Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)

Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills). It is a prominent private cemetery located in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, California. Established in 1906 and later incorporated into the Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries chain in 1952, it is renowned as the final resting place for numerous celebrities from the entertainment industry. The park is noted for its meticulously landscaped grounds, extensive art collection, and distinctive architectural features, including replicas of historic churches.

History

The property was originally founded in 1906 as the Hollywood Cemetery, a traditional graveyard with upright headstones. In 1917, businessman Hubert Eaton, who had already transformed the original Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), acquired the struggling cemetery. Eaton's "Builder's Creed" philosophy, which aimed to create a park-like setting free from "misery-producing" markers, was not fully implemented here until after World War II. The cemetery was officially renamed Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in 1952, following its purchase by the Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries organization. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, it became an increasingly sought-after burial site for stars of Hollywood, television, and music, solidifying its status within Southern California's cultural landscape.

Notable interments

The cemetery contains the graves and memorials of a vast array of notable figures, primarily from the entertainment industry. Legendary film stars interred here include Bette Davis, Gene Autry, Buster Keaton, and Liberace. Notable musicians buried on the grounds range from rock and roll pioneer Ritchie Valens and guitarist Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band to pop icon David Cassidy. Television personalities such as John Ritter, Andy Devine, and George Gobel are also interred here. Other significant figures include artist and activist Keith Haring, astronaut L. Gordon Cooper Jr., and several victims of the Black Dahlia murder case, including Elizabeth Short herself.

Art and architecture

Following the artistic tradition of its Glendale counterpart, the park features an extensive collection of stained glass reproductions and statuary. A central architectural feature is the "Church of the Hills", a replica of a 14th-century English Gothic church, which hosts services and funerals. The grounds also contain a replica of Boston's Old North Church, known as the "Old North Church Museum". Notable artworks include a reproduction of Jean-François Millet's painting *The Angelus* and the stained glass masterpiece *The Last Supper* window. The "Court of Liberty" plaza features bronze statues of figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, alongside a replica of the Liberty Bell.

In popular culture

The cemetery's iconic status has led to numerous appearances in film, television, and music. It was a primary filming location for the 1978 musical comedy film National Lampoon's Animal House, notably for the "funeral" scene for the character Faber. The park is mentioned in Warren Zevon's song "Play It All Night Long" and in the *Simpsons* episode "Mother Simpson". Its association with celebrity burials makes it a frequent reference point in biographies and documentaries about Hollywood history, such as those covering The Doors or Bette Davis. The serene, park-like setting has also been used in various television commercials and fashion photo shoots.

Management and operations

The cemetery is owned and operated by Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, a company founded by Hubert Eaton. Management emphasizes the maintenance of its expansive 340-acre grounds as a pristine, garden-like environment, in keeping with Eaton's original vision. Operations include the sale of interment rights, the maintenance of perpetual care funds, and the hosting of thousands of visitors annually. The park offers a range of services from traditional in-ground burial and elaborate family mausoleums to cremation niches in columbaria and scattered remains in dedicated gardens. It functions as both an active mortuary and a major tourist attraction, with maps available to guide visitors to the graves of famous individuals.

Category:Cemeteries in Los Angeles Category:Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries Category:1906 establishments in California