Visiting Hollywood’s Famous Graves: Pierce Brothers Memorial Park

“Rich. Famous. Dead: Visiting Hollywood's Famous Graves” Part  2  - Pierce Brothers Memorial Park

By Retro Road Reporter Keith Valcourt

I'm always on the hunt for fun, free retro-rific activities and trips. And with Halloween quickly upon us I found myself searching for something a little spooky. But rather than check out a haunted hayride or house of horror I decided to take a more star studded route. Where else in Tinseltown are you guaranteed to be surrounded by the rich and famous at any time than at Hollywood's famous cemeteries. At these great graveyards you are never more than six feet from celebrities. All you need is a shovel.

I'm kidding about the shovel part.

For this Retro Road Report, I decided it was time to visit the final resting places of some of the biggest names in film, TV, music and more. Where else but in Hollywood can you spend the day with everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Don Knotts to Dean Martin and Paul Walker? Nowhere.

The technical term is “Graving” aka visiting the graves of deceased stars. Lots of people from European tourists to everyday “Joes” like me do it. And not just at Halloween. Many take pictures. Some even do etchings of the headstones. And a few even picnic at the graves of their faves. There are several star-studded cemeteries to choose from in Los Angeles area. I picked my top two. Both selected for their easy access and sheer volume of well known residents.

Pierce Brothers Memorial Park

More intimate than Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills,  Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park off Wilshire Blvd in Westwood near the UCLA campus. Finding this place is a bit of a challenge because this tiny cemetery is tucked away behind several large office buildings. But it's worth the trip because once you do you will be in L.A.'s smallest, yet most densely packed, celebrity graveyard. No map needed here. Just look and you will see.

Upon entering the gates look to your right and you'll find Don Knotts, Mel Torme and actor John Cassavettes. Baking soda kingpin Armand Hammer is also there is a giant structure (guess that stuff made him rich.) Also there is the lovely Eva Gabor. On the first mausoleum wall you'll find “In Cold Blood” writer Truman Capote and the little girl from the “Poltergeist” movies Heather O'Rourke. A few alcoves down is wild man drummer Buddy Rich. Ironically he's interned in the “Tranquility” section. Further down is the cemetery’s number one attraction—Marilyn Monroe.

Her tomb is easy to find for a number of reasons: #1 the marble of her crypt is nicer than all the ones around it. #2: there are always fresh flowers. Always. #3: There is usually a crowd of tourist hanging about.

Keep walking down to the to the “Sanctuary Of Love” and spend some time with “The King Of Cool”-- Dean Martin. The suave Oscar Levant is right across the wall as well. In the grass lay Eve Arden, Beach Boy Carl Wilson, Burt Lancaster and murdered Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten. Three sitcom giants Jim Backus (“Gilligan's Island/”Mr Magoo”,) Eddie Albert and “Mr. French” himself Sebastian Cabot can also be found. His “Family Affair” co-star Brian Keith is in the far wall at this graveyard. Why not make stops at the graves of Minnie Ripperton, Natalie Wood, pin up Bettie Page, Richard Conte, songwriter Sammy Cahn and Donna Reed? I told you this place was packed. If that isn't enough two of the cast of “Hogan's Heroes” also spend eternity in the grass. The graves Bob Crane and Richard Dawson are within 15 feet of each other.

At the farthest part of the tiny park you will find a slew of Hollywood Heavyweights including Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, the eternal beauty Farrah Fawcett and talk show giant Merv Griffin. There is also “Archie Bunker” himself Carroll O’Connor, comic Rodney Dangerfield, who's stone reads “There Goes The Neighborhood,” and Miss Peggy Lee. Music legends Frank Zappa and Roy Orbison are also here but in unmarked graves.

A sad element of this place is that several children of celebrities who died tragically are here. Carrol O'connor's son Hugh and Kirk Douglas's son Eric, both who died of drug issues, are buried as is Brian Keith's daughter Daisy who committed suicide. Murdered actress Dominique Dunn (daughter of writer Dominik Dunne) is nearby recent resident Sage Stallone. The son of actor Sly Stallone, Sage appeared as his son in one of the “Rocky” movies had a lifelong battle with drugs.

If you only have time to visit one famous graveyard then Pierce Brothers is the place. I didn't even mention the graves of George C. Scott, Fanny Brice, Karl Malden, James Coburn and Peter Falk. Yes, there are more dead celebs here per square inch than anywhere in the world.

If you want to explore even more cemeteries I also recommend you pay a visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Santa Monica Blvd in the heart of Hollywood. There you will find a pair of “Little Rascals” (Darla and Alfalfa) as well as two Ramones band mates (Johnny & Dee Dee,) the voice of Bugs Bunny (Mel Blanc) and the b-movie beauty murdered by Phil Spector (Lana Clarkson.) Hollywood Forever is the most active graveyard when it comes to self promotion. They host everything from rock concerts to outdoor movie screenings there several nights a year. You really haven't lived until you've seen “Plan 9 From Outer Space” projected on the mausoleum wall.

Remember a few rules whenever you do visit these sites. Be respectful, don't step on headstones and speak in hushed tones. People may be grieving their non-famous recently dead relatives nearby. Also don't go alone. And remember underneath everything (including the dirt) the celebrities you are visiting are just like you and I. Except they were once rich and famous. And now they are dead. Very, very dead.