Welcome to Hollywood Graveyard where we
set out to remember and celebrate lives
of those who lived to entertain us, by
visiting their final resting places. Today we
conclude our tour of Forest Lawn
Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, where
we'll find such stars as Brittany Murphy,
Dorothy Lamour, Gene Autry and
many more.
Join us, won't you?
For this final stretch of our tour of
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills we'll be
visiting grave sites spread across the
grounds of the cemetery, where, as we've
seen, you're as likely to run into deer
as you are to see a famous grave.
I hope you have plenty of gas in the car,
'cause we'll be doing as much driving as
walking today. And if you haven't done so
already be sure to check out parts 1 & 2.
We'll pick up right where we left off at
the end of part 2 on the lawn just
northwest of Lincoln Terrace, known as
bright eternity. Near the middle of this
lawn just east of a statue is the grave of
actress Brittany Murphy, who is
remembered for roles in everything from
comedies such as "Clueless," to darker
roles including "Don't say a Word," for
which she received critical acclaim.
She also provided the voice for Luanne on the
TV show "King of the Hill."
She died quite suddenly of pneumonia and anemia
at just 32.
Turning right on Ascension Road we'll
stop about halfway between the two T-intersections.
Stretch out those
hamstrings because this hill is steep,
and we're going most of the way up.
Here we find filmmaker George Stevens who was
nominated for seven Academy Awards in
his career, winning for "A Place in the Sun,"
and "Giant."
Other notable films include the "Diary of Anne Frank."
Continuing up this road we'll stop at the
T-intersection.
Straight up the hill from this
intersection, just behind a large tree is
TVs Nelson family: Ozzie, Harriet, and Ricky.
Patriarch Ozzie Nelson is best
remembered for his role in the 1950s
sitcom "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,"
which starred his real-life
family, including wife and matriarch
Harriet Hilliard Nelson.
The show became
synonymous with the ideal 1950s American
family life. Through syndication it
remains to this day one of the
longest-running live-action sitcoms in
US history.
The show was a springboard
for younger son Ricky who grew from TV
star into a teen music idol in the late
50s and early 60s.
His first number one single, "Poor Little Fool," was the
first number one song on the newly created
Billboard Hot 100 chart.
[music]
He died in a plane crash at just 45.
At the bottom of this hill, in the
section of Enduring Faith, just northwest
of the intersection, is the grave of
actress Marjorie Main, who is best
remembered as Ma Kettle in the Ma and
Pa Kettle series films produced in the
40s and 50s. She was also nominated for
an Academy Award for her role in
"The Egg and I."
Continuing along this road a little
further, up the hill on the south side,
is Hollywood's most famous western
sidekick, Gabby Hayes. He started in nearly
200 films alongside some of Hollywood's
greatest cowboys, including John Wayne,
and Hopalong Cassidy.
"Well howdy buckaroos!
this is your old pal Gabby Hayes
comin at you with another one of them
rip-roarin Western yarns.
Y'er dern tootin!
Yes-siree Bob.
Further up the road we stop
at the curve, in the Sheltering Hills
section to the west. Here, near two tall
trees, is a young girl whose story is
more heartbreaking than any we've yet heard.
Judith Barsi was a budding starlet
who began acting when she was just five
years old. She provided the voice for
Ducky on "The Land Before Time," and Anne-Marie
on "All Dogs Go to Heaven."
"Oh Charlie I'll miss you."
"Yeah, uh, I'll miss you too Squeaker.
Now you go to sleep, okay?"
"Charlie, will I ever see you again?"
"Sure, sure you will kid.
you know goodbyes aren't forever."
"Then, goodbye Charlie...
I love you."
Sadly, she would not live to see either
of these film completed. At just 10 years
old she and her mother were both shot
and killed by her own father.
The epitaph on her marker is the catchphrase
gleefully spoken by young Judith as
Ducky in "The Land Before Time."
"My name's Littlefoot."
"Mine is Ducky! Yep, that is what it is!"
Yep Yep Yep!"
Continuing around the curve we stop on the left
right near a trash bin that resembles a
tree trunk. Right next to the road is
Noah Berry Jr., who is perhaps best
remembered for his role as Joseph
Rockford on "The Rockford Files," a role
which earned him three Emmy nominations.
Just before the four-way intersection on
the right, next to the road, is the grave of
German expressionist Fritz Lang, who was a
pioneer of early filmmaking.
His groundbreaking 1927 film "Metropolis" is
considered the first science fiction
feature film, and his 1931 film "M" was a
precursor to the noir genre.
If you haven't seen either of these yet here's
a sneak peek at "Metropolis," and one of
the most beautiful scenes ever put to film.
[music]
Across the street to the west, just a few
rows in, is the grave of Roy Disney.
Brother of Walt Disney, Roy believed in
the vision of a younger brother from the
start, becoming Walt's partner and
business manager, helping to grow the
company into what it is today. He was
instrumental in securing funds for
several Walt's more ambitious endeavors,
including the first animated feature
film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in
1937, and Disneyland which opened in 1955.
Northwest from here, just passed a large
tree, is the grave of Smiley Burnette, a
popular Western actor, country musician,
and often sidekicks to Gene Autry.
He wrote some 400 songs in his career often
singing them on-screen and playing them
on instruments of his own invention.
He also starred is Charlie Pratt on
"Petticoat Junction."
Continuing along this
same row of graves we find America's
favorite singing cowboy, Gene Autry.
Beginning in the 1930s Gene became a
staple on radio, in movies, and television.
His show "The Gene Autry Show," ran from
1950 to 1956, and featured the song that
would become his signature,
'Back in the Saddle Again."
"Welcome to The Price is Right!"
As of filming Bob Barker is still alive,
and I'm sure he'd like me to remind you
to have your pet spayed and neutered.
Still further west a few rows up the
hill is the grave of actor Jack Webb, who
is best known for his role as
Sergeant Joe Friday on "Dragnet."
Way back at the 4-way stop where we left the car we
continue south east down Memorial Drive
the main road from the entrance. The lawn
to the left is called Eternal Love.
Just past a large tree, and a not so
large tree, is the grave of Asian-American
actor Jack Soo. Born on a ship traveling
from Japan to the US in 1917 Jack Soo
and his family lived in Oakland before
being ordered into Japanese internment
camps during World War II.
Fellow internees recalled him as a camp
favorite, entertaining others with song
and dance. He soon made his way to
Hollywood where he landed several
television roles, most notably in the
1970s sitcom "Barney Miller."
Let's cross now to the northeast corner
of this lawn--
sorry for the bumpy ride the ground is
really uneven -- Right next to the road we
find the grave of Michael Hutchence,
founding member and dynamic frontman of
the Australian rock band INXS. After his
death in 1997 a portion of his cremated
remains were interred here in California.
He also has a grave in Australia, his
home country. The song "Never Tear Us Apart"
played at his funeral.
[music]
Further down Memorial Drive right near
the fork in the road, on the right side,
is the grave of Dorothy Lamour, the
lovely and talented actress who joined
Bing Crosby and Bob Hope on their
adventures in the popular Road to... series
of films.
The next section along this road
is Murmuring Trees. Partway up the hill,
just east of a tree, is the grave of musician
Solomon Burke, who was a key figure in the
development of R&B and soul music, and is
considered one of the great soul singers
of all time. His hits include
There we go, much better.
All the way up to the fence
Hollywood magic. We now head to the
northernmost section of the cemetery
throw from Walt Disney Studios, is Disney
Snow White and Lampwick in Pinocchio,
cartoon nudes, known as "Freddie Moore Girls."
They can be seen as the Centaurettes in
"Fantasia," and as the mermaids in "Peter Pan."
Our final stop is a long walk south...
Giuseppe, a little walking music if you please!
Ooo, that's nice!
This is legendary Looney Tunes
animator Tex Avery, who was instrumental
in developing the distinctive Warner Bros.
style of animation and created
many of its most beloved characters,
including Daffy Duck and Droopy.
He also helped develop Porky Pig.
I couldn't have said it better myself!
What are some of your favorite memories
of the stars we visited today?
Share them in the comments below, and be sure to
like, share and, subscribe for more
famous grave tours.
Thanks for watching, we'll see you on the next one.
Hey everyone I hope you enjoyed our tour
of Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. Just a
quick note here as we wrap up: As you may
know Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
were recently interred here, but we want
to give the family time to grieve, so we
won't be visiting them just yet.
Someday though, so, until then...
"May the Force be with you."