderful Life’s Jimmy Stewart’s final resting place is in Forest Lawn Glendale, which is also home to classic actors like Clark Gable, Mary Pickford, Humphrey Bogart, Sammy Davis Jr., George Burns, Gracie Allen, Nat King Cole, and Michael Jackson. Wouldn’t you like to see a show in the afterlife from this group?
Liberace – Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills
Address: 6300 Forest Lawn Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Humongous statues. Beautiful scenery. Would you expect Liberace to be resting anywhere else? Close to Griffith Park, Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills highlights beautiful artwork in addition to being home to famous celebrity gravesites, including Brittany Murphy, Lucille Ball, John Ritter, Buster Keaton, Nipsey Hussle, Paul Walker, and Michael Hutchence. Liberace even has a monument gravesite himself.
Ray Charles – Inglewood Park Cemetery
Address: 720 E Florence Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301
With fountains, gardens, and beautiful reflecting pools, Inglewood Park Cemetery is a beautiful spot for legendary musician Ray Charles, who has a grave in a mausoleum, as well as other influential musicians like Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and Chet Baker. But when you’re looking for Ray, make sure you look for Ray Charles Robinson—as that is how his name appears on the grave site.
As you can see, many graves of Hollywood stars are clustered together and located in one cemetery, which means that if you wish to pay your respects to a legend or icon, there’s a good chance you can pay your respects to some other icons, too.
About Opal Cremation
Obviously, the passing of a loved one is an emotional and overwhelming experience. Opal Cremation is dedicated to helping family and friends of the departed navigate through these difficult times. We offer a number of all-inclusive packages for direct cremation services that can be personalized to the needs of each family. Family and friends can make arrangements for cremation over the phone, and our dedicated care team is happy to guide you through every step of the process, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For more information, you can visit our support center. There, you’ll find a list of frequently asked questions regarding cremation and other helpful resources.