Chasing Eternity: The Fascination with Celebrity Burials
It’s not about selfies—it’s about seeking forever.
For many, adoration for a celebrity might mean binge-watching their films or splurging on concert tickets. But for Anthony Jabin, 62, it means securing his eternal resting place near their graves. In 2024, Jabin, inspired by his lifelong admiration for Marilyn Monroe, invested $195,000 in a mausoleum crypt located next to Monroe’s final resting spot at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
Jabin isn’t making plans for future generations; it’s a solo endeavor. He simply wanted a unique opportunity to be near “the most iconic actress of all time.” He expressed, “I bought the basement next door to Marilyn Monroe because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”
His crypt is just a row above and four spots over from Monroe’s resting place, and he even shares that he commemorates her birthday with flowers each year. This isn’t just fandom; it’s a deep commitment.
And it’s not an isolated case. Jabin is among many who transform iconic cemeteries into sought-after locales, sometimes paying hefty sums to rest near their beloved stars, music legends, and cultural icons.
Los Angeles’s Hollywood Forever Cemetery exemplifies this trend, which goes beyond mere fascination.
Yog Kanthia, co-owner of Hollywood Forever, shared that a lot of families intentionally seek proximity to celebrities. He noted, “Many feel that being around celebrities gives them a sense of connection to Hollywood’s culture and history.”
Prices for burial plots in the cemetery’s Garden of Legends can start at $200,000 and go over $6 million for custom mausoleums.
Noel Berman, director of private estates at Hollywood Forever, explained that requests for adjacent properties are common. “We often have clients who want land near stars like Neil Sedaka,” he said. With such high demand, many reserve their spots long before they actually need them—around 70% of sales are prepaid here.
In essence, these transactions resemble property deals in New York City, but, of course, these arrangements never expire.
Not far away, inside the Judy Garland Pavilion, spaces start from around $8,800, and for Jeffrey Dicker, being closer to Garland is essential. He recently acquired a glass-front niche near her grave for over $50,000. “To me, Judy Garland represents the essence of Hollywood,” he reflected.
His ties to Garland go deep. He recalls watching her as a child and finding solace in “The Wizard of Oz.” Dicker expressed that this world has always offered an escape. Berman noted that many older LGBTQ+ clients actively seek spots near Garland due to the historic phrase “Friends of Dorothy,” which served as a coded identifier for the community.
Interestingly, Dicker isn’t waiting for his time. He has started contributing small artworks to a display titled “Jeffrey Dicker Is Alive.” He acknowledges the possibility that some might see this as self-promotion but emphasizes his partnership with Garland to avoid that perception.
His artistic tribute conveys a message: love can thrive amid differences, symbolized through miniature artworks of Dorothy and the Wicked Witch.
In New York, this fascination manifests differently. At Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, people actively seek plots beside musical icons like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis. Brooklyn’s Greenwood Cemetery also attracts visitors, housing renowned figures like Leonard Bernstein and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Historically, this interest was present long before Hollywood. Meg Ventrud, from Woodlawn Conservancy, recounted how Admiral David Farragut’s burial attracted crowds as far back as 1870, increasing cemetery sales significantly.
Jazz legends have gravitated towards one another; Duke Ellington bought property at Woodlawn in 1959 before passing away. This set off a trend, with a burgeoning list of jazz greats wanting to be nearer to him.
For Marian Pardo and her husband, Michael Tunkel, proximity to Jazz Corner was a compelling reason to buy a plot at Woodlawn. They felt a draw to the idea of resting among jazz legends, especially after enjoying countless performances together.
As Pardo humorously mentioned, “I want to be a place that people want to go to!”
Bill Villanova, president of Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, observed that many are drawn to the burial sites of famous individuals. Gene Newman, from a personal data firm, added that this fascination with celebrity graves is rooted in a historical desire to be linked to greatness.
Newman remarked that the choice of burial reflects how one wishes to be remembered. Some believe that being near the famous elevates their status, while for others, it creates a cherished connection to beloved figures they never met. It’s almost like achieving a form of immortality without taking on any supernatural traits.
