Tucked behind a glitzy row of high-rises on Wilshire Boulevard, there is a tiny patch of green that most people drive past without a second thought. It’s weird. You’ve got these massive, glass-and-steel corporate offices looming over a space that feels more like a quiet neighborhood park than a world-famous cemetery. But Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park isn't your average graveyard. It is arguably the most densely packed resting place for Hollywood legends on the planet.
Size is deceptive here.
While Forest Lawn or Hollywood Forever span vast acres that require a GPS and a car to navigate, Westwood is basically the size of a couple of suburban blocks. You can walk the whole thing in ten minutes. But in those ten minutes, you’ll pass more icons than you would at an Oscars after-party.
The vibe is different too. It’s not grand or sweeping. It feels intimate. Almost private.
The Marilyn Factor and the Crypt Next Door
Most people show up at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park for one person: Marilyn Monroe. Her crypt is located in the Corridor of Memories, and honestly, you can’t miss it. The marble is stained pink from decades of fans leaning in to leave lipstick kisses. It’s a strange, visceral connection to a woman who has been gone for over sixty years.
There’s a bit of a grim real estate story here that people often gossip about. Hugh Hefner, the Playboy founder, famously bought the crypt right next to Marilyn back in 1992. He paid $75,000 for it. He wanted to be near her in the afterlife, despite them not having a personal relationship in life. It’s one of those "only in LA" details that feels both fascinating and a little bit creepy.
But Monroe isn't the only star in that wall. Just a few feet away lies Natalie Wood. Her death remains one of Hollywood’s greatest mysteries, and seeing her simple marker—usually covered in coins or small tokens left by fans—brings a heavy sense of reality to the tabloid headlines. It's a quiet spot for a life that ended so loudly.
Why the Stars Picked This Tiny Spot
You might wonder why a major star wouldn’t want a massive monument at a place like Forest Lawn Glendale.
✨ Don't miss: Ainsley Earhardt in Bikini: Why Fans Are Actually Searching for It
Exclusivity plays a part. Because the park is so small, it feels like a private club. It’s tucked away. It’s hidden. For families who want to avoid the "tourist trap" energy of Hollywood Forever, Westwood offers a weird kind of anonymity right in the middle of one of the busiest parts of the city.
The history of the place actually goes back to the early 1900s. It started as Sunset Cemetery around 1904, long before the skyscrapers showed up. As the village of Westwood grew around it, the cemetery stayed put, eventually being acquired by the Pierce Brothers. It’s a survivor.
The Ground Plots: From Dean Martin to Truman Capote
If you move away from the wall of crypts and walk toward the center of the lawn, you’ll find some of the most influential names in entertainment history.
Dean Martin is here. His marker is simple. It just says "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime." It perfectly captures the effortless "Cool King" persona he carried his whole life. Then you have Farrah Fawcett, whose memorial is often decorated with flowers by fans who remember her as the ultimate 70s icon.
It’s not just actors, though.
Truman Capote, the man who basically invented the true-crime genre with In Cold Blood, is buried here. Well, part of him. His ashes have a wild history of being stolen and relocated, but this is his official resting place. Near him is his good friend, the writer Jack Dunphy.
Then there’s the tragic corner.
🔗 Read more: Why the Jordan Is My Lawyer Bikini Still Breaks the Internet
Heather O’Rourke, the little girl from Poltergeist, and Dominique Dunne, her co-star who was murdered just as the film became a hit, are buried near each other. It’s a heartbreaking section of the park that reminds you that Hollywood isn't always about the glamour. Sometimes it’s just about loss.
The Comedy Legends and the Best Epitaphs
If you want a laugh in a cemetery—which sounds wrong but feels right here—look for the writers and comedians.
Merv Griffin’s headstone is legendary. It literally says, "I will NOT be right back after these messages." It’s brilliant. It’s the kind of wit that reminds you these were real people with massive personalities.
Rodney Dangerfield is another one. His marker reads: "There goes the neighborhood." Even in death, the guy couldn't get any respect, and he leaned into the joke one last time.
Walking through these rows, you realize that Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park is less of a somber memorial and more of a library of 20th-century pop culture. You see the name Ray Bradbury and you’re transported to Fahrenheit 451. You see Billy Wilder’s name and you think of Some Like It Hot. Wilder’s stone also has a great line: "I’m a writer, but then, nobody’s perfect."
Modern Updates and the Future of the Park
While it feels like a time capsule, the park is still active.
In recent years, it has become the final home for stars like Kirk Douglas, who lived to be 103, and Florence Henderson, everyone’s favorite TV mom. Because the space is so limited, getting a spot here now is incredibly difficult and expensive. We’re talking six figures for a small piece of dirt or a spot in the wall.
💡 You might also like: Pat Lalama Journalist Age: Why Experience Still Rules the Newsroom
It’s a business, sure. But it’s also a landmark.
The surrounding area has changed so much. You have the Hammer Museum right next door. You have the traffic of Westwood Boulevard. You have UCLA students rushing to class just blocks away. Yet, once you step through that brick entrance, the sound of the city sort of mutes itself. It’s an acoustic anomaly.
Visiting Without Being "That Person"
If you decide to go, don't be a jerk.
People are actually there to visit their family members. It’s not a movie set. The staff is generally pretty chill, but they don't want crowds of people blocking the walkways with tripods.
- Timing: Go on a weekday morning. It’s the quietest then.
- Flowers: If you want to leave something for Marilyn, keep it simple. The groundskeepers have to clean the markers regularly to prevent the marble from degrading.
- Navigation: Don't look for a big map at the entrance. There isn't really one. Just wander. Half the fun is "discovering" a name you recognize in a corner you didn't expect to look in.
One thing that surprises people is how many "regular" people are buried there too. It’s not just for the famous. There are local families who have had plots there for generations. Seeing a legendary director buried next to a local schoolteacher is a weirdly grounding experience. It levels the playing field.
Making Sense of the Legacy
What makes Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park stay relevant isn't just the star power. It’s the scale.
In a city that is obsessed with being "big"—big movies, big mansions, big egos—Westwood is small. It’s human-sized. It reminds us that no matter how many Oscars someone won or how many millions of records they sold, they all end up in a small plot of land in a hidden corner of the city.
It’s a place for reflection, not just for fans of movies, but for anyone interested in the history of Los Angeles. The park represents the transition of LA from a small town to a global entertainment capital. The names on those stones built the industry that defines the city today.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
- Park on the street or in a nearby garage. The cemetery's internal parking is extremely limited and mostly reserved for funeral services.
- Look for the "hidden" graves. Some of the most interesting people are tucked into the far corners, away from the main Monroe/Hefner wall.
- Respect the silence. Even if you’re there for the "celebrity" aspect, remember it’s an active cemetery. Keep your voice down.
- Check out the nearby Hammer Museum afterward. It provides a nice cultural contrast to the somberness of the park and is just a short walk away.
- Bring a list. If you have specific people you want to see—like Frank Zappa (whose grave is famously unmarked)—do your research beforehand because you won't find a "star map" on-site.