Forest Lawn Memorial Park — Hollywood Hills is one of the six Forest Lawn Southern California cemeteries. It is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068, in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It is on the lower north slope at the east end of the Santa Monica Mountains range that overlooks North Hollywood, Universal City, and Burbank, and the overall San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.
Forest Lawn — Hollywood Hills is a park dedicated to the preservation of American history and hosts high-profile events such as an annual Veterans Day ceremony attended by dignitaries and other VIPs. Los Angeles Magazine described it as a "theme-park necropolis", paraphrasing Jessica Mitford, indicating "Forest Lawn’s kitsch was just a sophisticated strategy for lubricating the checkbooks of the grieved."
The park features such sights as:
The Court of Liberty features statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and the Birth of Liberty mosaic. At 162 feet (49 m) long and 28 feet (8.5 m) high, Birth of Liberty is the largest historical mosaic in the United States. It is composed of ten million pieces of Venetian glass and depicts twenty-five scenes from early America, from 1619-1787.The Old North Church, a precise replica of Boston's historic church, from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride". The historical rooms have documents and mementos of the colonial period.The Hall of Liberty American History Museum has a copy of the Liberty Bell and other exhibits. The museum has a 1,200-seat auditorium.Monument to Washington, a marble and bronze tribute to America's first president, created by sculptor Thomas Ball. Four of Washington's generals are honored in the memorial.The Lincoln Terrace features a 16-foot (4.9 m) bronze statue of the 16th president by Augustus St. Gaudens, flanked by a panoramic mosaic depicting key scenes from Lincoln's life.The Plaza of Mesoamerican Heritage has sculptures by Meliton Salas Rodriguez, of Guadalajara, Mexico. Salas used hand tools to first quarry, then work the native Mexican stone into precisely scaled, detailed replicas of artwork and artifacts that are representative of the Aztec, Huastec, Maya, Mixtec, Olmec, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Totonac, and Zapotec civilizations that preceded modern Mexican culture. A smooth Olmecan head, an intricate Aztec sun calendar and a sinuous Teotihuacan bas relief are some of the sculptural features of the Plaza that are set off by crushed stone walkways and complemented by groupings of Mesoamerican plants.The first Forest Lawn, in Glendale, was founded in 1906 by businessmen who hired Dr. Hubert Eaton, a firm believer in a joyous life after death. He believed that most cemeteries were "unsightly, depressing stoneyards," and pledged to create one that would reflect his optimistic beliefs and be "as unlike other cemeteries as sunshine is unlike darkness." He envisioned Forest Lawn to be "a great park devoid of misshapen monuments and other signs of earthly death, but filled with towering trees, sweeping lawns, splashing fountains, beautiful statuary, and... memorial architecture".
Before it was a cemetery, Forest Lawn was a filming location used by directors such as Carl Laemmle and Cecil B. DeMille. The climactic battle scenes for D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation were filmed there. The alternate names of the filming site are Providencia Flats, Nestor Ranch, Oak Ranch, Oak Crest Ranch, Universal Ranch/Universal City, Lasky Ranch, and Paramount Ranch until November 1927.
When Eaton (self-proclaimed as "The Builder") made known his desire to open a second Forest Lawn location in the Hollywood Hills, the local residents protested vehemently. To circumvent the protesters, Mr. Eaton sent his staff to the county morgue to claim 6 "John Does" and buried them at the corners of the property in the dark of night. In the morning, the protesters had no power because, by law, the property was now a cemetery.
California Health and Safety Code, Section 7003 “Cemetery” means either of the following: (a)Any of the following that is used or intended to be used and dedicated for cemetery purposes: (1)A burial park, for earth interments. (2)A mausoleum, for crypt or vault interments. (3)A crematory and columbarium, for cinerary interments. (b)A place where six or more human bodies are buried.
The new mortuary and cemetery opened in 1952.
Interred or entombed in the Hollywood Hills cemetery are many famous people, particularly from the entertainment industry.
Harry Ackerman (1912-1991), TV executive producerRodolfo Acosta (1920-1974), actorEdie Adams (1927-2008), actress and singerIris Adrian (1912-1994), actressPhilip Ahn (1905-1978), actorHarry Akst (1894-1963), songwriterRobert Aldrich (1918-1983), directorIrving Allen (1905-1987), producer and directorSteve Allen (1921-2000), actor, comedian, writer, and television host (unmarked grave)Don Alvarado (1904-1967), actor and directorLeon Ames (1902-1993), actorMorey Amsterdam (1908-1996), actor and comedianCarl David Anderson (1905-1991), Nobel Prize winning scientistErnie Anderson (1923-1997), television announcer of ABC, host of late-night, schlocky Ghoulardi movies, father of filmmaker, Paul Thomas AndersonMignon Anderson (1892-1983), actressLois Andrews (1924-1968), actressMichael Ansara (1922-2013), actor, father of Matthew Ansara, husband of Barbara EdenDimitra Arliss (1932-2012), actressRobert Arthur (1909-1986), producerJohn Ashley (1934-1997), actorGene Autry (1907-1998), actor, singer, and former owner of the Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLuis Ávalos (1946-2014), Cuban actorDoe Avedon (1925-2011), actress and modelPatricia Avery (1902-1973), actressTex Avery (1908-1980), animatorArt Babbitt (1907-1992), animatorLloyd Bacon (1889-1955), directorParley Baer (1914-2002), actorDavid Bailey (1933-2004), actorBuddy Baker (1918-2002), composerBonnie Lee Bakley (1956-2001), murdered wife of actor Robert BlakeJohn Ball (1911-1988), novelistLucille Ball (1911-1989), actress (original interment, now at Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown, New York) Harry Barris (1905-1962), singer, songwriter and musicianDon "Red" Barry (1912-1980), actorJudith Barsi (1978-1988), child actressGordon Bau (1907-1975), film and television make-up artistClyde Beatty (1903-1965), circus owner and lion tamerNoah Beery, Sr. (1882-1946), actor, father of actor, Noah Beery, Jr., older brother of actor, Wallace BeeryNoah Beery, Jr. (1913-1994), actor, son of actor, Noah Beery, Sr., nephew of actor, Wallace BeeryRalph Bellamy (1904-1991), actorRichard Benedict (1920-1984), actor and directorSpencer Gordon Bennet (1893-1987), directorLamont Bentley (1973-2005), actorMary Kay Bergman (1961-1999), voice-over artistFred "Rerun" Berry (1951-2003), actor/street dancer/ordained Baptist minister (unmarked grave)Gus Bivona (1915-1996), musicianWillie Bobo (1934-1983), musicianPriscilla Bonner (1899-1996), actressTom Bosley (1927-2010), actorTruman Bradley (1905-1974), actor and television announcerDelaney Bramlett (1939-2008), musicianChet Brandenburg (1897-1974), actorMary Brian (1906-2002), actressPamela Britton (1923-1974), actressAlbert "Cubby" Broccoli (1909-1996), producerJoe Brooks (1923-2007), actorLeslie Brooks (1922-2011), actress and modelWally Brown (1904-1961), actor and comedianKathie Browne (1930-2003), actressMona Bruns (1899-2000), actressEdgar Buchanan (1903-1979), actorMildred Burke (1915-1989), professional wrestlerSolomon Burke (1940-2010), singerBartine Burkett (1898-1994), actressEverett G. Burkhalter (1897-1975), politicianSmiley Burnette (1911-1967), actorJerry Buss (1933-2013), majority owner of the Los Angeles LakersGodfrey Cambridge (1933-1976), actor and comedianRoy Campanella (1921-1993), MLB Hall of Famer (cremated) Pete Candoli (1923-2008), musicianStephen J. Cannell (1941-2010), producerPhilip Carey (1925-2009), actorFrankie Carle (1903-2001), musician, pianist and bandleaderJohnny Carpenter (1914-2003), actor, director, and screenwriterDavid Carradine (1936-2009), actorJohn Carroll (1906-1979), actor and singerVirginia Carroll (1913-2009), actressNick Ceroli (1939-1985), musician, jazz drummer for Herb Alpert's Tijuana BrassMichael Chekhov (1891-1955), actor, director, novelist, and theater practitionerWarren Christopher (1925-2011), former Secretary of State and Deputy Attorney GeneralEthlyne Clair (1904-1996), actressBob Clampett (1913-1984), animatorRobert Clarke (1920-2005), actorWilliam H. Clothier (1903-1996), cinematographerBill Cody, Jr. (1925-1989), actorNudie Cohn (1902-1984), fashion designerBuddy Cole (1916-1964), musicianDennis Cole (1940-2009), actorRay Collins (1889-1965), actorDon Cornelius (1936-2012), television host and producer (cremation)Joyce Compton (1907-1997), actressChristopher Connelly (1941-1988), actorWilliam Conrad (1920-1994), actorBert Convy (1933-1991), actor and television hostRita Corday (1920-1992), actressJerome Cowan (1897-1972), actorWillie Crawford (1946-2004), Major League Baseball playerGary Crosby (1933-1995), actor and singerScatman Crothers (1910-1986), actor and musicianPauline Curley (1903-2000), actressTara Correa-McMullen (1989-2005), actressVirginia Dale (1917-1994), actressKen Darby (1909-1992), composerBeryl Davis (1924-2011), singerBette Davis (1908-1989), actressBrad Davis (1949-1991), actorGail Davis (1925-1997), actressRufe Davis (1908-1974), actorLaraine Day (1920-2007), actress, wife of Leo DurocherGene de Paul (1919-1988), composerAndré de Toth (1913-2002), directorTamara De Treaux (1959-1990), actressSandra Dee (1942-2005), actressFrank de Kova (1910-1981), actorRod Dedeaux (1914-2006), longtime USC Trojans baseball head coachReginald Denny (1891-1967), actorVernon Dent (1895-1963), actorFrank De Vol (1911-1999), composer, actorRonnie James Dio (1942-2010), heavy metal/hard rock singer and songwriter, member of Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell and DioRoy Oliver Disney (1893-1971), businessman, older brother of Walt Disney, co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, father of Roy E. DisneyEdward Dmytryk (1908-1999), directorJimmie W. Dodd, (1910-1964) actor, singer, and songwriter, host of The Mickey Mouse Club, "Mouseketeer"Jim Duffy (1937-2012), animatorMichael Clarke Duncan (1957-2012), actorJerry Dunphy (1921-2002), television news anchorLeo Durocher (1905-1991), Major League Baseball Hall of FamerDan Duryea (1907-1968), actorGeorge Duke (1946-2013), musicianArthur Edeson (1891-1970), cinematographerAnthony Eisley (1925-2003), actorJames Ellison (1910-1993), actorDan Enright (1917-1992), producerJosh Ryan Evans (1989-2002), actorMichael Evans (1920-2007), actorRichard Farnsworth (1920-2000), actorMarty Feldman (1934-1982), actor and comedianWilliam Ferrari (1901-1962), art directorJim Ferrier (1915-1986), professional golferCarrie Fisher (1956-2016), actress, author and humoristShug Fisher (1907-1984), actor, singer and songwriterRobert Florey (1900-1979), directorTony Fontane (1925-1974), singerRobert Charles Francis (1930-1955), actorMelvin Franklin (1942-1995), singer and member of The TemptationsMilton Frome (1909-1989), actorBobby Fuller (1942-1966), singerReginald Gardiner (1903-1980), actorMichael Garrison (1922-1966), producerMarvin Gaye (1939-1984), singer (cremated here; ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean)Frankie Gaye (1941-2001), singer, younger brother of Marvin GayeWally George (1931-2003), television hostAndy Gibb (1958-1988), singerHughie Gibb (1916-1992), bandleader, father of the Bee Gees and Andy Gibb.Paul Gilbert (1918-1976), actorPeggy Gilbert (1905-2007), musicianHaven Gillespie (1888-1975), songwriterRoger Gimbel (1925-2011), producerJoel Goldsmith (1957-2012), composerAlfred J. Goulding (1885-1972), director and screenwriterEarl Grant (1931-1970), musicianHoward Greenfield (1936-1986), songwriterHard Boiled Haggerty (1925-2004), professional wrestlerMonte Hale (1919-2009), actor and singerJon Hall (1915-1979), actorPorter Hall (1888-1953), actorThurston Hall (1888-1952), actorStuart Hamblen (1908-1989), actor, singer, and songwriterThomas F. Hamilton (1894-1969), founder of the Hamilton Standard propeller companyJack Hannah (1913-1994), animatorBen Hardaway (1895-1957), animator and voice-over artistAnn Harding (1902-1981), actressBob Hastings (1925-2014), actorMarvin Hatley (1905-1986), composerGeorge "Gabby" Hayes (1885-1969), actorJim Healy (1923-1994), sports commentatorNeal Hefti (1922-2008), composerHorace Heidt (1901-1986), bandleaderFlorence Henderson (1934-2016), actress and singerWanda Hendrix (1928-1981), actressHiggins (1957-1975), dog actor (urn is buried with trainer, Frank Inn)Maxine Elliott Hicks (1904-2000), actressJohn C. Holland (1893-1970), Los Angeles City Council member, 1943–67Red Holloway (1927-2012), musicianSol Hoʻopiʻi (1902-1953), musicianJean Speegle Howard (1927-2000), actress, wife of Rance Howard, mother of Ron and Clint Howard, grandmother of Bryce Dallas HowardRex Ingram (1895-1969), actorFrank Inn (1916-2002), animal trainerJill Ireland (1936-1990), actressUb Iwerks (1901-1971), animatorDennis James (1917-1997), actor and television hostAl Jarreau (1940-2017), singer and musicianCharles Jarrott (1927-2011), directorHoward Jarvis (1903-1986), political activistSybil Jason (1927-2011), child actressTony Jay (1933-2006), actor and voice-over artistKelly Johnson (1910–1990), aviation engineerI. Stanford Jolley (1900-1978), actorAllyn Joslyn (1901-1981), actorBob Kane (1915-1998), comic book artistStacy Keach, Sr. (1914-2003), actorJoseph Kearns (1907-1962), actorBuster Keaton (1895-1966), actor and comedianLemmy Kilmister (1945-2015), Musician, singer and songwriter.Lincoln Kilpatrick (1932-2004), actor (unmarked grave)Peter King (1914-1982), composerRodney King (1965-2012)James Komack (1924-1997), TV producer, screenwriter, director and actorErnie Kovacs (1919-1962), actor and comedianHelen Barbara Kruger (1913-2006), fashion designerOtto Kruger (1885-1974), actorKay E. Kuter (1925-2003), actorJack LaLanne (1914-2011), fitness and nutrition expertDorothy Lamour (1914-1996), actress and singerMuriel Landers (1921-1977), actressFritz Lang (1890-1976), directorJune Lang (1917-2005), actressGrace Lantz (1903-1992), voice-over artist, wife of Walter Lantz, voice of Woody WoodpeckerWalter Lantz (1899-1994), animator and founder of Walter Lantz ProductionsEric Larson (1905-1988), animatorNicolette Larson (1952-1997), singerPhilip H. Lathrop (1912-1995), cinematographerWesley Lau (1921-1984), actorCharles Laughton (1899-1962), actorStan Laurel (1890-1965), actor and comedian, one-half of the Laurel and Hardy duoWilliam Lava (1911-1971), composerArthur Lee (1945-2006), singer, songwriter, musicianRobert Edwin Lee (1918-1994), playwright and lyricistLance LeGault (1935-2012), actorStan Levey (1926-2005), musicianGeorge Liberace (1911-1983), actor and musician, older brother of LiberaceLiberace (1919-1987), musicianDiane Linkletter (1948-1969), daughter of Art LinkletterGlenard P. Lipscomb (1915-1970), former US CongressmanCarey Loftin (1914-1997), actor and stuntmanHicks Lokey (1904-1990), animatorJulie London (1926-2000), actress and singerLouise Lorraine (1904-1981), actressJohn Lounsbery (1911-1976), animatorOtto Ludwig (1903-1983), editorArt Lund (1915-1990), actor and singerJeffrey Lynn (1909-1995), actorKenneth MacDonald (1901-1972), actorHarriet E. MacGibbon (1905-1987), actressChummy MacGregor (1903-1973), musicianWilbur Mack (1873-1964), actorMarjorie Main (1890-1975), actressAlbert Hay Malotte (1895-1964), composerShelly Manne (1920-1984), musicianRichard Marquand (1937-1987), directorTeena Marie (1956-2010), singer and songwriter (cremation)Garry Marshall (1934-2016), writer, director, producer, and actorJack Marshall (1921-1973), guitarist, composer and conductor, father of film director/producer Frank MarshallLock Martin (1916-1959), actorStrother Martin (1919-1980), actorMichelle Triola Marvin (1932-2009), actressJunius Matthews (1890-1978), actorMatty Matlock (1907-1978), musicianFrank Mayo (1889-1963), actorLarry McCormick (1933-2004), television news anchorPat McCormick (1927-2005), comedianEd McMahon (1923-2009), television host (cremation)Caroline McWilliams (1945-2010), actressRalph Meeker (1920-1988), actorMartin Melcher (1915-1968), producerSam Melville (1936-1989), actorRafael Méndez (1906-1981), musicianChuck Menville (1940-1992), TV animator and writer, father of voice actor and musician, Scott MenvilleDonald Mills (1915-1999), singer and member of The Mills BrothersHarry Mills (1913-1982), singer and member of The Mills BrothersVictor Milner (1893-1972), cinematographerCyril J. Mockridge (1896-1979), composerPaul Monette (1945-1995), author and poetAlvy Moore (1921-1997), actorVicki Morgan (1952-1983), model, socialite, and murder victimBrittany Murphy (1977-2009), actress, singer, voice artistTimothy Patrick Murphy (1959-1988), actorSimon Monjack (1970-2010), producer, screenwriter, husband of actress Brittany MurphyBurt Mustin (1884-1977), actorJohn Myhers (1921-1992), actorHarriet Nelson (1909-1994), actress and singerOzzie Nelson (1906-1975), actor and musicianRicky Nelson (1940-1985), actor and singerRed Nichols (1905-1965), musicianJack Nimitz (1930-2009), musicianOrry-Kelly (1897-1964), costume designer for Warner Bros.Donald O'Connor (1925-2003), actor, singer and dancerRon O'Neal (1937-2004), actorWilliam T. Orr (1917-2002), TV producer, founder and head of Warner Bros. TelevisionFrank Orth (1880-1962), actorBud Osborne (1884-1964), actorNestor Paiva (1905-1966), actorJoy Page (1924-2008), actressMaria Palmer (1917-1981), actressCecilia Parker (1914-1993), actressJean Parker (1915-2005), actressHank Patterson (1888-1975), actorBill Paxton (1955-2017), actorKenneth Peach (1903-1988), cinematographerBill Peet (1915-2002), animatorJack Pepper (1902-1979), actorBrock Peters (1927-2005), actorFreddie Perren (1943-2004), musicianJack Perrin (1896-1967), actorGeorge O. Petrie (1912-1997), actorEsther Phillips (1935-1984), singerCharles Pierce (1926-1999), actor and female impersonatorDaphne Pollard (1891-1978), actressSnub Pollard (1889-1962), actor and comedianTony Pope (1947-2004), voice-over artistJeff Porcaro (1954-1992), musician, drummer for TotoMike Porcaro (1955-2015), bassist for Toto, younger brother of Jeff PorcaroDon Post (1902-1979), make-up artistJohn Clinton Porter (1871-1959), former mayor of Los AngelesFreddie Prinze (1954-1977), actor and comedianAlan Purwin (1961-2015), helicopter pilotGeorge Raft (1901-1980), actorAmanda Randolph (1896-1967), actressLillian Randolph (1898-1980), actressLou Rawls (1933-2006), singerHugh Reilly (1915-1998), actorBert Remsen (1925-1999), actorRay Rennahan (1896-1980), cinematographerDorothy Revier (1904-1993), actressReynaldo Rey (1940-2015), actor, comedian, TV personalityDebbie Reynolds (1932-2016), actress and singerJohn Ritter (1948-2003), actorJason Robards Sr. (1892-1963), actor, father of actor, Jason RobardsGale Robbins (1921-1980), actress and singerDar Robinson (1947-1986), film stuntmanJay Robinson (1930-2013), actorKasey Rogers (1925-2006), actressJohn Roseboro (1933-2002), MLB playerJoe E. Ross (1914-1982), actor and comedianRuth Royce (1893-1971), actressMiklós Rózsa (1907-1995), composerDon Rudolph (1931-1968), MLB playerSabu (1924-1963), actorBoris Sagal (1923-1981), TV & film director, father of actresses, Katey, Jean and Liz SagalJack Sahakian (1931-1995), hairdresser and actorIsabel Sanford (1917-2004), actressGeorge Savalas (1924-1985), actorTelly Savalas (1922-1994), actorJohnny Sekka (1934-2006), actorReta Shaw (1912-1982), actressLeon Shamroy (1901-1974), cinematographerLarry Shay (1897-1988), songwriterRobert Shayne (1900-1992), actorRoberta Sherwood (1913-1999), singer (unmarked grave)Teru Shimada (1905-1988), actorMickey Simpson (1913-1985), actorPhillips Smalley (1865-1939), actor and directorJack Soo (1917-1979), actorOlan Soule (1909-1994), actorRuth St. Denis (1879-1978), dancer and choreographerRaymond St. Jacques (1930-1990), actorTim Spencer (1908-1974), actor and singerJack Starrett (1936-1989), actor and directorBob Steele (1907-1988), actorRod Steiger (1925-2002), actorGeorge Stevens (1904-1975), directorMcLean Stevenson (1927-1996), actorJay Stewart (1918-1989), television and radio announcerGlenn Strange (1899-1973), actorFred Stone (1873-1959), actorVictor Sutherland (1889-1968), actorH.N. Swanson (1899-1961), Hollywood literary agentWilliam Talman (1915-1968), actorVic Tayback (1930-1990), actorRod Taylor (1930-2015), actorZola Taylor (1938-2007), singerJack Teagarden (1905-1964), musicianFrankie Thomas (1921-2006), actorMartha Tilton (1915-2006), singerWayne Tippit (1932-2009), actorGeorge Tomasini (1909-1964), editorPinky Tomlin (1907-1987), actor and musicianLeo Tover (1902-1964), cinematographerBobby Troup (1918-1999), actor and musicianCharles Trowbridge (1882-1967), actorTamara De Treaux ((1959-1990), actressForrest Tucker (1919-1986), actorLoyal Underwood (1893-1966), actor (unmarked grave)Lee Van Cleef (1925-1989), actorDick Van Patten (1928-2015), actorWally Vernon (1905-1970), actorKatherine Victor (1923-2004), actressAl Viola (1919-2007), musicianJimmy Wakely (1914-1982), actor and singerPaul Walker (1973-2013), actorEddy Waller (1889-1977), actorLarry Walters (1949-1993), truck driver known as "Lawnchair Larry" or "The Lawn Chair Pilot who flew a lawn chair with weather balloons"Kent Warner (1943-1984), costume designerRuth Waterbury (1896-1982), film criticPaul Weatherwax (1900-1960), editorJack Webb (1920-1982), actor, producer, and directorFrank Wells (1932-1994), Disney presidentBilly West (1892-1975), actor and comedianNorman Whitfield (1940-2008), songwriter and composerClaire Whitney (1890-1969), actressRichard Whorf (1906-1966), actor, director, and producerCrane Wilbur (1886-1973), actor and directorJess Willard (1881-1968), world heavyweight boxing championBill Williams (1915-1992), actor (unmarked grave)Guinn "Big Boy" Williams (1899-1962), actorRhys Williams (1897-1969), actorRoy Williams (1907-1976), animator, The Mickey Mouse Club MouseketeerVesta Williams (1957-2011), singerDick Wilson (1916-2007), actorMarie Wilson (1916-1972), actress and comedian, wife of Robert FallonPaul Winfield (1941-2004), actorCharles Winninger (1884-1969), stage and film actorDavid L. Wolper (1928-2010), producerJohn Wooden (1910-2010), UCLA Bruins men's basketball coachIlene Woods (1929-2010), actress, singer, and voice-over artistRalph Yearsley (1896-1928), actorSnooky Young (1919-2011), musicianVasyl Yemetz (1891-1982), bandurist, composer, founder of the Ukrainian Bandurist ChorusPaul Zastupnevich (1921-1997), costume designerArnold Ziffel (1964-1972), pig actor, Arnold on Green Acres (urn is buried with trainer, Frank Inn)George Zucco (1886-1960), actor
