I have often found the epitaphs on gravestones and tombs that go beyond the simple details of name, life span, and relationships, more interesting, and sometimes poignant, when they cover details of their lives and fame. Following are some of those for entertainers – actors, singers, and entertainers.
My favourite epitaph, and that of many in the UK (voted the nation’s favourite epitaph in a 2012 poll) was comedian Spike Milligan’s “I told you I was ill”. Additional UK favourites can be viewed at the Mail Online.
Eve Arden (Westwood, California)
Wife-Mother-Actress-Author
The world will remember
Mel Blanc (Hollywood, California)
“That’s All Folks!”
The Man of a Thousand Voices
Karen Carpenter (Cypress, California)
A star on earth – a star in heaven
Bette Davis (Hollywood Hills, California)
She did it the hard way
Sammy Davis, Jr. (Glendale, California)
“The Entertainer”
He did it all
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. (Hollywood, California)
Good Night Sweet Prince
and a flight of angels sing to thy rest
Marty Feldman (Hollywood Hills, California)
He made us laugh,
he took my pain away.
I love you, Lauretta [his wife]
Peter Finch (Hollywood, California)
Distinguished actor,
loving husband and father
Always in our hearts
Oliver Hardy (California)
A genius of comedy
His talent brought joy and
Laughter to all the world
Rita Hayworth (Culver City, California)
To
Yesterday’s Companionship
and Tomorrow’s Reunion
Ernie Kovacs (Los Angeles, California)
Nothing in Moderation
We all loved him
Jayne Mansfield (Plainfield, Pennsylvania)
We live to love you more each day
Dean Martin (Los Angeles, California)
Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime
Jim Morrison (Paris, France)
kata ton daimona eay toy
[True to his own spirit]
Buddy Rich (Westwood, California)
One of a kind
Roy Rogers (Apple Valley, California)
The Cowboy’s Prayer
Oh Lord, I reckon I’m not much just by myself.
I fail to do a lot of things I ought to do.
But Lord, when trails are steep and passes high,
Help me to ride it straight the whole way through.
And when in the falling dusk I get the final call,
I do not care how many flowers they send–
Above all else the happiest trail would be
For You to say to me, “Let’s ride, My friend.”
Amen
Minnie Riperton Rudolph (Los Angeles, California)
“Loving You is Easy Cause You’re Beautiful”
Hers was a gift of love, a miracle of life,
For all the world to see and hear forever
Bessie Smith (Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania)
The Greatest Blues Singer in the World
Will Never Stop Singing
Hank Williams (Montgomery, Alabama)
Thank you for all the love you gave me
There could be no one stronger
Thank you for the many beautiful songs
They will live long and longer