The Daily Deceased

From the Desk of Neil McNally

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:34:58 -0700

Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977)

From the Desk of Neil McNally

Tue, 29 May 2012 11:39:00 -0700

Jimmy Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997)

From the Desk of Neil McNally

Mon, 28 May 2012 11:43:00 -0700

Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 – November 16, 1960)

Happy Memorial Day from all your friends at The Daily Deceased. Come back each day this week as we remember the stars who fought to keep us safe!

Richard Farnsworth (September 1, 1920 – October 6, 2000)Forest...

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:49:00 -0700

Richard Farnsworth (September 1, 1920 – October 6, 2000)
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles CA

An American actor who is best known for his roles in Anne of Green Gables, The Natural, The Grey Fox, and Misery.

However, it is David Lynch’s film The Straight Story that serves as his last and most well remembered part. His portrayal of a man who goes to meet his ailing brother on a John Deere lawn tractor earned him an Best Actor Oscar nomination in 1999.

Not bad for someone who started his career as a movie stuntman!

Fred Stone (August 19, 1873 – March 6, 1959)Forest Lawn...

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:00:00 -0700

Fred Stone (August 19, 1873 – March 6, 1959)
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles CA

When people today think of the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz their minds immediately turn to Ray Bolger’s classic interpretation. But there was a time when Fred Stone was considered the quintessential man of straw. Stone originated the role in the original 1902 stage production that eventually moved to Broadway. His nimble acrobatics and tenderness in the role greatly influenced Bolger when it came time to pass the torch (so to speak).

Stone went on to Hollywood and was a beloved character actor in the movies. He befriended the likes of Will Rogers, Annie Oakley, and boxer James J. Corbett. By all accounts he was a man’s man to be sure.

Although no vocal recordings exist of his performance as the Scarecrow, a testament to Stone’s greatness in the role can be found from L. Frank Baum himself when he dedicated 1904’s The Land of Oz to him.

Godfrey Cambridge (February 26, 1933 - November 29, 1976)Forest...

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:35:50 -0700

Godfrey Cambridge (February 26, 1933 - November 29, 1976)
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles CA

Respected stand up comic and actor who along with Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory, and Nipsy Russell broke down the barriers that hindered many African-American comics at the time. His career encompassed work on Broadway, movies, and film. Unfortunately, his early death at the age of 43 from a heart attack forever silenced a very prominent voice.

Glenn Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006)Woodlawn Cemtery,...

Tue, 22 May 2012 10:55:01 -0700

Glenn Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006)
Woodlawn Cemtery, Santa Monica CA

Noted every man actor who starred in such classics as Blackboard Jungle, 3:10 to Yuma, and Superman. In fact, it was his small but, pivotal role as Jonathan Kent in the original Superman that brought him acclaim and notoriety from a whole new generation of fans.

From the Desk of Neil McNally

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:36:00 -0700

Chuck Connors (April 10, 1921 – November 10, 1992)
San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills CA

Whatever you do, don’t mess with The Rifleman!

From the Desk of Neil McNally

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:10:00 -0700

Due to circumstances beyond our control, The Daily Deceased will return with all new posts Monday, May 21st. Until then…keep it classy!

Meyer “Mickey” Cohen (September 4, 1913 – July 29,...

Fri, 11 May 2012 09:30:44 -0700

Meyer “Mickey” Cohen (September 4, 1913 – July 29, 1976)
Hilllside Memorial Park, Culver City CA

Infamous Los Angeles gangster with ties to the Jewish and American mafias. However, after a controversial and violent life spent in and out of various prisons he ironically died peacefully in his sleep.

George Jessel (3 April 1898 – 23 May 1981)Hillside Memorial...

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:50:55 -0700

George Jessel (3 April 1898 – 23 May 1981)
Hillside Memorial Park, Hillside CA

Actor, singer, songwriter, producer, and beloved “Toastmaster General.” He received this unique nickname due to the frequency of his hosting duties for various political and entertainment functions. So, in light of this fact I feel it’s more than appropriate to raise our glasses and toast the one, the only, George Jessel.

From the Desk of Neil McNally

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:27:00 -0700

San Fernando Mission Hills Cemetery
Mausoleum
Mission Hills CA

From the Desk of Neil McNally

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:36:00 -0700

Court of Liberty and Old North Church
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles CA

Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills and Glendale are interesting in the fact that they have patriotic leanings that are somewhat random. But, still cool nonetheless.

George Raft (September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980)Forest Lawn...

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:30:48 -0700

George Raft (September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980)
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles CA

Film actor and dancer known for excelling at playing gangsters in such classics as Some Like It Hot and the original Scarface. His real life association with the mafia only served to add “weight” to these roles.

I guess in Hollywood if you find your niche as an actor you roll with it.

Pat O’Brien (November 11, 1899 – October 15, 1983)Holy Cross...

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:34:00 -0700

Pat O’Brien (November 11, 1899 – October 15, 1983)
Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City CA

Character actor who is best known, among other roles, for giving the “Win one for the Gipper” speech in Knute Rockne, All American (1940).

Hubert Eaton (June 3, 1881 – September 20, 1966)Forest Lawn...

Wed, 02 May 2012 10:00:55 -0700

Hubert Eaton (June 3, 1881 – September 20, 1966)
Forest Lawn Glendale, Glendale CA

Founder of the the Forest Lawn chain of cemeteries. I’ll let the irony of this image speak for itself.

This journalist apologizes for the picture quality of this photo. As you can see the lighting in the Great Mausoleum doesn’t always equal “great” photos.

Ub Iwerks (March 24, 1901 – July 7, 1971) Forest Lawn Hollywood...

Tue, 01 May 2012 09:30:00 -0700

Ub Iwerks (March 24, 1901 – July 7, 1971)
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles CA

Academy award winning animator and acclaimed special effects technician. He met Walt Disney in 1919, and is widely considered to be the co-creator of Mickey Mouse. Although Mickey was always Walt’s concept, it was Ub who fully realized Walt’s vision with the design of the character. Incredibly Iwerks even animated the first Mickey cartoons almost all by himself. Disney and Iwerks eventually had a falling out as Iwerks felt he wasn’t given enough credit for his efforts. He went on to form his own studio, and work on other people’s projects with varying success.

Disney and Iwerks eventually patched up their relationship, and Iwerks returned to the Disney Studio in 1940. It was there that he concentrated on visual effects, and pioneered many of the imagery that we take for granted in film today. Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds? Yup. That was Ub.

Walt once said “It all started with a mouse.” But, Ub Iwerks certainly gave the little guy a helping hand.

From the Desk of Neil McNally

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:54:00 -0700

The Wishing Chair
Wee Kirk o’ The Heather Church
Forest Lawn Glendale, Glendale CA

Here’s wishing you a great weekend! In the meantime, The Daily Deceased will return this Tuesday, May 1st with all new posts. See you then!

Mark Goodson (January 14, 1915 – December 18, 1992) Hillside...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:24:00 -0700

Mark Goodson (January 14, 1915 – December 18, 1992)
Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City CA

This has been a Mark Goodson headstone!

Robert Disney’s House4406 Kingswell AvenueLos Angeles, CA In this quiet and unassuming Los...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:38:37 -0700

Robert Disney’s House
4406 Kingswell Avenue
Los Angeles, CA

In this quiet and unassuming Los Feliz house, a little bit of magic happened. For it was here in the summer of 1923 that a young Walt Disney arrived from Kansas City to live with his uncle Robert Disney. In fact, the Disney empire quietly began in a small garage in the back of this house, where Walt made an unsuccessful demo reel for theater owner Alexander Pantages. That garage is now housed at The Stanley Ranch Museum in Garden Grove, California.

Never say that The Daily Deceased doesn’t give you fun facts!