Tony Scott

Posted in Hollywood Forever Cemetery with tags , on December 6, 2018 by Cade

June 21, 1944 – August 19, 2012

Tony Scott was one of the biggest movie directors in Hollywood in the 1980s and ’90s. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Ridley, Scott was part of the British infusion (please note…NOT “invasion”) of directors at the time. Like many of his contemporaries, he began working in advertising making popular, well-liked commercials. Once in America, his first feature, The Hunger – and an ad he made for Saab – caught the eye of producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Bruckheimer tapped Scott to direct 1986’s Top Gun. It was a massive hit and a string of successful action movies and thrillers followed. He went on to direct blockbusters like True Romance, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State and Man on Fire among many others. He produced films and TV shows with his brother and frequently collaborated with stars like Denzel Washington and Brad Pitt. Continue reading →

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Robert Loggia

Posted in Westwood Memorial Park with tags , on December 4, 2018 by Cade

January 3, 1930 – December 4, 2015

For nearly 60 years, Salvatore “Robert” Loggia entertained film audiences with his gruff but lovable persona. The son of Italian immigrants appeared in dozens of movies including Prizzi’s Honor, An Officer and a Gentleman, Necessary Roughness, Big, Scarface, Independence Day and Jagged Edge, the latter of which led to an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor. He appeared in commercials and television shows (like The Sopranos, naturally) and also directed episodes of hit shows like Hart to Hart and Magnum P.I. Away from the screen, Loggia was heavily involved in humanitarian work and was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2010. That same year, Loggia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. He continued working regardless and died at home in 2015. Continue reading →

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Jan Murray

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags , on December 3, 2018 by Cade

October 4, 1916 – July 2, 2006

Stand-up comedian-turned-actor, Jan Murray, got his start on vaudeville stages and broke out playing the “Borscht Belt” resorts in upstate New York. He went on to headline in Las Vegas and eventually found his way to California and onto television where he guest hosted or hosted, respectively, a number of variety and game shows. He worked with legends like Milton Berle, Joey Bishop and Steve Allen. He loved golf. And he made appearances on dozens of TV shows over the span of more than 30 years. He retired from performing in 2000 – citing struggles with asthma – and died six years later in Beverly Hills. Continue reading →

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Tyrone Power

Posted in Hollywood Forever Cemetery with tags , , on November 30, 2018 by Cade

May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958

Following in the footsteps of silent-era swashbuckler, Douglas Fairbanks and contemporaries like Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power Jr. was one of the biggest box office draws of the 1930s and ’40s. Coming from a long line of performers, Power worked with his own father from an early age to study acting. While the senior and junior Powers prepared for a play in 1931, his father suffered a heart attack and died. From that moment on Power dedicated his life to being an actor. His good looks and deft swordwork made him a marketable and successful matinee idol. Continue reading →

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Dick Van Patten

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , on November 28, 2018 by Cade

December 9, 1928 – June 23, 2015

Whether you remember Dick Van Patten as the infinitely-understanding father in the hit TV show Eight is Enough, from his many appearances in Mel Brooks’ comedies like Spaceballs, High Anxiety and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, or from any number of his scores of other screen credits, his was a face (and persona) not soon forgotten. Richard Vincent Van Patten grew up in New York. He appeared on stage from an early age and made no hesitation to transition to Hollywood. His 60+ year career found him appearing on dozens of hit TV shows and films. His most iconic role, that of Tom Bradford on the 1977-1981 NBC dramedy Eight is Enough, taught audiences everything they would need to know about the man behind the role. Continue reading →

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Darla Hood

Posted in Hollywood Forever Cemetery with tags , , , , on November 26, 2018 by Cade

November 8, 1931 – June 13, 1979

By the ripe old age of 10, Darla Hood had already appeared in more than 45 of the classic Hal Roach Our Gang/Little Rascals shorts. After that, everything else was gravy. Originally from Oklahoma, Darla was discovered in New York by a Roach associate and was immediately shipped off to L.A. where she appeared in her first Our Gang short at just 4 years old. Ostensibly the only girl in the “classic lineup,” Darla often played the “love interest” of one or more of the other Rascals, including – perhaps most famously – Carl Switzer‘s Alfalfa. When she walked away from the series in 1941, Hood went on to find success as a recording artist and singer. Continue reading →

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Jonathan Harris

Posted in Westwood Memorial Park with tags , on November 20, 2018 by Cade

November 6, 1914 – November 3, 2002

Jonathan Charasuchin was an American character actor who became so good at playing villainous characters that he fought the typecast for most of his career. After high school, he legally changed his last name to Harris and went on to appear in hundreds of television shows, films and animated projects. He is, of course, most widely known for his portrayal of the evil Dr. Smith in the 1960s Sci-Fi series Lost in Space. Prior to that, he appeared opposite Michael Rennie in the popular mystery series The Third Man. He continued to appear in guest spots on TV shows and lent his distinct voice to dozens of animated shows and features including Rainbow Brite, Darkwing Duck, A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2. Continue reading →

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Jerry Leiber

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags on November 19, 2018 by Cade

April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller – his songwriting partner of more than 50 years – wrote…

“Hound Dog”
“Kansas City”
“Jailhouse Rock”
“Poison Ivy”
“There Goes My Baby”
“Trouble”
“On Broadway”
“Yakety Yak”
“Smokey Joe’s Cafe”
“Charlie Brown”
“Love Potion No. 9”
“I’m A Woman”
“Spanish Harlem”
“I Keep Forgettin'”
and
“Stand By Me”

…among many, many, many others. Their songs were made popular by the likes of The Coasters, Elvis, Donna Summer, The Drifters, Ben E. King, Peggy Lee and Warren G and Nate Dogg. Leiber and Stoller were American pop music legends.

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Nelson Eddy

Posted in Hollywood Forever Cemetery with tags , , on November 15, 2018 by Cade

June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967

Nelson Ackerman Eddy was a celebrated, classically-trained baritone who rose to prominence on the Philadelphia opera stages in the 1920s and early ’30s. His talent, charisma and good looks made for a successful career giving concerts all across the U.S.. One such concert occurred in 1933 in Los Angeles when he subbed for Lotte Lehmann at the last minute. The audience for that concert was full of Hollywood producers and studio folk and before Eddy could blink, he was under contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. After struggling at first to find a place to showcase their newfound golden voice, MGM finally paired Eddy with an established star – Jeanette MacDonald – in 1935’s Naughty Marietta. Continue reading →

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Jackie Collins

Posted in Westwood Memorial Park with tags , on November 12, 2018 by Cade

October 4, 1937 – September 19, 2015

Jacqueline “Jackie” Collins was a British-American novelist and television host who wrote more than 30 best-selling romance novels over the course of her 40 year career. After following older sister, Joan, from England to Hollywood in the late 1950s and trying her hand at acting, Jackie found more joy in telling stories. At the encouragement of her then husband, she completed and published her first novel, The World is Full of Married Men, in 1968. The book was well-received and – more importantly – controversial. Critics called it “filthy” and “disgusting.” It was banned in countries like South Africa and Australia. So, naturally, it was a hit. Collins went on to write other best-sellers like Hollywood Wives, Chances, The Stud, Dangerous Kiss and Drop Dead Beautiful. Continue reading →

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