Hollywood’s Most Beautiful Final Resting Place Sits in the Shadow of Paramount Studios

Hollywood Forever

Resting in the heart of Los Angeles, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is more than just a graveyard—it’s a cultural landmark brimming with history, art, and celebrity stories. 

This iconic cemetery, founded in 1899, sprawls across 100 acres and is home to over 200,000 souls, including some of Hollywood’s most legendary stars. 

It Shares a Wall with Paramount Studios

The cemetery was originally called Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery and was set up on 100 acres of land in the early days of Hollywood’s growth.

Paramount Studios, which was built on part of the original land, shares a wall with the cemetery. It was one of the first cemeteries in Los Angeles to allow burials of people from different backgrounds.

The Cemetery Faced Near-Bankruptcy in the 1990s

Poor management caused the cemetery to fall into bad shape by the 1990s. Then, the 1994 Northridge earthquake caused a lot of damage to the grounds.

In 1998, the Cassity brothers bought the cemetery for $375,000 and changed its name to Hollywood Forever. The new owners put millions into fixing up the cemetery and started cultural events to bring the property back to life.

Hollywood Forever Is the Final Resting Place for Numerous Celebrities

Famous people buried there include Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, and Rudolph Valentino. Some celebrities, like Johnny Ramone, have unique and detailed tombstones or monuments.

The cemetery continues to get new celebrity burials, with recent ones like Chris Cornell and Burt Reynolds.

The Cemetery is a Cultural Hotspot

The Hollywood Cemetery honors the entertainers buried there with events shared with the public,

For instance, it has shown outdoor movies through Cinespia since 2002. Each year, the Día de los Muertos celebration draws more than 30,000 people. The cemetery’s Masonic Lodge also hosts live music concerts regularly.

Special Burial Options Available

The cemetery offers traditional burial plots, mausoleum crypts, and cremation niches, but there are creative options as well.

Customers can buy “Forever Screenings,” which are video memorials shown on kiosks throughout the grounds. Another example is the Gower Court Mausoleum, opened in 2025, is a modern “highrise for the dead.”

The Architecture is a Big Star, Too

The entrance to the cemetery has ornate gates and a clock tower that date back to its early days. The Abbey of the Psalms Mausoleum is another impressive example of cemetery design. Various sculptures and monuments throughout the grounds give the cemetery a museum-like feel.

There’s a Thriving Ecosystem

Peacocks roam freely on the grounds, adding to the cemetery’s special atmosphere. The also lake attracts various kinds of ducks and geese, making it a safe place for urban wildlife.

The landscaping features a variety of trees and plants, some of which are quite rare. A colony of stray cats lives at the cemetery, and some even follow tour guides around.

The Cemetery Offers Educational Programs and Tours

You can join one of the regular guided tours that offer insights into Hollywood history. Self-guided tours are also available with detailed maps and information about famous graves. The cemetery also holds lectures and workshops on topics like death, grief, and memorials.

Featured in Numerous Films and TV Shows

Unsurprisingly, the cemetery has been used as a filming location for movies, TV shows, and music videos.

Famous productions filmed there include “Californication” and “American Horror Story.” Some graves, like Rudolph Valentino’s, have become popular spots for movie fans.

The Cemetery Faced Controversies Over Confederate Monuments

A Confederate monument stood in the cemetery from 1925 until the cemetery removed it in 2017. The controversy led to talks about how cemeteries should deal with historical conflicts. Hollywood Forever now works to represent a wider range of cultural stories.

The Cemetery Continues to Evolve and Expand

The cemetery regularly adds new sections and memorial options to meet changing needs. They’ve also adopted eco-friendly practices, including green burial options.

The cemetery also introduced digital memorial services, mixing traditional and modern ways to remember people.