Brittany Murphy

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

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November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009

A performer most of her short life, Brittany Murphy moved to California from New Jersey at the age of 13.  She found roles in both television and movies with her breakout role being the character Tai in 1995’s Clueless. Murphy went on to star in a number of other box office successes such as 8 Mile, Sin City, Girl, Interrupted and Just Married (with one-time boyfriend, Ashton Kutcher.)  She also did some notable voice-over work (King of the Hill, Happy Feet) and had a pretty decent singing career.

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Thelonious Monk

Posted in Ferncliff Cemetery with tags , on April 4, 2013 by Cade

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October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982

Thelonious Sphere Monk was a composer and pianist known for his improvisational and dissonant jazz stylings.  His distinctive style (in both music and fashion) set him apart from many of his contemporaries.  With popular recordings such as “Round Midnight” and “Straight, No Chaser,” Monk’s career would span four decades and inspire countless musicians and fans.

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Brandon Lee

Posted in Lake View Cemetery with tags , on March 31, 2013 by Cade

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February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993

Brandon Lee was an actor whose life and career were both cut short during the filming of what would be his breakout role, 1994’s The Crow. The son of legendary martial artist/actor, Bruce Lee, Brandon was on the cusp of Hollywood stardom when he was killed after a prop gun on the set accidentally fired a bullet that was unknowingly lodged in the barrel. Given the mysterious circumstances surrounding his father’s death some 20 years earlier, many cried conspiracy or, at the very least, some sort of familial curse. Continue reading →

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David Nelson

Posted in Westwood Memorial Park with tags , , on March 26, 2013 by Cade

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October 24, 1936 – January 11, 2011

David Nelson was the oldest son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. He, his parents and his brother, Ricky, rose to popularity with the highly successful radio and television program The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.  David also directed a number of episodes of the show and continued acting and directing long after the show ended.  Though, he stepped out of the public life for the last nearly 20 years of his life.

David died in 2011 of colon cancer. Continue reading →

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Ricky Nelson

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

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May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985

Sometimes you are just born into show business.  Eric “Ricky” Nelson was certainly that.  At the age of 9, he began playing himself on the long-running radio and television show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, alongside his mother and father and brother, David.  During the run of the show, and well after it ended, Ricky became a very successful musician.  He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and had over 50 singles on the Billboard charts during his career.

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Ozzie and Harriet Nelson

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

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March 20, 1906 – June 3, 1975
July 18, 1909 – October 2, 1994

Oswald Nelson and Harriet Hilliard were married in 1935.  Harriet was a singer in Ozzie’s band (he also sang and played saxophone) and the two began a foray into show business that would entertain millions for decades.  Their biggest success was by way of the 1940’s radio program The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet which followed the Nelsons and their two sons, David and Ricky (portrayed by actors until 1949).  The popularity of the show and the dawn of a newfangled medium led, of course, to the 14-year running television sitcom of the same name – this time, with each of the four Nelsons portraying him/herself as America watched the family grow up on a box in their living rooms.

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Michael Jackson

Posted in Forest Lawn Glendale with tags , , , , on March 23, 2013 by Cade

jackson3August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

I hesitated adding a post about Michael Jackson for one, simple reason: I have not personally visited his grave, nor do I see it happening any time soon.  He is interred within the halls of the most secure, private mausoleum in Los Angeles – and probably the whole country: The Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale.

However, A) I didn’t feel right posting about Farrah without posting about Michael, given the close proximity of their deaths sort of bind them together forever. And B) His death and burial was the single, biggest celebrity death media spectacle this side of Elvis, so he sort of needs to be included.

So… Continue reading →

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Farrah Fawcett

Posted in Westwood Memorial Park with tags , , on March 23, 2013 by Cade

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February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009

Few women defined “sex-symbol” in the late 1970’s the way Farrah Fawcett did.  After appearing in small roles on a number of television shows and movies, she shot to superstardom when she was cast in Aaron Spelling’s Charlie’s Angels. Farrah left the show to pursue other Hollywood opportunities, but never fully reproduced the success she had on Angels.  She also starred in a pretty famous poster.

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Walter Cronkite

Posted in Mt. Moriah Cemetery with tags , on March 23, 2013 by Cade

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November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009

Dubbed “The Most Trusted Man in America,” Walter Cronkite delivered the news into American living rooms for nearly 20 years.  Cronkite’s distinguished career, both as anchor and reporter, saw him reporting on some of the 2oth century’s most memorable moments, including (but certainly not limited to) World War II, the Apollo moon landing, the Watergate scandal and the assassination of President Kennedy. Continue reading →

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Joan Crawford

Posted in Ferncliff Cemetery with tags , on March 23, 2013 by Cade

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March 23, 1904 – May 10, 1977

Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur) was one of Hollywood’s brightest stars in the 1930’s.  Her meteoric rise from “flapper” to sliver screen legend paved the way for a roller coaster of a life.  Her motion picture career stalled out and was revived a number of times over its course. She died a recluse in 1977 at the age of 73.

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