26 famous celebs laid to rest near Marilyn Monroe
26 famous celebs laid to rest near Marilyn Monroe
Ricardo RamirezSun, March 22, 2026 at 4:51 PM UTC
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26 famous celebs laid to rest near Marilyn Monroe
It’s hard to imagine Marilyn Monroe has been gone so long, given how influential the award-winning actress remains.
Earlier last year, she was digitally reimagined for China’s fashion mag CF, and Netflix released a biopic based on her life called “Blonde,” based on the novel of the same name written by Joyce Carol Oates published back in 2000.
Of course, each year on the anniversary of her death, a “news of the weird” story tends to pop up as well: Richard Poncher, a wealthy California man, bought the tomb above Monroe’s at some point before his death in 1986, and asked to be buried “face down” — that is, “lying on top” of the bombshell actress and model.
Monroe’s cultural reach has never dimmed. She remains one of the most searched, studied, and imitated figures in the history of American popular culture. Documentaries, academic papers, fashion tributes, and viral social media posts keep her image in perpetual circulation, decades after her death at the age of 36.
It may have been intended as funny by Poncher, but after a lifetime of indignities suffered by the actress — most often at the hands of men — it just feels insulting to a lot of folks. When Poncher’s wife put his tomb up for sale several years ago, she was asking $4.5 million in an eBay auction and got it, though the buyer later reneged on the purchase. It seems Poncher is still there today, though, riding the actress’s fame well into his afterlife.
And of course, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner is buried right next to her (her unauthorized photos were used to launch the magazine, and he felt a special connection to her — no word from Monroe if the feeling was mutual).
Image credit: Arthur Dark / Wikimedia Commons
So what does all of this have to do with Monroe slipping off this mortal coil?
Even in death she is a trendsetter — the visiting of celebrity graves in America started in no small part with her. Her gravesite — located in crypt number 24 in the “Corridor of Memories” at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles — is visited by tourists from around the world who leave lipstick kisses on the gravestone. The red roses that her husband Joe DiMaggio used to send stopped appearing after he died.
After her death, dozens of famous people were buried in this location.
Image credit: IMDb
Celebrities who share a cemetery
Because there is a finite amount of land, and an infinite amount of dead people, burial plots in this and many other cemeteries started being sold or flipped like real estate in the 1980s. That plot that you bought for $1,500 back in 1976 for your aunt might be next to someone famous and worth hundreds of thousands — or even millions — of dollars to the right buyer.
Monroe sparked the beginning of final resting places becoming tourist attractions. After Monroe, other celebrities began buying plots in the now famous cemetery where dozens of famous and infamous people reside forevermore.
Here, we look at some of Monroe’s most notable neighbors in the afterlife.
Image credit: Paramount Pictures / IMDb
Eve Arden
Eve Arden (1908–1990), actress, comedian. She died on Nov. 12, 1990. Eve started her career on Broadway and is best known for her roles in Mildred Pierce and Grease.
Image credit: raybradbury.com
Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012), author, died June 5, 2012. Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 as well as other science fiction classics.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Fanny Brice
Fanny Brice (1891–1951), actress, comedian, singer. She died on May 29, 1951 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Brice was the inspiration for the movie Funny Girl, in which she was portrayed by Barbra Streisand.
Image credit: Eric Koch / Anefo/Wikimedia Commons
Truman Capote
Truman Capote (1924–1984), author of In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She died Aug. 25, 1984 of liver disease and a drug overdose. Capote’s ashes are also in Crooked Pond, New York.
Image credit: A&M Records / Wikimedia Commons
Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter (1950–1983), singer, drummer of The Carpenters. She died of heart failure due to anorexia nervosa on Feb. 4, 1983.
Image credit: Cyotethndr / Wikimedia Commons
Jackie Collins
Jackie Collins (1937–2015) was a famous British romance novelist, screenwriter and producer. She wrote the bestselling novel Hollywood Wives. She was also the sister of Dynasty star Joan Collins. Jackie passed on Sept. 19, 2015 of breast cancer.
Image credit: Alan Light / Wikimedia Commons
Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield (1921–2004), comedian, actor. He was the comedian behind the catchphrase “Can’t get no respect,” from his Grammy-winning album No Respect. He died from surgery complications, Oct. 4, 2004.
Image credit: Public Domain / Wikipedia
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas (1916–2020), actor. The father of actor Michael Douglas, the elder Douglas was awarded an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement before his death, Feb. 5, 2020, at the age of 103.
Image credit: Charlie’s Angels promotional image / IMDb
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett (1947–2009), actres. She was best known for the original TV series Charlie’s Angels and her signature feathered blonde hair. She died June 25, 2009 of cancer.
Image credit: DepositPhotos.com
Eva Gabor
Eva Gabor (1919–1995), actress. The Hungarian-born actress and socialite starred in the popular TV sitcom Green Acres. She was the sister of Zsa Zsa and Magda Gabor. Eva is buried a few feet away from her Acres co-star Eddie Albert.
Image credit: DepositPhotos.com
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Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin (1925–2007), producer, television host, and singer. He created Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, and was the host of The Merv Griffin Show. He died Aug. 12, 2007, of prostate cancer.
Image credit: DepositPhotos.com
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner (1926–2017). He was the founder and publisher of Playboy magazine. Hefner is buried next to Marilyn Monroe, whose unauthorized images he used to launch the magazine. He died Sept. 27, 2017.
Image credit: CBS/YouTube
Florence Henderson
Florence Henderson (1934–2016), actress, singer and television host. She was best known for playing Carol Brady, the mother, on The Brady Bunch. Henderson also starred in Broadway productions. She died of heart failure on Nov. 24, 2016.
Image credit: Public Domain / CBS Television / Wikimedia Commons
Don Knotts
Don Knotts (1924–2006), actor and comedian. The five-time Emmy winner’s most famous role was Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show in the 1960s; he had a comeback as lecherous landlord Ralph Furley on Three’s Company in the 1970s. He died on Feb. 24, 2006.
Image credit: Paramount Pictures / IMDb.com
Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster (1913–1994), actor. He was a popular early Hollywood star; he won Best Actor at the Academy Awards in 1960 for the title role in Elmer Gantry. He died on Oct. 20, 1994.
Image credit: Paramount Pictures / IMDb
Janet Leigh
Janet Leigh (1927–2004), actress. Though she’d had modest success in the 1950s, she is best known for her role in Hitchcock’s Psycho. Her daughter is actress Jamie Lee Curtis. Janet died Oct. 3, 2004.
Image credit: ABC / Wikimedia Commons
Dean Martin
Dean Martin (1917–1995), actor and singer. He was known as the “King of Cool” and a member of the Las Vegas “Rat Pack” with Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. He died on Dec. 25, 1995, of smoking-related emphysema.
Image credit: David Shoenfelt / Wiki Commons
Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison (1936–1988), singer. He was best known for a falsetto voice on hit songs like “Oh, Pretty Woman” and “Crying.” He died on Dec. 6, 1988. His grave is unmarked at the famous cemetery.
Image credit: Meribona / Wikimedia Commons
Bettie Page
Bettie Page (1923–2008), model and pinup queen. She is best remembered for her risqué photos and her blunt-cut black bangs, Page was an early Playboy Playmate of the Month. She died on Dec. 11, 2008, at age 85.
Image credit: William P. Gottlieb / Wikimedia Commons / Library of Congress / Public Domain
Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich (1917–1987), drummer, bandleader. This jazz drummer is considered one of the greatest. He played with Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, and Artie Shaw. He played till the end of his life. He died on April 2, 1987, of causes related to a malignant brain tumor.
Image credit: Epic Records / Wikimedia Commons
Minnie Riperton
Minnie Riperton (1947–1979), singer with a four-octave range, known for “Lovin’ You.” She was the mother of actress/comedian Maya Rudolph. Her gravestone reads: “Lovin’ you is easy ’cause you’re beautiful.” She died on July 12, 1979, of breast cancer.
Image credit: Publicity Photo for The Hustler, 1961 / Unknown Photographer/ Wikimedia Commons
George C. Scott
George C. Scott (1927–1999), actor. Famous for his tough-guy roles, he starred in notable films such as Dr. Strangelove and Patton. He refused his Best Actor award for Patton on the grounds that art can’t be judged. His grave is unmarked. He died on Sept. 22, 1999.
Image credit: Capitol Records / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Carl Wilson
Carl Wilson (1946–1998), singer and co-founder of The Beach Boys, lead guitarist and lead backup. He also sang lead on one of their biggest hits, “Good Vibrations.” His grave reads: “The Heart and Voice of an Angel. The World is a Far Lesser Place Without You.” He died of lung cancer on Feb. 6, 1998.
Image credit: MGM publicity still / Wikimedia Commons
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood (1938–1981), actress. Wood’s career started as a child in the movie Miracle on 34th Street and continued into her teens and adulthood, with roles in Rebel Without a Cause and West Side Story, before her mysterious death off a boat off the coast of Santa Catalina Island on Nov. 29, 1981. Ruled a drowning, the case is still open, and her husband at the time, Robert Wagner, remains a person of interest.
Image credit: Jean-Luc/Wikimedia Commons
Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa (1940–1993), composer, musician, satirist, leader of The Mothers of Invention. You won’t find Frank’s remains at the cemetery — though they are there. In typical nonconformist Zappa fashion, his grave is unmarked. He died on Dec. 4, 1993, of prostate cancer.
Wrap up
Westwood Village Memorial Park is one of the most star-studded pieces of real estate in Los Angeles, which, given the competition, is saying something. What began as Monroe’s final address became a destination, then an institution, drawing visitors from every corner of the world who come to pay their respects not just to one legend, but to an entire neighborhood of them. In this small corner of the city, the candle in the wind has never really gone out.
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