Tucked away behind a massive glass office building on Wilshire Boulevard, there is a place that shouldn't exist. You’ve probably driven past it a thousand times without seeing it. It’s tiny. Barely two and a half acres. Most people are looking for a parking spot or a Starbucks, not a graveyard. But Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery is arguably the most densely packed piece of real estate in the world when it comes to sheer star power.
It feels weird.
One minute you’re in the middle of Los Angeles traffic, surrounded by the hum of the 405 and the frantic energy of UCLA students. The next, you step through a narrow driveway and everything just... stops. It’s quiet. Not "scary movie" quiet, but that heavy, respectful hush you only get in places where history is literally buried under your feet. Honestly, if you didn't know it was there, you’d never find it. That’s exactly how the families of the people buried here wanted it.
The Marilyn Monroe Factor
Let’s be real. Most people come here for one person.
Marilyn Monroe is located in a simple crypt in the Corridor of Memories. It’s pink. Well, it’s supposed to be marble, but the stone is permanently stained a soft rose color because of the thousands of lipstick kisses fans leave on it every single year. It’s been decades since she died in 1962, yet the obsession hasn't faded. Not even a little bit.
Joe DiMaggio famously had roses delivered to her grave three times a week for twenty years. He never stopped. Today, the "Marilyn Neighbor" business is a legitimate financial phenomenon. People pay hundreds of thousands of dollars just to be buried near her. Hugh Hefner famously bought the crypt right next to hers years before he died. He paid $75,000 for it in 1992. By today’s standards, that was a steal.
Some find it creepy. Others think it’s the ultimate fan tribute. Regardless of how you feel, it makes this small corner of Westwood some of the most expensive property on the planet.
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Not Your Typical Hollywood Map
Unlike Forest Lawn or Hollywood Forever, Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery doesn’t feel like a park. It’s compact. You can walk the entire perimeter in about five minutes if you’re rushing, but you shouldn’t rush. If you do, you’ll miss the nuances.
Take Rodney Dangerfield’s headstone. It’s classic. It literally says, "There goes the neighborhood." It’s perfectly on-brand for a man who made a career out of getting no respect. Then you have Jack Lemmon. His marker just says "JACK LEMMON in," as if it’s the opening credits of a movie that never ends.
It’s these little flashes of personality that make the place feel human. You aren't just looking at names; you're looking at the final punchlines of some of the greatest entertainers who ever lived.
Who Else is Hiding Here?
The list is honestly staggering for a place this small.
- Dean Martin: His crypt is inscribed with "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime."
- Natalie Wood: Her grave is often covered in pennies, a tradition that many visitors follow, though the exact origin is a bit of a local mystery.
- Farrah Fawcett: Located in a beautiful area near the entrance.
- Truman Capote: The man who wrote In Cold Blood is right here, sharing space with the very stars he used to gossip about.
- Ray Bradbury: The sci-fi legend.
- Florence Henderson: Everyone’s favorite TV mom.
It’s a weirdly intimate experience. At the bigger cemeteries, you’re hiking up hills and looking at maps. Here, you’re basically standing in a room with all of them. It’s crowded. It’s Los Angeles.
The Architecture of Quiet
The layout is a mix of ground burials, lawn crypts, and a massive wall of mausoleums. The greenery is manicured within an inch of its life. Because it’s so hidden, the cemetery doesn't get the rowdy crowds you see at other "tourist" graveyards. You won't find tour buses idling out front. They can't fit.
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The tall buildings surrounding the park act as a sound barrier. It’s an accidental masterpiece of urban planning. The skyscrapers of the Wilshire Corridor look down into the park, creating this strange juxtaposition of the living, working world and the finality of the plots below.
The Mystery of the Unmarked
One thing people get wrong about Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery is assuming everyone wants to be found.
There are several "quiet" residents. Some families chose not to put names on the markers for years to avoid the inevitable crowds. Others have very modest stones that you’d walk right over if you weren't paying attention. Frank Zappa is here. He’s in an unmarked grave. He wanted it that way. If you want to pay your respects, you have to know exactly where to look, or just sense the vibes of the grass.
It’s a reminder that even in Hollywood, fame eventually loses its volume.
Why This Place Still Matters
We live in a digital world where everything is archived and nothing is permanent. But stone is permanent.
Walking through Westwood is a reality check. You see the names of people who defined twentieth-century culture. These were the giants. And now? They’re tucked behind a parking garage in a space smaller than a grocery store parking lot.
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There’s a specific kind of melancholy here that isn't present at the bigger, more "corporate" cemeteries. It feels like a private club. It’s the "after-party" for the Golden Age of Hollywood. If you’re a film nerd or a history buff, it’s basically a pilgrimage.
Planning a Visit? Read This First.
Don't show up with a huge group. This isn't the place for a picnic or a loud photo shoot. Security is tight but generally low-key as long as you aren't being a jerk.
- Parking: It’s a nightmare. Use the small lot inside the gates if there’s space, but honestly, you’re better off finding a structure nearby and walking in.
- Hours: They usually close at sundown. Check the gates. Don't get locked in; it’s not as cool as it sounds in movies.
- Flowers: People leave them, but the groundskeepers clear them out pretty regularly to keep the place looking sharp.
- The "Kiss": If you’re visiting Marilyn, maybe skip the lipstick? The oils in the makeup actually damage the stone over time, and the cemetery has to professionally clean it, which wears down the marble. A respectful nod works just as well.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re planning to visit Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, do it with a sense of purpose.
- Go Early: The light hitting the tall buildings around 9:00 AM creates a really unique atmosphere.
- Research the Map: Because it’s so small, there isn't a "visitor center" with maps. Look up the locations of specific graves on Find A Grave before you arrive so you aren't wandering aimlessly.
- Look for the Details: Don't just look for the big names. Read the epitaphs on the smaller stones. Some of the best writing in Los Angeles is hidden on these markers.
- Respect the Privacy: This is still an active cemetery. Funerals happen here. If you see a service in progress, stay on the other side of the grounds.
Visiting this spot isn't about being macabre. It’s about acknowledging the people who shaped our stories. It’s a tiny, quiet, expensive, and beautiful slice of California history that manages to hide in plain sight every single day.
Next time you’re stuck in traffic on Wilshire, look for that gap between the buildings. It’s there. And it’s waiting.