The legendary writer of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien needs no introduction (but we still snuck one in.) The prolific writer was buried next to his wife in an Oxford cemetery, where people often come to pay their respects in the form of plants and flowers.
Passing away on September 2nd, 1973, two years after his wife did, he left the world a legacy in the form of his seminal books.
Rita Hayworth
This photo, taken on march 1st, 2016, in Los Angeles, California, at Holy Cross Cemetery, shows the gravestone of the much beloved American actress, dancer, and producer Rita Hayworth.
She is best known for her 1946 performance in the film Noir Gilda, opposite Glenn Ford. Hayworth often played the role of the femme fatale in many major motion pictures of the 1940s and 50s.
Marlene Dietrich
This photo shows the gravesite of German-born American singer and actress Marie Magdalene "Marlene" Dietrich, whose career spanned from the early 1900s all the way to the 80s! Dietrich started her career performing in silent films and stage productions.
She's most famous for her performance in movies such as "Blue Angel." and "Touch of Evil" and was a very outspoken political refugee of her generation singing for American troops during World War II. The epitaph roughly translates to "Here I stand at the markers of my days."
Florance Nightingale
Back in the mid-1800s, being a celeb did not necessarily mean that you were a professional singer or actress. If anything, during the industrial revolution, the people with the most influence and power were the people who made the most impact on humanity.
Florence Nightingale is one of those people. Nightingale was a British social reformist whose statistics nursing studies became the basis of a lot of what we know today about society. Nightingale's prominence came during the Crimean War when she served as a head nurse and trainer for nurses who cared for wounded soldiers at Constantinople.
Don Rickles
Don Rickles lived a grand and influential life as a stand-up comedian and actor who pioneered the art of insult comedy.
Major films he starred in included "Run Silent," "Run Deep With Clark Gable," "Carl Reiner's Enter Laughing," Clint Eastwood's "Kelly's Heroes," and Martine Scorsese's "Casino" where he starred alongside Robert De Niro. Rickles sadly passed away due to kidney failure on April 6th, 2017.
Jon Bonham
Jon Bonham was the drummer on the one and only beloved British rock band, Led Zeppelin, which gave us timeless rock ballads such as "Stairway to Heaven," and "Immigrant Song."
Sadly, Bonham partied too hard one night before a show, with toxicology reports showing that in 24 hours, he ingested 1.4 liters of alcohol, ultimately leading to his accidental passing due to aspiration of vomit.
Edward "Eddie" G. Kean
Have you ever wondered where the phrase "cowabunga dude" started? It wasn't some surfer dude who caught a sick wave in California.
Nope, it's actually coined by Edward George Kean. The American television pioneer and writer who created the 2,000-episode series, "The Howdy Doody Show." Kean sadly passed away on August 13th, 2010, at the age of 85, during a struggle with emphysema.
Georges Rodenbach
Georges Rodenbach worked as a lawyer and journalist for ten years but you might know him better for his side gig as a writer. After all, it was his career as a novelist which ended up making him famous. Born to a French mother and a German father from the Rhineland in Tournai, France, he was also related to the famous German poet Christoph Martin Wieland.
Rodenbach's best work was the 1892 novel, "Bruges-la-Morte," which famous composer Eric Wolfgang Korngold used as a basis for his opera "Die tote Stadt."
Colette
Born Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, known as Colette, was a French author, "woman of letters," mime, actress, and journalist. She was best known around the world for her 1944 novel "Gigi," which served as the basis for two further projects, a film in 1958 and a stage musical in 1973.
She was born on January 28th, 1873, and died many years later on August 3rd, 1954. She was also portrayed by Keira Knightley in "Colette," a 2018 biopic, which was described by Rotten Tomatoes as "mediocre."
Gioachino Antonio Rossini
Italian composer Gioachino Antonio Rossini gained fame for composing 39 different operas throughout his career.
Rossini actually stopped writing in the late 1820s, saying that the quality of singing and audience interest had visibly declined and that he no longer wished to write anymore. However, his style of opera buffa was so enjoyable to watch that a lot of his commissions still live on to this day.
Honore de Balzac
French playwright and novelist Honore de Balzac is best known for his presentation of the post-Napoleonic French life panoramic novel sequence "La Comedie." He is considered in France as a major early influence in realism and naturalism within the realm of fiction writing and is also considered one of the greatest fiction writers of all time.
We must all remember to 'Honore' de Balzac if we want to live half the life he did.
Jean-Louis André Théodore Géricault
Jean-Louis André Théodore Géricault is a French painter and lithographer who is best known for his painting "The Raft of the Medusa," A painting that depicts the tragedy and desperation of life, death, and war. You can see a relief version of that painting placed on the front of the artist's headstone.
Sadly, the artist passed rather young, being born on September 26th, 1791, and dying on January 26th, 1824. Wars in the 1700s were ferocious and tragic, and many artists of the time did the best they could to depict the suffering of humankind for future generations to learn.
Marie and Pierre Curie
Marie and Pierre Curie are the most revered power couple in the scientific world. Especially Marie Salmoea Sklodowska who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, but more importantly, the first person and only woman in history to win a Nobel Prize twice for her discovery of radium and polonium, as well as a huge contribution to finding treatments for cancer.
If you want to get into feminism, Marie Curie is a great place to start.
J.R.R. Tolkien
The legendary writer of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien needs no introduction (but we still snuck one in.) The prolific writer was buried next to his wife in an Oxford cemetery, where people often come to pay their respects in the form of plants and flowers.
Passing away on September 2nd, 1973, two years after his wife did, he left the world a legacy in the form of his seminal books.
Astrid Lindgren
Writer of the book "Pippy Longstocking" Astrid Emilia Lindgren was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays. She lived quite a long life. Born on November 14th, 1907, in Vimmerby, Sweden, she passed on January 28th, 2002, in her home in Stockholm from a viral infection.
Her "Pippy Longstocking" books still inspire youth around the world to be joyful, adventurous, and creative, and we owe her a big thanks for that.
Audry Hepburn
Audry Hepburn is a household name in movie culture. The British actress and humanitarian was born on May 4th, 1929, in Ixelles, Belgium. She is best known for her performances in films such as "Roman Holiday," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and "My Fair Lady."
Her work led to her being ranked as the third-greatest female screen legend from Classical Hollywood Cinema, and she was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. She sadly died of cancer in 1993.
Fernand Arbelot
While he was once an actor and musician, who undoubtedly entertained countless people, the thing that Fernand Arbelot is most famous for is his stunning grave. Found in the famous Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, the bronze statue depicts Fernand holding the face of his wife, as his last wish was to be able to look at her face for all eternity.
The French epitaph reads "They marveled at the beauty of the journey that brought them to the end of life."
Douglas Adams
English Author Douglas Noel Adams is best known for his sci-fi novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." The novel was originally a 1978 BBC radio comedy broadcast and ended up being developed into a series of books that sold more than 15 million copies within his lifetime alone.
In reference to the famous franchise he wrote, fans who visit his final resting place leave tokens of appreciation like towels, pens, and anything that has the number 42 on it. You'll have to at least read the first book to be in on the joke.
Greta Garbo
Swedish-American actress Greta Garbo was beloved for her melancholic yet somber persona. She often portrayed tragic characters in her films, and her performances are regarded as subtle and understated. She lived quite a long life from September 18th, 1905, to April 15th, 1990.
There were not many famous Swedish-American actresses in America at the time, and Garbo helped inspire many European actresses to come and try their luck in the U.S.
Eva Peron
Eva Peron is the household sweetheart of Argentinian society. She served as the First Lady of Argentina from June 1946 until her death in July 1952. She is most famously renditioned by Modanna in the movie "Evita," where Madonna sings the song, "Don't Cry for Me Argentina."
For anyone in need of a translation of the Spanish epitaph, it translates to: "Do not mourn me lost or far away, I am an essential part of your existence, all love and pain were foreseen for me, I complied with my humble imitation of Christ, who walked in my path to follow. YOUR DISCIPLES."
Étienne-Gaspard Robert
Étienne-Gaspard Robert was a magician in a time when it was even a bit dangerous to be one. It wasn't just because some magic tricks are dangerous, but also because during the 1700s, people suspected magicians of being worshipers outside of Christianity and often persecuted them.
While experimenting with lanterns and various elements of physics, Étienne-Gaspard Robert produced horror-magic shows that astounded his spectators. So much so, that even his gravestone depicts an audience startled by the ghoulish images he created.
Sir Isaac Newton
When it comes to Newton, we don't really know where to start. His discoveries on the law of motion and gravitation published in "Mathematical Principles of Natual Philosophy" may be his most impressive accomplishments.
Newton died in 1727 at age 84 and was given the honorary distinction of being buried at Westminster Abbey. The late scientist's statue depicts him realizing underneath a globe, perhaps finally taking a break after all his progression.
Susan B. Anthony
For women voters, the gravesite of women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony has become a place of pilgrimage, especially on Election Day. Anthony fought to give women the chance to make their voices known and join the men in the voting booth.
One of the most common things to leave on or near her grave in Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York, is “I Voted” stickers. The site also has plenty of Anthony's family nearby, but they are always overshadowed by the woman who paved the path for women everywhere.
President Abraham Lincoln
As the sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln grew from the humblest of homes, a small log cabin, and not only became President but is remembered as one of the greatest presidents to ever live. He is buried next to his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, and their four children in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.
The tomb includes an obelisk, steps, and statues, befitting one of the greatest men in the history of the United States. A bronze sculpture of Lincoln's head marks the entrance to the tomb – visitors rub its nose for good luck.
John Belushi
John Belushi rose to fame during his four-year run on "Saturday Night Live." He was famous for his impressions, though producer Lorne Michaels wasn't a big fan of his initially. Throughout his career, Belushi struggled with substance abuse, which would ultimately claim his life.
He was a fan favorite, and even though he's been gone for quite a while, it seems like they wish they had the chance to share a drink with the famous comedian. His gravestone reads, "I may be gone, but Rock and Roll lives on," and is often surrounded by empty bottles.
Jimi Hendrix
When he was a teenager, Jimi Hendrix started playing guitar. At age 27, he was the world's highest-paid performer and the headliner at the Woodstock Music Festival. A year later, Hendrix died from substance abuse and went down in history as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
In 2002, Hendrix's remains were secretly moved from Renton, Washington, to this legendary artist's shrine.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley is hands down the most famous reggae artist of all time. He was known for his unique style and voice and the fact that he was always having a good time. Marley passed away at the age of 36, after a four-year battle with melanoma that eventually spread to his brain.
After his passing, Bob was buried in Jamaica, where the government made his birthday (February 6th) a national holiday. On this day each year, fans from around the world celebrate the holiday with a music festival that takes place near the mausoleum where his body was buried.
Winston Churchill
Before his burial, Churchill's coffin was taken up the river Thames, where the dockyard operators had arranged that the cranes dip in salute before reaching Waterloo station.
Although Waterloo was out of the way, Churchill had asked that his coffin passes through there if the President of France outlived him as a jab towards his former ally. Before his death, Churchill is described as saying, “I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”
Oscar Wilde
There is a deep irony when it comes to the playwright and author Oscar Wilde's tombstone. The writer challenged the moral awareness of the time and was later convicted for charges relating to homosexuality, which was illegal in the United Kingdom.
His incarceration for following his heart was acknowledged on his headstone, which reads, “A kiss may ruin a human life.” This is where the irony comes in. Supporters of the author have since decorated his grave with kisses, causing the stone to decay. As a result, a barrier was put up, and a fine of 9,000 euros is given to anyone caught kissing the stone.
Walt Disney
Walt Disney was the first of his kind; he helped produce some of the most recognizable cartoon characters in history. Disney was a pioneer in the animation industry, opened the most famous theme park globally, and still holds the record for the most Academy Awards won by a single person.
In 1966, the legend passed away due to complications arising from lung cancer. Despite his loving and charismatic persona, he was a very private man. His funeral was open to just family and friends.
Emily Dickinson
While there's no quote from Dickinson on her minimalist headstone, it still states that she was “Called back” and then states the date of her death. Situated in Amherst West Cemetery in Amherst, Massachusetts, there isn't much else to see for this early-American literary great.
A black iron fence surrounds her family's plot, and fans still leave bundles of flowers and honor a woman who forged a path for female poets and authors long before she could even vote. Her often spiritual work is still a boon to those suffering, and the beauty of her words and phrases can still be found if you have the chance to read them today.
Elizabeth Taylor
While Elizabeth Taylor is buried among fellow greats like Walt Disney, Michael Jackson, and Nat King Cole, this member of Hollywood's Golden Age has her own opulence to greet visitors. This famous gravesite features Taylor buried beneath an open-armed angel, with the simple words “In Memoria” etched above the angel in Gothic script.
While the angel is certainly eye-catching – much like Taylor herself – the gravesite as a whole is a bit simpler than you might imagine. While Taylor wasn't simple, she was always classy, and her final resting place evinces that. Beauty, but without being overbearing. Classy and calm.
Freddie Mercury
Except for his former partner Mary Austin, no one knows where Freddie Mercury's ashes are really buried. Yet, there is still a place for fans to pay their respects in Montreux, Switzerland, overlooking Lake Geneva. It's where the singer and songwriter spent many of his final days before passing.
The impressive statue is of Mercury hitting one of his memorable poses, jacket flaring out behind him and fist thrust high. The outer walls of his Garden Lodge mansion in London are also a popular place for fans to visit, and they've become a public shrine full of graffiti messages to the departed rocker.
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh took to the skies and paved the way for the rest of us to join him. As the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, he saw more of our world than people might have thought possible at the time.
His scenic gravesite can be found on the island of Maui in Hawaii, behind the Palapala Ho'omau Church, the first place on the island to see the sunrise each morning. The stone itself bears the inscription: “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea...”
Jesse James
Perhaps one of the most infamous outlaws, Jesse James, was known for robbing stagecoaches, banks, and trains. By the time of his death in 1882, he was already a celebrity in the Wild West. Fellow outlaw Robert Ford killed James, and after his death, crowds gathered in the small house in St. Joseph, Missouri, for the last look at James’ body.
His memorable gravestone was written by his mother and reads, “Murdered Apr. 3, 1882, By a Traitor and Coward Whose Name is Not Worthy to Appear Here.”
Michael Jackson
When you're as big as Michal Jackson, you don't need your name or anything witty written on your tombstone. After the King of Pop's sudden death in 2009, his remains sit unmarked at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in California.
Though there's nothing that suggests that this is Jackson's grave, it is filled with flowers and fans' gifts. Rather unsurprisingly, the area is blocked off from visitors and protected by security at all times.
James Dean
By the age of twenty-four, James Dean was an iconic Hollywood actor and a young adult idol that was becoming a household name. In 1955, he went to his death in a car accident, and he's now buried in Fairmount, Indiana, in Park Cemetery. While Hollywood had claimed him, his hometown was still in Indiana.
He's buried beneath a simple headstone that has his name and his birth and death dates. The headstone is also covered with lipstick kiss marks from adoring fans. We kind of hope they wash it frequently...but we also kind of hope they don't. The cemetery holds a festival every year in his honor.
Babe Ruth
Known as Babe, George Herman Ruth Jr. is one of baseball's most legendary players. His death at the age of fifty-three from cancer came as a big shock to baseball fans in 1948. While he was lying in state at Yankee Stadium, more than seventy-seven thousand people came to see him.
He's buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, New York, and his gravestone attracts crowds of Yankee and baseball fans. Visitors will often leave gifts of baseballs, caps, and flags. The gravestone has a large relief of Christ and a child, and other than the standard details, it doesn't boast.
Karl Marx
People are quite divided on Marx. Some believe him to be a man of the people that helped save millions from their overlords; others consider him the founder of an ideology that resulted in the deaths of many, many, many more millions of people. Regardless of your opinion, there's no denying his gravestone is a grand affair.
The German philosopher had an enormous impact on modern history, and though he died statelessly, he was laid to rest in England's East Highgate cemetery. The site has a large tombstone that is topped with his famously stern and hirsute countenance. If you visit, just know that he's judging you.
Mel Blanc
Mel Blanc is the talent behind the voices for some of the most beloved cartoons of all time. His talent for cartoon voice-overs earned him the moniker "The Man of a Thousand Voices." The actor made such an impression on American culture that he and his character Bugs Bunny were both given stars on Hollywood Boulevard.
One of Blanc’s most famous lines, and the one that was etched onto his headstone, was delivered by quite a few of Blanc’s characters, including Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and Porky Pig: “That’s all folks!” A send-off was usually followed by a smile and a wink.
Orville and Wilbur Wright
Tons and tons of aviation pioneers came from Ohio, for some reason, and that includes men who would eventually stand on the moon. The Ohioans that got things rolling were Orville and Wilbur Wright, who were the first men to fly in a self-propelled airplane.
They designed, invented, built, and flew it together in North Carolina in 1903. They ushered in a new era of transportation that made travel much easier, faster, and cheaper. They share a single gravestone in Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio, where pilots, aviation fans, and more visit regularly.
Herman Melville
Even if you haven't been able to get through the famously-intricate prose, you certainly know about Herman Melville's magnum Opus “Moby Dick.” This whaling author was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York, after he died in 1891. His famous grave is in the shape of a scroll and is situated next to his wife, Elizabeth, who died in childbirth.
People who visit the gravesite often leave whale and whaling tokens, a reference to a novel that is still being taught in high schools and colleges even today. Want to tackle this time? Just try one chapter a night.
John Wilkes Booth
He was a famous stage actor, but one fateful day tied him to a president. On April 14th, 1865, John Wilkes Booth snuck into the private box of President Abraham Lincoln and shot him. Lincoln died soon after, and Booth was tried and found guilty and shot dead on April twenty-sixth of the same year.
He rests in his family's plot in Baltimore's Greenmount Cemetery. Visitors to the gravesite will often leave a little monetary gift atop his headstone – pennies, which feature the austere head of the man he murdered. Take that, Booth.
President George Washington
The first President of the United States is one of those historical figures that almost everyone – both in and outside the United States – remembers. He defeated the English to help create America and became the nation's first president, setting the stage for democracy and representative republics. The first president rests in the Washington Family Tomb at Mount Vernon, Virginia, where he lived after becoming president.
Outside of the tomb are grave markers for his brother, John Augustine Washington, and his nephew, Bushrod Washington. The structure of the tomb is simple brick, which looks perfect for the first president.
Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield is most remembered for his roles in "Caddyshack" and "Easy Money." As a performer, he reached the irony of his surroundings with a deadpan delivery and a straight face.
Aside from film, Dangerfield's late-night television monologues were filled with lines that had audiences laughing. An example of one such line is, "My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met." Even in death, Dangerfield couldn't help but crack one final joke!
Princess Diana
Princess Diana's death shook the world, affecting millions around the world. She was killed in a car accident in Paris, which is speculated to have been caused by paparazzi. The beloved Princess of Wales was only 36 at the time of her accident.
Her body now rests on the Spencer family's estate in North Hampshire, England. Her memorial lies on an island in the middle of the lake, Round Oval. You can see an urn and shrine dedicated to the princess, but there is no tombstone or grave to be seen.
Leslie Nielsen
Actor Leslie Nielsen made his acting debut in 1950, appearing in 46 live television programs a year. Nielsen's forte was depicting characters oblivious to and complicit in their ridiculous surroundings.
By the end of his career, he had acted in over 100 films and 150 television programs. In an interview, the comedic actor promised that his memorial would reference his love of flatulence and whoopee cushions. As we can see, Nielsen fulfilled that promise.
Rick James
James Ambrose Johnson Jr., better known by his stage name, Rick James, released his most famous album in 1981. Unfortunately, the singer had to pause his career after various health problems forced him into early retirement. Only a few years later, in 2004, the singer sadly died from heart failure.
The original super freak wanted the world to know that he would continue partying in the afterlife and had himself etched into his gravestone, looking as funky as ever.
Johnny Ramone
Few people were so pioneering in the world of punk music as Johnny Ramone, who formed a band you may be familiar with if you're into the genre. An eight-foot statue of the guitarist, frozen forever in a sick solo, sits atop his headstone in Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, which is also the final resting place of names like Anton Yelchin, Mickey Rooney, and Mel Blanc.
The cemetery holds an annual memorial tribute to Ramone to benefit cancer research. Ramone himself died after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. He died doing what he loved – recording music and hating socialism.
Billy Wilder
Billy Wilder got his start in the late 1920s; he escaped Berlin for Paris before moving out west to Hollywood. Wilder became a successful writer and director, directing major motion pictures like "Some Like It Hot" and "The Apartment."
His comedy writing was so admired that he was awarded both an Oscar and a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work. His last joke, perhaps one of his best, ensured that he'd be recognized in death just as he was when he was alive - full of humor.
Dee Dee Ramone
The Ramone’s bassist and occasional lead singer Dee Dee Ramone was most well-known as one of its founding members. The musician had a hard time singing and playing bass simultaneously; he is credited for writing some of the most popular punk rock band songs of all time.
Sadly, Dee Dee Ramone died before his time due to developments related to substance abuse. Ramone was beloved by fans, and his gravestone is often covered with kisses. His engraving was short and sweet and read, "O.K...I gotta go now."
Jules Verne
One of the most influential French authors, poets, and playwrights, was Jules Verne. His works held major importance in the surrealism and avant-garde literary genres. The author was known for carefully researching his subjects before writing about them, so much so that he became the "Father of Science Fiction."
Verne is buried in the Cimetiere de la Madeleine in Amiens, France. His gravestone depicts the writer bursting out of his grave. Perhaps an ode to one of his most memorable works, "Journey to the Center of the Earth."
Thomas Edison
Credited with inventing oodles and oodles – and also shocking an elephant to death, which was fun – Thomas Edison is buried with his wife behind their home in West Orange, New Jersey. He lasted all the way until age eighty-four, passing in 1931, living to see his inventions become world-changing developments.
That's not the only place to see Edison's final resting place, in a way. A test tube in the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit is said to contain Edison's last breath, collected by his son, Charles, as Edison breathed his last.
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt
When the thirty-second President of the United States died, he was sitting for a portrait that would never be finished. This president, as well as his wife Eleanor, are buried at their lifelong home in Hyde Park, New York. A simple marble headstone has names, birth dates, and death dates set on a finely-manicured lawn.
These Roosevelts helped get America through one of the darkest times in the last hundred years and died mere months before the end of one of the world's greatest conflicts. Suffering from polio for most of his life, it's thought that Eleanor guided him at the end of his life in matters of state.
Marcel Proust
Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, critic, and essayist who wrote the monumental novel "À la recherche du temps perdu," published in seven parts between 1913 and 1927.
He is considered by critics and writers to be one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was one of her generation's most talented and influential singer-songwriters. She tragically died in 2011 at the age of 27. Her gravestone can be found in the United Kingdom, in the Edgwarebury Cemetery, in Edgware.
It's black and inscribed with pink writing. The songbird symbolizes her grandmother, who she admired dearly and even had her name tattooed on her arm. The headstone also includes names of people who were close to Amy, including her parents.
Toto's Memorial
Dogs deserve memorials, too, especially ones as influential as the late canine who played Dorthy's best friend in The Wizard of Oz. This sweet gesture was funded by fans who wanted to make sure the pet would be cherished forever.
The little guy's real name was actually Terry, not Toto. If you want to come and pay the last tribute to him, you can find his memorial at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly, also known as the princess of Monaco, starred in many classic movies during Hollywood's golden age, including "Dial M for Murder" and "Rear Window," to name a few. She got her princess title after marrying Prince Rainier.
Her 1956 wedding was named the "Wedding of the Century." She died in 1982 at the age of 52 and is now buried in Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco, where most of the country's royals are buried.
Jean Paul Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir
Back in the day, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir were what we'd call it couple. They were both existentialist French philosophers, and if you are not sure exactly what that means, you're not the only one.
While she died six years after he did, the two share a gravestone in a cemetery in Paris, France. The two spent their lives challenging societal ideas together, so it's only fitting they are going to spend eternity together.
Edith Piaf
French Singer Edith Piaf had a tough beginning to her life. Still, she managed to rise above it. By the time WW II ended, Édith had toured the world and become internationally known.
One of her most beloved and memorable songs was "La Vie en Rose." She died in 1967, and she was only 47 at the time. Today, you can visit her Paris childhood home which was turned into a museum dedicated to her life. Her gravestone can be found in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in France.
Judy Garland
The actress and singer appeared in numerous iconic films, such as ‘A Star is Born,’ ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ and ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ — all of which she delivered powerhouse performances in. In addition, her live shows in the later years of her career are regarded as some of the greatest live performances in showbiz history.
She was originally buried in New York’s Ferncliff Cemetery, but in 2017 her family decided she should be in Hollywood and moved her to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. We bet she's happier now.
President John F. Kennedy
The assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963, became one of the most important moments in the twentieth century. Kennedy rests near his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and his brothers, Robert and Ted Kennedy, in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
His status as a President gave his family a lot of control over how they wanted his final resting place to appear, but Kennedy's stone is relatively simple. It's a marking stone next to his wife's, with an eternal flame above and between them. While conspiracy theories abound, still, about his death, his gravesite is one of simplicity and class.
Merv Griffin
The man behind "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune," media mogul and television host, Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr., lived quite a life. Before becoming the owner of two major television production companies, Griffin hosted "The Merv Griffin Show."
The television host often joked that he wanted "I will not be right back after this message" written on his gravestone, and that's exactly what he got. Though he passed in 2007, anyone can see Griffin on reruns of his beloved talk show.
Bette Davis
Bette Davis was a trailblazing actress known for her range of characters across a variety of genres. She is considered one of the most important leading ladies Hollywood has ever seen and holds several firsts in the entertainment industry.
She was the first person to earn ten Academy Award nominations and became the first female chairman of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, among many other things. Davis is living proof that hard work pays off.
Andy Warhol
One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Andy Warhol was a prominent figure in the New York art scene from the late 1950s until his passing in 1987. Warhol was known for hosting various personalities in his art house, from struggling artists to major Hollywood celebrities.
He would often declare them famous, increasing the use of the expression "15 minutes of fame." When he passed, he was buried next to his parents in Pennsylvania. Unlike the artist and his work, the grave is simple but decorated with many of Warhol's famous pop-art items.
Alexander Hamilton
You know him from the smash stage musical, but have you ever visited his grave? It sits in the Trinity Churchyard of Lower Manhattan, New York City – the only active cemetery in Manhattan, which is also the final resting place of numerous other statesmen and veterans. America's first treasury secretary died in a pistol duel with then-Vice President Aaron Burr.
Hamilton is also enshrined on the front of the ten-dollar bill, which is one of the rare bills when you think about it. If he's the one who came up with the monetary system we use now, you think he'd either be on a more common bill like the one or a bigger bill like the hundred.
Sylvia Plath
Gravestones, even those for celebrities, don't garner much controversy. Poet and author Sylvia Plath was a lightning rod for the stuff even after her passing. Buried in St. Thomas Churchyard in Heptonstall, England, the gravestone included Plath's married surname, “Hughes,” at the request of her husband and fellow poet, Ted Hughes.
Some blamed Hughes for the tragedy, and the word was repeatedly chiseled off by visitors and mourners. Eventually, the managers had to cast the name in bronze to deter vandalism. If you're in the area and want to respect this poet, just bring flowers and leave the stonework to the experts.
James Joyce
The Irish literature writer was surprisingly buried in Zurich. James Joyce left Ireland in 1902 because of political turmoil and, in 1941, died after enduring ulcer surgery in Switzerland. He was quickly buried in the Fluntern Cemetery.
Joyce's wife, Nora, tried to move her husband's body to Ireland after being buried, but the Irish government denied her request. Joyce's remains reside in a grave beside his wife and son, watched over by a small statue of the poet.
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstong, nicknamed "Satch," "Satchmo," and "Pops," was one of the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned from the 1920s to the late 1960s, during which Armstrong was considered a "crossover" entertainer, meaning his music united all people in a racially divided United States.
Though his gravestone is simple, engraved with one of these nicknames, his funeral was anything, but more than 25,000 people attended.
Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon left this world with a long list of accolades. Remembered for his roles in "Some Like it Hot," "The Odd Couple," and "The Apartment," the actor had iconic wit and the most on-point comedic timing. Before arriving in Hollywood, the actor had an exceptional life; he had a Harvard degree and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.
Being the man that he was, Lemmon wanted to make one last mark before moving on. The comedic actor had his tribute inscribed, “Jack Lemmon in,” and then nothing but the ground. Lemmon always knew how to get the last laugh.
Doc Holliday
Doc Holliday was born to a wealthy family in Griffin, Georgia, in 1851. John Henry Holliday initially pursued dentistry, which is what earned him the nickname "Doc." He left Georgia for the west after being diagnosed with tuberculosis, he thought that the warm climate would help him ease his symptoms, and instead, he found something much bigger.
He became a gambler, which in those times was a respectable profession. Sadly, Doc lost his fight with tuberculosis at age 36. Nobody knows exactly where he was buried, but his body is believed to be found somewhere in the Linwood cemetery.
John Lennon
Back in the day, there was a band called “The Beatles,” and one of the members was a guy named John Lennon. We kid: He was one of the most important songwriters and musicians of all time thanks to his part in the band, and after he was murdered in 1980, his ashes were scattered across an area of Central Park now known as Strawberry Fields, after one of his songs.
Buskers play Beatles songs (no matter how much people ask them to stop), and people leave flowers at a memorial both here and where Lennon lived, the Dakota apartments.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe is perhaps one of the most famous names to come out of Hollywood. The actress was an idol of the 1950s and 60s. Despite her mental health struggles, the actress was so frustrated at being underpaid by film studio executives that she built her own studio in 1954, helping her take control of her career.
This was when Monroe starred in some of Hollywood's most acclaimed and memorable films, like "Some Like It Hot" and "The Misfits." The iconic blonde's gravestone has been kissed by countless fans and is now adorned in lipstick of eternal admiration.
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason's brash visual and verbal comedy and on-stage presence on Broadway helped him catch his big break for the TV show "The Life of Riley" in 1949. He was a fan favorite, and he quickly caught the attention of major studios as well. After three years on "Life of Riley," Gleason was given the show for which he is most remembered, "The Jackie Gleason Show."
One of his most popular musical numbers on Broadway was "And Away We Go," which became a trademark of his. "And away we go" became so linked to the comedian that it was inscribed on the stairs leading up to his gravestone.
Ernest Hemingway
Just as famous for his love of the outdoors as he is for his sparse prose style, Hemingway was a legendary figure in the literary world as soon as he began. Just like the man's writing, it says only what it needs to and then moves on, bearing his full name and the span of his life.
It's proper that this consummate outdoorsman is buried in Idaho's Rocky Mountains alongside his wife, son, and granddaughter. There are no other decorations required for this simple man, and the stone is often covered by brush. People will sometimes bring bottles of alcohol, Hemingway's true love, as gifts.
Edgar Allen Poe
Edgar Allen Poe’s death was as complex as his life. He was originally buried in an unmarked grave in Baltimore in 1849. Fearing the community would forget where he was buried, a gravestone was ordered before it could reach the cemetery; however, it was destroyed in a freak train wreck.
So contributions were made, and a beautiful monument was designed for the late poet. The monument was a disaster; it mislabeled Poe’s birthday and was too big for the spot it was meant to be in. Finally, in 1875 the people gave up putting a gravestone and just moved the body to a different cemetery with a separate tombstone already waiting. Reportedly, the gravestone with the raven on it was placed to commemorate his original resting place…but is placed in an incorrect spot.
Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison was known for his wild and out-of-this-world performances. His fans fell in love with his unpredictable personality so much that the rock star became the human embodiment of the counterculture movement of the time. Unfortunately, Morrison passed away in Paris at age 27.
The cause of his death remains a mystery, and fans are left to contemplate the reason for his too-soon departure. Morrison was buried in Paris, and his gravestone has become one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Fans leave everything from flowers to cigarettes, commemorating their beloved idol.
Mark Twain
Few men did more to create adventure, literature, and joy in the eighteen hundreds than Mark Twain. Laid to rest among U.S. veterans and congressmen in Woodlawn Cemetery – which got its start as a Confederate prison camp – Twain's headstone and the adjacent monument honor this witty and exciting writer and humorist.
Reading “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” to your children is still a way to give them good lessons about respect, help them learn about adventure, and get them laughing. His headstone even features his birth name, Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Visitors often leave pennies on the headstone and cigars – something Twain was known to enjoy during life.
Al Capone
The American mobster, criminal, and businessman, Al Capone, served time in prison for his crimes and was released in 1940 in poor health. He went through treatment at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore after other hospitals refused to accept him because of his reputation. His health continued to decline, and after examination, doctors determined that Capone had the mentality of a 12-year-old.
Capone contracted pneumonia and died from cardiac arrest shortly after. He was originally buried in Chicago but was eventually moved to Mount Carmel Cemetery, located in Hillside, Illinois, along with his father and his brother.
Bruce Lee
Although he's been gone for decades now, martial arts guru Bruce Lee remains the genre's most prominent symbol. His grave draws fans from all over the world. Born in San Fransisco, the kung-fu teacher was known for his strength and stature and broke box-office records with his films.
He was on his way to becoming an international star when he unexpectedly died at age 32. Though the official cause of his death was an allergic reaction to aspirin, fans insist that he died due to an evil curse.
Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father. Pioneering inventor. Politician. Writer, statesman, diplomat, and more. Benjamin Franklin did it all. If you need a hero to look up to help you get your life on track, start reading about how this austere dude lived his life, and you'll have a chance. Franklin is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground in Pennsylvania under a piece of marble with a humble inscription.
One of Franklin's memorable statements was, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” and visitors will often spend a penny to honor this great man. Management has asked visitors to stop the tradition, as it can damage the stone.
Peter Falk
Peter Falk had so much experience in the entertainment industry that he was a gift that kept on giving. Director Steven Spielberg once said of the actor, "I learned more about acting from him at that early stage of my career than I had from anyone else.”
Falk was a successful actor, but he was also fortunate in love. In 1977, he married actress Shera Danese. After he passed, Falk left his wife a $5 million estate and, more importantly, this touching tribute on his stone.
Sacagawea
Many details about Sacagawea are uncertain, from her death date and year to where she's actually buried, but it's well-known that she helped lead Lewis and Clark across the untamed western wilderness in order to reach the Pacific Ocean. There is a marker in the Sacajawea Cemetery in Fort Washakie, in Wyoming's Wind River reservation, which bears her name and the details of her life.
Whether or not she's actually buried there, the headstone is there alongside those of her family, and if you're a fan of western history or want to honor someone who helped forge this nation into what it is today, it's worth a visit.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare's last wish was that nobody would move his bones since grave robbing was a common crime of the era. After the world-famous playwright died, his tombstone issued a warning. In a nutshell, anybody who touches Shakespeare's bones will be cursed.
Even when his grave underwent repairs in 2008, workers made sure not to move anything, ensuring they didn't disturb one of history's most important authors.
John Wayne
After he died in 1979, the grave of American film icon John Wayne sat untouched for nearly 20 years. According to his son, the actor initially requested that his gravestone read "Feo, Fuerte y Formal," which translates to "Ugly, Strong and Dignified."
Despite the late actor's request, his legacy later engraved the stone with a memorable quote Wayne gave in a 1971 interview. "Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives, and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday."
Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield is remembered as one of Golden Age Hollywood's most iconic beauties. The actress was famous for films like "The Girl Can’t Help It" and "Too Hot To Handle." She is also remembered for her publicity stunts and turbulent personal life. Sadly, at the young age of 34, Mansfield lost her life in a car accident. Though she was buried in Pennsylvania, her fans in California had a different idea.
They placed a cenotaph in Hollywood Forever Ceremony, deliberately inscribing her birth year incorrectly. They listed it as 1938 rather than 1933, a tribute to the actress known for lying about her age.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash had a tough life until he found love and serenity through his wife and fellow country star, June Carter. Cash's bluesy genre of music inspired many throughout the world, and though he's been gone for nearly 20 years, his name is one that is still cherished today.
Cash passed away at age 71 in 2003; his death transpired just four months after Carter's death, which led fans to believe that his death was partly due to a broken heart. The country couple was buried next to each other in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Elvis Presley
When you're the one and only Elvis Presley, you are praised with two gravesites after your death. The King of Rock and Roll died of a prescription drug overdose in 1977 and was initially buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.
Due to vandalism, Elvis and his mother were moved to their current memorial in Graceland. To visit the legend's grave, you must purchase tickets to tour Graceland itself. Fans from across the globe make their way to Graceland to pay tribute to Presley to this day.
Jane Austen
Seeing as how Austen is the author of enduring pieces of work like “Pride and Prejudice,” many visitors who travel to see her gravestone in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England, are surprised to find that it bears no mention of her writing. Her identity as the writer of her works was kept a secret, and the books were published, having been written by “A Lady."
More than fifty years after her death, in 1870, her nephew paid for a bronze plaque to be placed in the cathedral to acknowledge her body of work. Further investigation made it clear that, yes, Austen was the author.
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin took the industry by storm in the silent film era, enduring a career that lasted decades. By the 1970s, Chaplin's health was declining, having suffered several strokes during those years. Towards the end of his life, he got to a point where the entertainer needed someone to care for him 24/7, and on Christmas morning, 1977, he passed away after suffering a final stroke in his sleep.
His last resting place is in Corsier-sur-Vevey, located in Switzerland. A few months after his burial, he was dug up and stolen by a pair of criminals. He was eventually recovered and reburied in the same cemetery, only this time he was surrounded by reinforced concrete.
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was a small-town boy who made it to the top of the Hollywood heap and passed at age 78 in his Beverly Hills home overlooking Los Angeles. In 1964, Martin released his classic, "Everybody Loves Somebody."
Acknowledging the fact that Martin had started fading at that point, industry insiders believed that he would never be able to compete against modern musicians. Still, the song reached number one on Billboard. It even knocked The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" down to number two. This triumphant moment will forever be remembered as it is engraved on his gravestone.
Laurel & Hardy
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, the comedic duo better known simply as Laurel and Hardy, were the talk of the town during the Classical Hollywood Era of the late 1920s to the early 1940s. Before they started working together, they were already well-known comedians.
Together they starred in more than 107 films and continue to be an inspiration to countless following comedians. They may now have been buried together, but their fans made sure to unite them with what was written on their tombstones.
Harry Houdini
Perhaps the most famous magician of all time, Harry Houdini, and his amazing illusions and tricks changed magic as we know it today. He performed for audiences all around the world during the late 1800s and early 1900s. At age 52, his life came to an end from inflammation of the abdominal wall and ruptured appendix, known as peritonitis.
He was buried at the Machpelah Cemetery in Glendale, Queens, New York. What makes Houdini's resting place so unique is that it was engraved by members of the Society of American Magicians.
Frederic Chopin
In Paris, there is a famous graveyard that features many stones and markings of both the famous and the common, but all of them are beautiful, thanks to Père Lachaise. One of the most famous names that are part of this yard is none other than Frederic Chopin, the legendary Polish musician and composer.
His gravestone is watched over by a weeping, mossy stone sculpture of Euterpe, the Greek muse of music, holding a broken instrument. The stone also features a profile of Chopin and is often bedecked with flowers from fans even to this day. There's nothing like some sad Chopin for visiting a graveyard.
Frank Sinatra
If there was one thing Frank Sinatra did through and through, it was making sure he did things his way. Selling more than 150 million records worldwide, Sinatra is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He was a true triple threat; he could sing, dance, and act, and to top it all off, he was pretty darn handsome.
In 1998, the artist passed away at age 82 and was buried in a cemetery near Palm Springs. It is said that the late singer was buried with a pack of Camel cigarettes and a bottle of Jack Daniels. He was right, "The Best Is Yet To Come."
Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith never did anything small. Larger than life in many ways, this model and reality TV star was in the tabloids constantly up until the day of her death and beyond, following her shocking death (most likely) due to prescription drugs just five months after the birth of her daughter Dannielynn.
She rests in Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Nassau, Bahamas. For the sunny and energetic celeb who always brought her vivid personality wherever she went, wanted or not, being buried in a perpetually sunny place like the Bahamas is a good fit. Visitors cover the grave in flowers when they stop by.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Few civil rights leaders are more treasured and beloved than Martin Luther King Jr. He made numerous memorable speeches, including the one that included “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty I am free at last.” His grave is in National Historical Park in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and fellow activist, Coretta Scott King.
The shared headstone has a Bible verse about the greatness of love, but it also includes that famous King quote you just read. The importance of King can't be overstated – how many other people on this list have their own holiday?
John Keats
Despite being one of Britain's most famous and treasured poets, this writer not only doesn't have a grave in the United Kingdom, but the stone also doesn't even bear his name. Keats relocated to Rome, hoping that the milder climate would improve his failing health. It didn't, and he passed at the young age of twenty-five, also believing the critics that his work wasn't worth the time he had given it.
For this reason, he insisted that his tombstone does not have his name on it and instead read: “Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water” – a phrase that here means “nothing” or “won't come true.”
Charles Darwin
Situated near fellow scientist Sir Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey is the famous English naturalist, scientist, and philosopher Charles Darwin. His most famous contribution to the scientific community is his book “On the Origin of Species,” which transformed the thought of how species developed and led directly to the theory of evolution as the dominant theory on how life developed on our planet Earth.
The simple marble gravestone has the scientist's name, his birth date, and his death date. The scientific community owes much to him, and a classy marble stone that tells us where his final resting place is the perfect way to remember him.
Robert Frost
As poets do, Robert Frost left behind a piece of his soul when he died in 1963. His award-winning poetic works carry his name to this day; the most notable of his collections include "North of Boston" and "A Boy's Will."
The famous line "I had a lover's quarrel with the world" appears in his poem, "A Lesson For Today," which he wrote in 1941. The poem's final words were requested by Frost to be engraved onto his tombstone.