Discover the world of Martin Tschanett
Pierce Brothers Valhalla Park
10621 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606
Oliver Hardy
* 18. Januar 1892 in Harlem, Georgia
† 7. August 1957 in Hollywood, Kalifornien
​was an American comedian, film actor and silent film director, who became world famous as part of the legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy ("Dick und Doof"). In addition to his partner Stan Laurel, Hardy played the figure of the portly, somewhat self-important Ollie, who has to suffer under Stan. In a period of thirty years (1921-1951) the team made 106 films. Before the artistic partnership actually began in 1927, Hardy had acted in about 270 silent films, of which only a good 100 have survived. In the mid-1950s, Oliver Hardy lost a lot of weight to protect his health. However, he suffered a stroke in 1956 and was almost completely paralyzed as a result. After two more strokes, he died on August 7, 1957 at the age of 65. Too ill to attend his co-star Oliver Hardy's funeral, Stan Laurel said, "Babe would understand."
Bea Benaderet
* 4. April 1906 in New York City
† 13. October 1968 in Los Angeles
On October 19, 1968, Benaderet died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 62.
Aneta Corsaut
* 3. November in Hutchinson, Kansas, USA
† 6. November 1995 in Studio City, Los Angeles
​was an American film actress. She is best known for playing Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show (1963-1968). On November 6, 1995, Corsaut died of cancer in Studio City, Los Angeles, California, just 3 days after her 62nd birthday.
Gorgeous George Wagner
* 24. März 1915 in Butte, Nebraska
† 26. Dezember 1963 in Los Angeles
​was an American professional wrestler by the name of "Gorgeous George". In 1962, Wagner was diagnosed with severe liver disease. On the advice of his doctors, he retired. This, combined with financial difficulties stemming from a recent divorce, worsened his health. He suffered a heart attack on December 24, 1963 and died two days later at the age of 48.
Cliff Edwards
* 14. Juni 1895 in Hannibal, Missouri
† 17. Juli 1971 in Hollywood, Kalifornien
​Also known to many people by his stage name "Ukelele Ike", was an American singer, vaudeville star, film actor and voice actor. He is one of the pioneers of scat singing. He is best known to Disney fans as the voice of Jiminy Cricket in the film Pinocchio and as the singer of the song "If a Star in the Dark Night". He also voiced Jim Crow from Dumbo. Edwards spent most of his last years in seclusion in a home for unemployed actors. He also stayed on the Walt Disney Studios lot for a time in hopes of getting a job as a voice actor. Or he met various employees and told them about his experiences in vaudeville over lunch. Shortly before his death, he stayed in a Hollywood hospital, where he died peacefully on July 17, 1971. Since no one wanted to pay for his funeral, the original plan was to hand him over to the University of California, Los Angeles, for medical examinations. But when Walt Disney Productions found out, the company took over the body and paid for a burial.
Gail Russell
* 21. September 1924 in Chicago, Illinois
† 27. August 1961 in Brentwood, Kalifornien
​was an American film actress. In 1950 it was revealed that she had a problem with alcohol and had become a victim of alcoholism. As a result, Paramount did not renew her contract. For the next 10 years, she tried to regain control of her life. She divorced Madison in 1954 and, after a five-year absence from acting, rejoined a role in the western, Seven Men from Now, starring Randolph Scott - produced by her boyfriend John Wayne. She took on another major role in 1957's The Tattered Dress. After that, she acted in four more films, but was unable to control her alcohol addiction and was found dead at her home in Brentwood, California on August 26, 1961, at the age of 36. She died of a heart attack attributed to alcohol. When she was found, it was also determined that she was suffering from malnutrition at the time of death, as she was not eating regularly but was drinking all the more.
Curly Joe De Rita
* 12. Juli 1909 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
† 3. Juli 1993 in Los Angeles, Kalifornien
​was an American comedian and actor. Along with Randolph Scott and Bing Crosby, he toured Europe during World War II entertaining the troops. He later became a part of the comedy troupe The Three Stooges, using the stage name Curly Joe DeRita, and made several films, including Snow White & The Three Stooges, Take Down Hercules, and The Mad, Mad, Mad World. On July 3, 1993, DeRita died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 83. He was the last of the three Stooges.
Charles Criswell King
* 18. August 1907 in Princeton, Indiana
† 4. Oktober 1982 in Burbank, Kalifornien
was an American entertainer, psychic and actor in the films of Ed Wood. His best-known -- accurate -- prediction came on March 10, 1963, on the Jack Paar TV special, when he announced that US President John F. Kennedy would not run for re-election in 1964 because "something happened to him" in November 1963. Other predictions, such as the end of the world on August 18, 1999 and his own trip to the moon (along with his girlfriend Mae West as US President), did not come true. Criswell is also known for roles in three trash films by his friend Ed Wood: In 1959 he acted as narrator in Wood's film "Plan 9" from space. "Plan 9 from Outer Space" is now often considered the worst film of all time. Criswell was also a dazzling personality in private life, liked to surround himself with like-minded people and cultivated a bizarre image. His close friend Mae West employed Criswell as her personal psychic and sold him her old luxury cars for $5. For example, Criswell's habits included occasionally sleeping in coffins and raving about their comfort. Criswell was buried in an urn at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood.
Johnny Arthur
* 20. Mai 1883 in Scottdale, Pennsylvania
† 31. December 1951 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles
was an American actor. His most famous role was as Darla Hood's father in Hal Roach's "Our Gang shorts". Arthur died on December 31, 1951 at the Motion Picture Country Home. He was buried in Walhalla Memorial Park Cemetery, funded by the Motion Picture Fund, but remained in an unmarked grave for 60 years, until friends at Dearted Tours and Findadeath.com donated the funds for a headstone.
Jonathan Hale
* 23. März 1891 in Ontario, Kanada
† 28. Februar 1966 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, USA
was a Canadian film actor who appeared in over 200 feature films. In 1934 he had his first roles in film, but often only small roles or unnamed short appearances. Supporting and leading roles followed in the mid-1930s. He has also acted in various television films and series. His best-known film is the 1951 Hitchcock thriller Strangers on a Train.
On February 28, 1966, he committed suicide by shooting himself.
Thelma Pelish
* 24. Dezember 1926 in New York City
† 6. März 1983 in Woodland Hills, Kalifornien
was an American actress. Known from the films "Picnic in Pajamas" (1957), "The Man from San Fernando" (1978) and "Psychock" (1979). She died on March 6, 1983 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.
Ronald Lyle Goldman
* 2. July in Cook County, Illinois
† 12. Juni 1994 in Brntwood, Los Angeles
He worked as a waiter and was a friend of Nicole Brown Simpson. Both were murdered on June 12, 1994 at 875 South Bundy Drive, Brentwood (in front of Nicole's apartment). Their bodies were found just after midnight when police arrived at the scene.