Best Celebrity Tombstones By Wavy Gravey [14 more lists]

Providing reasons to laugh, cry and think for years to come after their deaths, the best celebrity tombstones contain witty and clever lines, famous quotes and funny phrases. Just as they did during life, each of these celebrities used their own unique way to make fans smile with their tombstone epitaphs.

For many comedians, a tombstone is one place to tell one last joke while others used the space to remind fans of a classic catch phrase or saying. For others, the tombstone is wildly extravagant, such as that of Jimi Hendrix, or very popular to visitors, such as that of Jim Morrison. Others are even so famous that they need no tombstone announcing the crypt, such as Michael Jackson. Regardless of what the tombstone or grave brings, each serve as a memorial for the actors, musicians and other celebrities we love.

Print Info View Views: 8296 Items: 13

< >

Show: 5 25

Rank Name

1

Up 8

Down 1

John Wayne

Following his death on June 11, 1979, the grave of American film icon John Wayne sat unmarked for nearly 20 years. The actor initially requested his tombstone to read "Feo, Fuerte y Formal," meaning "ugly, strong and dignified," according to his son. Despite the request, his estate later chose to inscribe the stone with a memorable quote Wayne gave in a 1971 interview with "Playboy" magazine. The quote, and his tombstone, read, "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."
2

Up 5

Down 0

Jack Lemmon

Seeing his name on the marquee after appearing in notable titles like "Some Like It Hot" and "The Odd Couple," actor and musician Jack Lemmon continued the trend after his June 27, 2001, death. Lemmon used his tombstone as a marquee, both poking fun at his many roles and also to provide a bit of humor to describe what lies below. Skipping all the sentiment and dates, Lemmon's tombstone reads simply, "Jack Lemmon in."
3

Up 6

Down 1

Rodney Dangerfield

Making his fans laugh as he did for decades, actor and comedian Rodney Dangerfield got his last laugh on his tombstone, which reads "Rodney Dangerfield... There goes the neighborhood." The crack was similar to Dangerfield's type of comedy which made him famous, coined the phrase "I don't get no respect" and put him in 1980s films such as "Caddyshack" and "Back to School."
4

Up 4

Down 0

Jimi Hendrix

Thought not particularly funny or witty, the tombstone of legendary musician and guitarist Jimi Hendrix is a splendor in itself. Hendrix is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton, Washington, although in a different location from where he was initially buried. More than 20 years after his 1970 death, Hendrix's body was moved to a separate location in the park, complete with a stone pavilion and space for other family members on the same plot.
5

Up 4

Down 1

Laurel and Hardy

Partners in comedy during their lives, the actor/comedian pair of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, known as simply Laurel and Hardy, continued that bond in death. The first of the two to pass, Oliver Hardy's tombstone notes "A genius of comedy, his talent brought joy and laughter to the world." Laurel's tombstone echoed the statements in other words, stating, "A master of comedy, his genius in the art of humor brought gladness to the world he loved."
6

Up 3

Down 0

Freddie Mercury

Though his ashes were scattered, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury is remembered by his former city of Montreux, Switzerland, with a full body statue. Much like world leaders are memorialized in statue form, Mercury, in his full flamboyance, has been on display since 1996, five years after his 1991 death.
7

Up 3

Down 1

Jackie Gleason

Appearing in films like "The Hustler" and "Smokey and the Bandit" as well as the long-running television series "The Honeymooners," actor and comedian Jackie Gleason had many catch phrases throughout the years. In between the lines like "how sweet it is!" and others, Gleason used one fitting line in particular for his tombstone epitaph, "and away we go."
8

Up 2

Down 0

Jim Morrison

As one of the most visited attractions in Paris, the gravesite of Jim Morrison, singer for The Doors, is not notable for its epitaph or elegance, but rather its graffiti and other mischief. Morrison's tombstone has been stolen, defaced and destroyed numerous times, so much so that now it's guarded by security.
9

Up 2

Down 1

Robert Frost

As a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry, one would expect nothing less than a few words of wisdom on the tombstone of poet and playwright Robert Frost. Instead of selecting one of Frost's more notable quotes, his tombstone, which he shares with his wife and other family members, states simply, "I had a lover's quarrel with the world," a quote from one of his poems.
10

Up 2

Down 1

Merv Griffin

In addition to acting, hosting and appearing on his own talk show, Merv Griffin brought us numerous game shows, including the highly popular ""Jeopardy!"" and ""Wheel of Fortune"" which are still on today. After losing a battle to prostate cancer in 2007, he used his tombstone to provide his final sign-off line, reading ""I will not be right back after this message.""
11

Up 2

Down 2

Michael Jackson

When you reach the level of fame that you're called the "King" of anything, pretty sure you don't even need your name or a clever saying on your tombstone. That's exactly what happened following the sudden death of "King of Pop" Michael Jackson. His remains sit in an unmarked crypt at the famous Forest Lawn Cemetery in California. Though filled with flowers and other gifts from fans, the area is closed off from visitors and protected by security at all times.
12

Up 1

Down 0

Billy Wilder

Working for over 50 years from the 1930s to the 1990s, Billy Wilder served as a screenwriter, director and producer of over 60 films. While he won acclaim and numerous awards for his films like "The Lost Weekend," "Sunset Boulevard," "The Seven Year Itch" and "Some Like It Hot," Wilder was humble as well. His tombstone, placed after his 2002 death, explains just that, stating "I'm a writer, but then nobody's perfect."
13

Up 2

Down 3

Mel Blanc

While his name may not be a household one, his voice certainly is, leading to the nickname of "man of 1,000 voices" for voice actor Mel Blanc. Heard in homes to this day, Blanc was the man behind the character voices of the likes of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn and many others. His nickname, along with his most famous line of "That's All Folks," are inscribed on his tombstone after his 1989 death.

Showing items 1 - 5 of 13

make your votes count more