Sabbatikos

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is not only the final resting place for many a Hollywood star but also an offbeat slice of Los Angeles history you can visit for free. A must see visit if you want to get off the beaten path of tourist attractions and get within six feet (deep) of some of Hollywoods biggest stars.

Founded in 1899 as Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, it quickly became the go-to graveyard for the Hollywood elite. It boasts a prime location next to Paramount Studios where many Paramount artists may still be considered “under contract”. The proximity lent itself to a kind of “I wouldn’t be caught dead at another cemetery” mentality, and it wasn’t long before legends like Rudolph Valentino, Cecil B. DeMille, and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. found their forever homes there. Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the resting place for many notable figures in entertainment history, here are some we happened upon just wandering around:

Hollywood Forever Cemetery not only serves as a burial ground but also the grounds for an arts and culture venue. It’s not just a place to mourn the dead but also to celebrate the living, hosting movie screenings and music concerts to honor and entertain those attending or interred here.

Its blend of historical headstones and mausoleums, with their ostentatious “grave-itas” and pomp, contrasted by modern events, makes it a unique destination where the past and present mingle. Hollywood Forever is the place to be seen—dead or alive.