How many times have you walked through a cemetery and noticed the writing on the tombstones? In my profession, I am constantly looking up the names of famous burials, so I have come across wonderfully creative epitaphs in my travels. Not only can the famous be smart in death, but the dark are just as enigmatic in their last words. While strolling through Westwood Memorial Park, famous for the burial of Marilyn Monroe, I came across the grave of funny Rodney Dangerfield.
If you look at his stone, just below his name it reads “There goes the neighborhood.” A neighbor of Mr. Dangerfield’s is the great television presenter, Merv Griffin. His famous phrase “I’ll be right back after these messages” was changed to “I’ll be back NO I’ll be right back after these messages.” Bringing a smile to the face of anyone old enough to remember the Merv Griffin show. Right behind these famous people is the grave of Mr. Jack Lemmon. One of the biggest stars of Hollywood, this great Man had carved in stone “Jack Lemmon In…” a reference to the covers shown on the silver screen before every movie he played a role in. The incredibly talented writer/producer Billy Wilder is laying to rest near Jack Lemmon with his epitaph reading “I’m a writer, but nobody’s perfect.” This was actually a final stunt question in 2008.
In the famous Hollywood Forever cemetery I found the crypt of the great actress Joan Hackett. The brass plaque on her reads “Go away, I’m sleeping.” She apparently, she would utter these words from behind her dressing room door when she was filming when she needed privacy. No one will forget the incredibly talented Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and hundreds of character voices for Warner Bros. His majestic gray granite stone says Porky Pig’s famous line “That’s all folks.” In Forest Lawn Glendale stands the gold niche plaque of actor Ed Wynn, the voice of the Mad Hatter in “Alice in Wonderland” says “Dear God, thank you.” In this same cemetery, a good friend pointed me to a stone that will always be a puzzle to all who see it.
A single bronze stone with “Factory Reject” stamped on the front. No name or dates, just these words. Someday I would love to know the story behind this memorial. I’ve come across several funny stones that kind people have posted on the internet, like the family who honored their loved one with a parking meter on the stone that read “Expired.” last but not least, the stone of the unknown Micah Green that says “I see dumb people”. http://www.hollywoodgravehunter.com/site/stone-index.html I hope you enjoyed this little unknown trivia found throughout my grave-hunting adventures. To see more, visit www.HollywoodGravehunter.com.