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Morey Amsterdam

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , , , on October 17, 2013 by Cade

amsterdam1December 14, 1908 – October 27, 1996

Nicknamed “The Human Joke Machine,” Morey Amsterdam was considered by many to be a…human joke machine. His ability to make a spontaneous joke about anything in rapid-fire succession led to many appearances on early TV variety shows and series. But, his biggest success was playing the role of comedy writer Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show. The role suited Amsterdam perfectly and allowed him to spitfire his natural flowing comedy within the perfect context of writing for the show’s fictitious The Alan Brady Show. Continue reading →

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Lou Rawls

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , on October 14, 2013 by Cade

rawls1December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006

Two things you should know about Lou Rawls: 1) He was a multi-Grammy award winning soul and R&B singer whose career spawned more than 60 albums and 18 Billboard Top 100 singles. And 2) He holds the distinction of being one of the only people represented on this blog who died twice.

While on tour with a young Sam Cooke in 1958, Rawls, then just 23, was in a severe car accident and was pronounced dead at the scene. Not content with that outcome, Rawls decided to come back and scrap it out for another 48 years. Continue reading →

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Isabel Sanford

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , on September 26, 2013 by Cade

sanford1August 29, 1917 – July 9, 2004

Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford wanted to be an actress. Her mother forbade it. But, that didn’t stop her. Sanford, now going by “Isabel,” pursued acting anyway and eventually found herself in Hollywood. After landing a supporting role in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? opposite Tracy and Hepburn, she was cast in the role that would change her life and define her career. For fourteen years (and a few more times after the fact – ’cause…money) Isabel played Louise “Weezy” Jefferson alongside Sherman Hemsley’s George in Norman Lear’s immensely popular TV show All in the Family and the eventual, eponymous spin-off, The Jeffersons. Continue reading →

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John Wooden

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , , on September 9, 2013 by Cade

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October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010

I’m just going to start this off by complaining about the fact that someone dubbed “The Wizard of Westwood” is not, in fact, buried IN Westwood.

Ok, with that out of the way, let’s talk college basketball. John Wooden was an All-American player at Purdue, but is best regarded for being the head coach of the UCLA Bruins from 1948-1975. While in Westwood, Wooden led the Bruins to 10 National Championships…in 12 years.  His program won 88 consecutive games at one point during this amazing run. A feat that has never even been sniffed by another team. Continue reading →

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Michael Clarke Duncan

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , on September 6, 2013 by Cade

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December 10, 1957 – September 3, 2012

Michael Clarke Duncan was an actor known for his massive size.  His breakout role as a gifted death-row inmate in 1999’s The Green Mile earned him an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination.  Duncan started off his career pulling bodyguard and security jobs until he was motivated to pursue acting.  He appeared in a number of films and television shows – often playing amiable and jolly characters that juxtaposed his intimidating 300 pound frame. Continue reading →

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Sandra Dee

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , on September 5, 2013 by Cade

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April 23, 1942 – February 20, 2005

A model and actress known for her roles as wholesome ingenues, Sandra Dee (born Alexandra Zuck) was probably most famous for her marriage to and divorce from ill-fated singer, Bobby Darin.  Her career spanned nearly 40 years, but the bulk of the last 20 were spent much out of the public eye due to constant health issues. She battled anorexia (that stemmed from her early days as a model,) depression and alcoholism throughout her life. Continue reading →

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Buster Keaton

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , , on August 7, 2013 by Cade

keaton1October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966

Joseph Frank Keaton, known to the world as “Buster,” was one of the biggest names in comedy throughout the silent film era of the late 1910’s and ’20’s. Keaton got his start as a boy in vaudeville being thrown around stage by his father…seriously. His time spent onstage with his parents taught a young Buster the art of physical comedy. A talent which he would parlay into film and go on to become one of the most iconic comedians of all time.  His classic deadpan expression belied the hysterical goings-on around him in most of his films which only made them funnier. Continue reading →

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Michael Hutchence

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , , on July 9, 2013 by Cade

hutchence1January 22, 1960 – November 22, 1997

There were very few bands in the late 1980’s and early ’90’s that were bigger than INXS.  The Australian group owed a decent portion of its success to its dynamic, sexy and troubled lyricist/lead singer, Michael Hutchence.  Hutchence met keyboardist Andrew Farriss while in high school and joined Farriss’ band, Doctor Dolphin. Doctor Dolphin eventually became The Vegetables which eventually became INXS. INXS went on to sell millions of records across the world.  Their biggest success, 1987’s Kick, was certified 6x Platinum in the United States. Hutchence mostly handled the success well…save a bit of depression from time to time. His personal life attracted rigorous tabloid attention, particularly in his native Australia. Continue reading →

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Gene Autry

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , on June 20, 2013 by Cade

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September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998

  • The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
  • He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
  • He must always tell the truth.
  • He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
  • He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
  • He must help people in distress.
  • He must be a good worker.
  • He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
  • He must respect women, parents, and his nation’s laws.
  • The Cowboy is a patriot.

Gene Autry’s Cowboy Code. Replace the words “The Cowboy” with “Gene Autry” and you begin to get the picture of what kind of man he was.  If that’s not enough, his headstone clarifies it with the following list:

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Stan Laurel

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , , on June 14, 2013 by Cade

laurel1

June 16, 1890 – February 23, 1965

On October 2, 1910 an English ocean liner named Cairnrona arrived in Quebec after a 10-day journey from Southampton. History and the way of the world at the time would indicate that this was no special ship or voyage.  That is, except for the fact that the vessel carried a troupe of comedians headed for America which included Charlie Chaplin and a 20 year-old man named Stanley Jefferson.  Jefferson would eventually change his name to Laurel and America was about to laugh…a lot.  But as impressive of a pairing as Chaplin and Laurel were on that same ship, it was Stan’s later partnership with another comedian that would make him a legend.

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