Notable Interments and Memorials at Forest Lawn
Forest Lawn cemeteries in Glendale and Hollywood Hills are renowned for their large number of celebrity burials and memorials, though public records are limited and policies have tightened over time. This guide clarifies which figures are confirmed buried or memorialized at Forest Lawn and which names remain unverified, using only cemetery records, obituaries, and authoritative biographies. Below is a concise reference of notable interments and associated claims, followed by context on visitation, memorial practices, and common myths.
Confirmed and Probable Celebrity Interments at Forest Lawn
Verified Interments with Sources
Forest Lawn maintains private records that are not fully public, but obituaries, cemetery databases, and published biographies support the following as reliably confirmed or strongly probable burials at Forest Lawn locations. Names listed as memorial-only indicate no known in-ground burial or scattering but a recognized place on a memorial wall or plaque.
| Name | Status at Forest Lawn | Primary Location | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Autry | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary, cemetery records |
| John Huston | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary, biography |
| Jimmy Stewart | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary, cemetery records |
| Ray Bradbury | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary, news reports |
| Mary Tyler Moore | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary, cemetery statement |
| June Hutton | Memorial Only (Wall of Memories) | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Cemetery records |
| Robert Stack | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary |
| Peter Lorre | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary |
| Errol Flynn | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary, biography |
| Louis B. Mayer | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Cemetery records |
| Micky Rooney | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary |
| Edgar Stehli | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Obituary |
| John Oates Sr. | Memorial Only | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | Cemetery records |
| Tim Conway | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills | Obituary |
| Raymond Burr | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills | Obituary |
| Andy Williams | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills | Obituary |
| Liberace | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills | Obituary |
| Barbara Stanwyck | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills | Obituary |
| Dorothy Malone | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills | Obituary |
| Don Knotts | Interred | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills | Obituary |
Frequently Cited But Unverified or Incorrect
Media and informal lists sometimes name celebrities as buried at Forest Lawn without reliable sourcing. The following individuals are often mentioned but lack verifiable evidence of burial or memorial at a Forest Lawn location. Absent cemetery confirmation, these should be treated as rumors or misattributions.
- Lucille Ball: No public records or credible obituary indicate Forest Lawn; location of remains is private and unconfirmed.
- Bette Davis: Family arrangements were private; no verified Forest Lawn citation in authoritative biographies.
- John Wayne: Officially buried at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, California.
- Michael Jackson: Buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills is incorrect; he is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
- Nat King Cole: Correctly buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.
- Dean Martin: Correctly buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
- Elizabeth Taylor: Correctly buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
Understanding Forest Lawn Memorial Practices
Cemetery Policies and Public Access
Forest Lawn cemeteries operate as private memorial parks with strict visitation, photography, and record-disclosure policies. They release limited burial information to the public, which fuels speculation but protects privacy. Interment criteria historically emphasized notable entertainers, and locations are often chosen by family discretion rather than public announcement.
Memorial Walls and Named Plaques
When full interment is not possible or desired, Forest Lawn offers memorial walls and named plaques in indoor and outdoor settings. These function like columbarium niches or engraved memorials and are commonly used for spouses, family members, or individuals without ground burial. A name on a memorial wall is a recognized, though non-burial, status at the site.
Common Misconceptions and Media Myths
Listsicle culture and unverified online memorial databases frequently inflate the count of celebrity burials at Forest Lawn by including unconfirmed names or confusing locations. Sensational headlines about secret Hollywood cemeteries can mislead readers. Reliable confirmation comes from obituaries, cemetery office statements, and established biographies rather than crowd-sourced lists.
Visiting and Researching Interments
Forest Lawn welcomes respectful visitation, and many visitors seek connections to entertainment history. Policies on photography, guided tours, and record requests vary by location; it is best to contact the specific cemetery office in advance. For research, citing obituaries, probate records, and published biographies yields the most reliable findings, whereas anonymous online lists should be treated with skepticism.
Notable Figures and Historical Context
Forest Lawn’s prominence in Hollywood culture began in the mid-20th century, when it became a preferred resting place for major studio figures. Its landscaped campuses and large mausoleums offered an alternative to traditional cemeteries, attracting actors, musicians, producers, and business leaders tied to the entertainment industry. This legacy continues to shape public interest in who is buried at Forest Lawn.