The Tragic Journey Home: Why Judy Garland’s Remains Were Moved 2,800 Miles To Hollywood Forever

Few stars in Hollywood history have a final resting place as complicated and storied as Judy Garland. As of the current date in December 2025, the legendary actress and singer is interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, but this has not always been the case. Her journey to this iconic location involved a controversial cross-country transfer nearly five decades after her death, a decision driven by her family to finally bring the star "home" to the place where her career began and where her children could be laid to rest alongside her. The full story of Judy Garland’s burial is a poignant reflection of her tumultuous life, marked by dramatic highs and devastating lows. Her final move from a New York mausoleum to a custom-built family pavilion in Hollywood is a testament to her enduring legacy and the fierce devotion of her children.

The Life and Death of a Hollywood Icon: Judy Garland's Complete Profile

Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm, was one of the most beloved and tragic figures of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her life was a whirlwind of extraordinary talent, intense public scrutiny, and private struggles that culminated in a premature death.

• Real Name: Frances Ethel Gumm
• Born: June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, U.S.
• Died: June 22, 1969, in London, England
• Cause of Death: Accidental overdose of barbiturates
• Age at Death: 47
• Occupation: Actress, Singer, Vaudevillian
• Spouses:
  • David Rose (m. 1941; div. 1944)
  • Vincente Minnelli (m. 1945; div. 1951)
  • Sidney Luft (m. 1952; div. 1965)
  • Mark Herron (m. 1966; div. 1967)
  • Mickey Deans (m. 1969; died 1969)
• Children:
  • Liza Minnelli (with Vincente Minnelli)
  • Lorna Luft (with Sidney Luft)
  • Joey Luft (with Sidney Luft)
• Notable Works: The Wizard of Oz (1939), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), A Star Is Born (1954), Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), and the iconic song "Over the Rainbow."

Garland's death in London in 1969 sent shockwaves across the globe. Her body was flown back to New York for a massive funeral attended by thousands of fans and celebrity friends, including Frank Sinatra and James Mason. It was at this time that her first burial location was chosen.

The Original Resting Place: Ferncliff Cemetery in New York

Judy Garland was originally interred at Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum in Hartsdale, New York, following her death in June 1969. This choice was made at the time because her then-husband, Mickey Deans, and her children were primarily living on the East Coast. For nearly 48 years, the legendary star's remains rested in the Ferncliff mausoleum, a location that is also the final resting place for many other notable figures, including Joan Crawford and Ed Sullivan. However, as the decades passed, her children—Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and Joe Luft—began to feel that the location was not appropriate for a star so intrinsically linked to Hollywood. Furthermore, the space she occupied was not large enough to accommodate the rest of the family who wished to be buried near her. The distance also presented a logistical and emotional challenge for her surviving family members who primarily reside in California. The desire to consolidate the family's final resting places and bring the beloved star back to the West Coast ultimately led to the momentous decision to move her remains.

The Controversial and Emotional 2017 Relocation

In January 2017, the decision was made public: Judy Garland’s body would be exhumed and transported across the United States from New York to California. This news was significant because it meant moving the remains of one of the 20th century's biggest stars nearly five decades after her death. The move was reportedly initiated by her family, with her daughters Liza Minnelli and Lorna Luft being the primary drivers behind the decision. A family spokesperson stated that the move was to fulfill the wishes of the family to bring their mother "home to Hollywood" and to a location that could serve as a permanent family plot. The logistics of the move were complex, involving the transfer of her body from the mausoleum crypt at Ferncliff, a flight from JFK to Los Angeles, and final re-interment. The relocation was a powerful, if somewhat controversial, act of familial love. It ensured that future generations of the Garland-Minnelli-Luft family would have a central place to honor their matriarch and that the star would finally rest in the city that defined her career.

Judy Garland’s Current Final Resting Place: The Judy Garland Pavilion

Today, Judy Garland's final and permanent resting place is at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Hollywood Forever is one of the most historic and star-studded cemeteries in the world, a fitting location for the woman who starred in The Wizard of Oz. The cemetery is the final home for countless Hollywood legends, including Mickey Rooney, Cecil B. DeMille, and Rudolph Valentino.

The Judy Garland Pavilion Details

The star is interred in a specially created, private mausoleum named the Judy Garland Pavilion. * Location: Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038. * Specific Site: The Judy Garland Pavilion. * Significance: The pavilion is an intimate, beautiful family room that houses her crypt and is intended to be the final resting place for her children, Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and Joey Luft, as well as other close family members. This move solidified her legacy not just as a global superstar but as the heart of a devoted family. The pavilion is accessible to the public, allowing fans, often referred to as "friends of Dorothy," to visit and pay their respects to the enduring talent who captivated millions. The crypt is clearly marked, and unlike her previous resting place, which was in a large, shared mausoleum, the new location is a dedicated space that honors her legacy directly.

The Enduring Legacy of the Move

The 2017 transfer of Judy Garland's remains from Ferncliff to Hollywood Forever is more than just a logistical footnote; it is a significant part of her post-mortem narrative. It highlights the lasting power of her connection to Hollywood and the deep desire of her family to create a unified, accessible, and permanent memorial. The move ensures that fans visiting Hollywood can connect with the physical memorial of the star in the very city where she achieved her greatest fame. The Judy Garland Pavilion has become a new focal point for her admirers, offering a serene and beautiful location to reflect on her extraordinary, yet tragically short, life. It is a powerful symbol of a star finally brought home, resting among her peers and awaiting her loved ones. The story of her burial site is a final, dramatic chapter in the life of a woman who was truly one of a kind.