Welcome to Hollywood Graveyard, where we set
out to remember and celebrate the lives of those who lived to entertain us, by visiting
their final resting places. Today we’re back at Westwood Village Memorial
Park, where we’ll find such stars as Kirk Douglas, Mary Carlisle, Tim Conway, and many
more. Join us, won't you? Can you believe it’s been almost 3 years
since we were last here at Westwood Village Memorial Park? My goodness, where does the time go? We’re back today to visit some stars we
missed in our previous tours, and to visit others we’ve lost since. You’ll recall that though Westwood is a
tiny cemetery, it packs a powerful celebrity punch, with more stars per capita than just
about any other cemetery in the world, including one of the most visited gravesites in the
world, that of Marilyn Monroe. If you’re short on time and can only visit
one cemetery in LA, Westwood might just be the one to hit. This marks video number 5 here at Westwood,
so if you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out parts 1-4. We’ll begin our tour today following along
the outer periphery before moving into the central lawn. Let’s head into the Sanctuary of Tenderness. Here we find the crypt of actor Christopher
George. He’s best remembered for starring in the
60s TV series, The Rat Patrol, as Sgt Sam Troy. The role earned him a Golden Globe nomination
for best male TV star. After The Rat Patrol he starred in the series
The Immortal, as well as a number of films, including Mortuary, his final film. As a military veteran, George would also entertain
troops on USO tours. Christopher George died from a heart attack
at just 52… a contributing factor is said to have been an injury he sustained on the
set of The Rat Patrol when he was in a vehicle rollover accident. If you’ve ever watched a movie in Panavision,
you have this man to thank: Robert Gottschalk. He was an inventor and entrepreneur who specialized
in camera lenses, specifically anamorphic and wide-angle lenses, and projection lenses. He founded Panavision in 1953, coinciding
with the widescreen boom of the 1950s, to provide projection lenses for CinemaScope
films. Before that time, films were typically made
and projected with a much narrower field of view, closer to a square than the wide rectangle
that we're used to seeing today. An early example of a film made with the Panavision
process was Ben-Hur. Gottschalk was awarded two Special Oscars
for his contributions to the technology of filmmaking. In 1982 Robert Gottschalk was found dead in
his home. He was stabbed to death by his male lover,
who was convicted of his murder and sentenced to prison. Let’s continue along this road to the northeast
corner of the cemetery. This is the Room of Prayer, which you’ll
generally find locked. In our previous tour we visited the legendary
Robert Stack, host of Unsolved Mysteries and star of The Untouchables. Resting alongside Robert is his wife, Rosemarie
Bowe Stack. As an actress, the exotic Rosemarie is best
remembered for starring roles in adventure films of the 50s, like The Golden Mistress,
and The Adventures of Hajji Baba. She can also be seen alongside her husband
in the 1986 film, Big Trouble, after which she retired from acting. She was married to Robert Stack from 1956
until his death in 2003. Rosemarie lived to be 86, passing away in
2019. Let’s turn south now and head into the Sanctuary
of Remembrance. Low on the back wall we find the niche of
Percy Helton. He was a familiar face and voice in Hollywood
for some 50 years. His films include 20,000 Leagues Under the
Sea, Spook Chasers, and Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. And he had regular appearances on most of
the great TV shows of the 50s and 60s, including as Homer Cratchit on The Beverly Hillbillies. Percy Helton lived to be 77. High on this same wall is South African-born
actor, Cecil Kellaway. He was nominated for two Oscars in his career,
for The Luck of the Irish, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. He also had memorable roles in the 1942 comedy,
I Married a Witch, and in the 1946 noir film, The Postman Always Rings Twice. Kellaway would turn to television in the 50s
and 60s, including as Jeremy Wickwire in one of my favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone:
“Elegy.” “No you tell us one thing right now! Where are we?” “Why, you’re in a cemetery. Didn’t’ you know?” Cecil Kellaway lived to be 82. Let’s head to the next corridor south to
find the crypt of Isabel Bigley. She began her career singing and performing
on stage in the 1950s. She was performing in Oklahoma! when she was
offered the role of Sarah Brown in the original Broadway production of Guys and Dolls. The role earned her the Tony for Best Actress
in a Musical. She subsequently played the role of Jeanie
in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Me and Juliet… a role created with her in mind. She would also perform on variety shows in
early television. Isabel died from pulmonary disease at the
age of 80. Along this southern road is a veritable walk
of fame of the dead, including the likes of Farrah Fawcett, Walter Matthau, and Rodney
Dangerfield. At the end of the row is Spartacus himself,
the legendary Kirk Douglas. Born Issur Danielovitch, Kirk Douglas would
embody the square-jawed, tough leading man of the 50s and 60s, and become a true Hollywood
Icon. He’s most often recognized for his title
role in the 1960 film, Spartacus. “The symbol of the senate, all the power
of Rome.” “I imagine a God for slaves… and I pray.” “What do you pray for?” “I pray for a son who’ll be born free.” Not only did he star as Spartacus, he produced,
and helped break the Hollywood Blacklist by hiring Dalton Trumbo to write the screenplay. Kirk Douglas would earn three Oscar nominations
in his career, for Champion, The Bad and the Beautiful, and Lust for Life, in which he
portrayed Vincent Van Gogh. In addition to his numerous Hollywood accolades,
Kirk Douglas received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981 for his goodwill efforts. He died in 2020 at the age of 103, at the
time one of the very last surviving stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. He was the father of actor Michael Douglas,
and Eric Douglas, who died in 2004 and rests alongside him. Let’s turn left toward the mausoleum and
stop at this wall of niches, where we find Josef von Sternberg. He was an Austrian-American filmmaker of both
the silent and talkie eras. He’s best known for his frequent collaboration
with screen legend, Marlene Dietrich, directing her in films like The Blue Angel, Shanghai
Express, and The Devil is a Woman. He received two Oscar nominations in his career,
for Shanghai Express, and Morocco. Joseph von Sternberg was a master cinematographer,
his use of light and dark in his films creating a stunning and unique visual aesthetic. Later in his career he taught film at UCLA. Among his students were Jim Morrison and Ray
Manzarek, who would form the band The Doors, and cite Sternberg as a major influence. He died after suffering a heart attack at
age 75. Rounding the corner we find the crypt of a
comedy legend, Tim Conway. He appeared in hundreds of film and TV productions
beginning in the 60s, and made us laugh the whole way. He’s perhaps best remembered for teaming
up with other comic legends like Harvey Korman and Carol Burnett on the Carol Burnett Show
in the 60s and 70s, which would earn him a Golden Globe. One of the truly legendary moments in sketch
comedy history happened between Korman and Conway in the sketch, The Dentist. “Doctor, if it’s gonna hurt, please give
me something to kill the pain.” “Yeah, okay, well… I’ve got some Novocain right here. Just uh… hold on to that a minute, let’s
see how this works here. Okay, Novocain, here we are. Novocain. Take a firm hold of the hypodermic needle…
right.” Tim Conway is also remembered as Ensign Charles
Parker on McHale’s Navy, and, for you younger audiences out there, as the voice of Barnacle
Boy on Spongebob Squarepants. He even had his own show, The Tim Conway Show,
and continued to make appearances on sitcoms and variety shows into his 80. The beloved comic passed away in 2019 at age
85. We’re back at the Garden of Serenity in
the southern end of the cemetery. Here is the niche of another man who kept
us laughing, Kip Addotta, The Comedian of the United States. He was a stand up comedian who regularly appeared
on late night talk shows, variety shows, and game shows in the 70s and 80s. He also did comedy recordings for the Dr.
Demento radio show, like "Life in the Slaw Lane." [music] and "Wet Dream," replete with fish puns. [music] Kip also appeared in a handful of films, including
1976’s Bound for Glory. He died in 2019 at age 75. West of here is the Rose Garden area, where
cremated remains are scattered. There are small plaques commemorating those
scattered here. Among them, actress Nancy Kelly. She began performing on stage and screen as
a child, and by 1939 found herself starring alongside Tyrone Power in Jesse James. But Nancy is perhaps best remembered for her
role as Christine in The Bad Seed. The stage version earned her a Tony award,
and the 1956 film adaptation earned her an Oscar nomination. Her later years were mainly spent in television. She died from complications of diabetes at
age 73. Let’s’ head around the corner to find
two more stars. Here is Mary Carlisle. While perhaps less remembered today, she was
a bright star in the 30s and 40s, known for playing the wholesome ingenue in musical-comedy
films of the era. Her films include College Humor, The Sweetheart
of Sigma Chi, and This Side of Heaven. Her final film was of a different flavor,
a 1943 horror called Dead Men Walk. She retired after making this film and marrying
James Blakeley. And if you thought Kirk Douglas had longevity,
Mary here lived to be 104, passing away in 2018. Mary’s husband, James Blakeley, also worked
in the entertainment biz. He acted in a handful of films in the 30s,
but is perhaps best known as being a production manager or supervisor on a number of popular
television shows, including Batman, The Green Hornet, Lassie, and MASH. He lived to be 96. There’s an upright wall nearby. On the south face we find Don DeFore. As an actor he began appearing on stage and
in films in the 30s and 40s, like The Male Animal, but would go on to find his greatest
success on television. He’s remembered for his Emmy-nominated role
as Thorny Thornberry on The Adventures of Ozzy and Harriet, and as George Baxter on
Hazel. Don DeFore also opened and operated a restaurant
at Disneyland, the Silver Banjo Barbecue. He died from cardiac arrest at the age of
80. Don was married to Marion Holmes, a noted
singer of the big band era. She and Don met and married while she was
a singer in Art Kassel’s band. Judy Garland was the matron of honor at their
wedding. While in Kassel’s band, Marion recorded
and made “I’m a Little Teapot” famous. [music] She lived to be 93. Let’s head just east to this familiar section. In our original tour we visited legendary
director, Billy Wilder. Resting here alongside Billy is his wife,
Audrey Young. Like Marion Holmes she began her career as
a well-known singer of the big band era, singing for legends like Tommy Dorsey. She then transitioned into acting, becoming
a contract player at Paramount in the 40s, in films like Follow That Woman, and Love
Me or Leave Me. She quit acting shortly after her marriage
to writer/director Billy Wilder. But Billy would call on her talents in his
own films, bringing her on as a costume consultant for Some Like it Hot, and The Apartment. Audrey lived to be 89. And if you’re curious what this witty epitaph
means here on Billy’s stone, it’s a whimsical allusion to the final line in one of his best-known
films, Some Like It Hot… one of the great final lines in movie history, between Joe
E Brown, and Billy’s neighbor here at Westwood, Jack Lemmon. “Oh you don’t understand, Osgood! I’m a man.” “Well, nobody’s perfect.” Having circumnavigated the cemetery, let’s
move to the middle. Starting along the east side, near Burt Lancaster,
is Janet Margolin. She’s best remembered for her haunting performance
in David and Lisa, playing a schizophrenic teen who alternately only speaks in rhymes,
or can only write to communicate. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination
for most promising newcomer. Other films include Annie Hall, and the thriller,
Last Embrace. Her final film appearance was in Ghostbusters
II. Janet was just 50 when she died from ovarian
cancer. Further into the lawn we go. Here lies actor Richard Anderson. He’s perhaps best remembered for his role
as Oscar Goldman on both The Six Million Dollar Man, and The Bionic Woman, and their various
film adaptations. Fast forwarding to the 90s, Anderson was narrator
of the series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. You also saw him in around a dozen episodes
of Perry Mason, and in movies like Forbidden Planet. Richard Anderson died in 2017 at age 91. Continuing west along this row we find French
actor, Louis Jourdan. His film career began in France in the 30s,
but was interrupted by the outbreak of WWII, during which time he joined the French Resistance. After the war, he went to Hollywood.
His first big film was Hitchcock's The Paradine Case. "I will tell you about Mrs. Paradine.
She's bad, bad to the bone!" He would go on portray the suave, romantic
continental in films like Letter from an Unknown Woman, and Gigi, which earned him a Golden
Globe nomination. Fans of Swamp Thing will remember him for
playing Anton Arcane in the 1982 film, and James Bond fans will remember him as Kamal
in Octopussy. Louis lived to be 93. Turn your compass north toward the skyscrapers. In our original tour we visited Bob Crane,
star of shows like Hogan’s Heroes. Resting here alongside Bob is his wife, Sigrid
Valdis. She performed alongside her husband in Hogan’s
Heroes, as Hilda, Colonel Klink’s secretary. She also played Miss Piecemeal on The Wild
Wild West. She and Bob married in 1970 and were together
until his murder in 1978. Sigrid retired from acting after Hogan’s
Heroes, and lived to be 72, dying from lung cancer in 2007. A few spaces north we find Norma Crane. The actress of stage and screen is perhaps
best remembered for her portrayal of Golde in the 1971 film adaptation of Fiddler on
the Roof. “And now I’m asking, Golde… do you love
me?” “I’m your wife.” “I know.” “Do I love him?” “Well?” Other films include Tea and Sympathy, and
her TV appearances include Have Gun – Will Travel, The Untouchables, and Alfred Hitchcock
Presents. Norma’s career was cut short when she died
from breast cancer. Her birthyear is incorrect here – she was
44. Norma was close friends with Natalie Wood,
who helped pay her funeral costs, and would eventually be laid to rest just a few spaces
away. Turning back toward the southwest, let’s
re-visit the Albert grave. You’ll recall that Eddie Albert was the
star of shows like Green Acres and films like Roman Holiday. Eddie’s wife was also a popular actress,
who went by the mononym, Margo. Born in Mexico, Margo was an actress and dancer,
often cast in exotic roles that showcased her dancing. Her best-known role was that of Maria in the
1937 film, Lost Horizon. Other films include Miracle on Main Street,
and I’ll Cry Tomorrow. Eddie and Margo were married for 40 years,
until her death from brain cancer at age 68. Continuing southwest toward the office, we
find the grave of Patricia Barry. While she did have a number of film and stage
roles, most of her work was in television, on daytime soaps like Guiding Light and Loving,
and dramas like Dr. Kildare, and Perry Mason. She also had memorable turns in the Twilight
Zone, in the episodes I Dream of Genie, and The Chaser. “Roger, you are acting like a clod… a
silly, stupid, sophomoric clod.” “I love you.” “Stop saying that.” Patricia lived to be 93. In the nearby urn garden, we find the
plaque of Robert Newton. He’s best known for playing the quintessential
pirate of the 50s, the definitive Long John Silver, in Disney’s Treasure Island, and
on the TV series, The Adventures of Long John Silver. His portrayal and style of speech have come
to define what we consider “pirate talk, arrr!" parroted by everyone from the Sea
Captain on the Simpsons, to half the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean. “If I’m captain, then this is orders:
all hands ashore, except Israel and Haggot here. If y’er in trouble, you can signal me by
firing the cannon.” “Aye aye, sir.” “Arrr, and when y’er doing sentry, though,
just ease off a point on the rum.” Newton also played Blackbeard in Blackbeard
the Pirate in 1952. So come September 19th, International Talk
Like a Pirate Day, be sure to give a shout out to Robert Newton here. Perhaps in true pirate form, alcohol was his
poison, his chronic use of which led to a fatal heart attack at age 50. Finally, we head a little farther west, to
find the grave of Perry Lafferty. He was a television producer and director
for CBS, beginning in the 50s. His early work was directing shows like Robert
Montgomery Presents, and The Twilight Zone. He’d go on to be a head of programming at
CBS and later NBC, introducing classic shows like All in the Family, MASH, Maude, and The
Mary Tyler Moore Show. His programming was unique in that he was
not afraid to address controversial issues of the day, like racism, drugs, and even HIV/AIDS. His innovative programming kept CBS at the
top of the ratings for years. Perry Lafferty died in 2005, and has now gone
on to that great control room in the sky. And that concludes our tour. 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. Frank Zappa fans may have noticed something
curious recently. Online forums have long indicated that Frank
Zappa is buried in the plot immediately to the right of actor Lew Ayres. Our original tour videos reflected that. But recently, a marker has been placed on
that spot that does not belong to Frank Zappa. I’m not moving closer in deference to the
privacy of that individual. I asked the cemetery about this, and while
they do confirm that Frank Zappa is interred here on the grounds, they do not reveal his
exact location. So no, Frank hasn’t been moved or doubled
up, images online have simply misidentified the exact spot. Bear in mind that these are tiny cremation
plots, so we’re talking a matter of inches. It’s likely that instead of being to the
right of Ayres, he’s along this row below. But again, that is just speculation, until
either a marker is placed, or the cemetery confirms his exact location, neither of which
are likely to happen any time soon, as Zappa wished to remain unmarked.
