Celebrity funerals, memorials, and vigils can be dazzling final farewell events, or somber low-key get-togethers. Either way, the death of a well-known actor, musician, writer, or any other public figure is always headline news, and the cameras are there to record the sad occasion.
Click through the following gallery and pay your own respects at some famous funerals.
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Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)
Crowds gather as Marilyn Monroe’s casket arrives at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. Among the mourners was former husband and baseball star Joe DiMaggio.
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Bruce Lee (1940–1973)
Steve McQueen straightens the sign on the casket at Bruce Lee’s funeral in Seattle, Washington. Fellow Hollywood actor James Coburn is standing behind McQueen.
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Marvin Gaye (1939–1984)
Motown singer Marvin Gaye’s body lies in repose before his cremation at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.
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Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977)
Mourners, including his wife Oona, at the funeral of Charlie Chaplin at Corsier sur Vevey, near Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
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Elvis Presley (1935–1977)
Elvis Presley’s casket being placed into the family mausoleum at Forest Hills Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. He was to be placed next to his mother, but following an attempt to steal Presley’s body in late August 1977, the remains of both Presley and his mom were reburied in Graceland’s Meditation Garden.
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Neil Armstrong (1930–2012)
Members of the US Navy ceremonial guard hold an American flag over the remains of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong—the first man on the moon—during a burial at sea service aboard the USS Philippine Sea in the Atlantic Ocean.
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Ayrton Senna (1960 –1994)
Brazilian Formula One legend Ayrton Senna’s body lying in state at the Legislative Assembly building in Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo.
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Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961)
Ketchum Cemetery in Ketchum, Idaho is the final resting place of writer and novelist Ernest Hemingway. Pictured is the funeral ceremony.
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Michael Jackson (1958–2009)
Over 1.6 million fans applied for tickets to Michael Jackson’s public memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which was preceded by a private family service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park’s Hall of Liberty.
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Rudolph Valentino (1895–1926)
An admirer kneeling alongside the coffin of the original “Latin lover” of silent cinema, Italian-born actor Rudolph Valentino, at his funeral in New York City.
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Aretha Franklin (1942–2018)
The body of soul legend Aretha Franklin lies in repose at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History in Detroit, Michigan.
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Princess Grace of Monaco (1929–1982)
Prince Rainier, with his daughter Princess Caroline and his son Prince Albert, walks behind the coffin of his wife at the funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco held at the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate in Monaco-Ville.
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Pope John Paul II (1920–2005)
Cardinals take part in the funeral of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
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Yves Saint Laurent (1936–2008)
Celebrated fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent’s funeral at the Saint Roch Church in Paris, France.
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Louis Armstrong (1901–1971)
Pictured: jazz trumpeter, composer, vocalist, and actor Louis Armstrong’s funeral service. He was interred in Flushing Cemetery in Queens, New York City.
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James Dean (1931–1955)
Mourners acknowledge wreaths laid for James Dean during a memorial service at the Fairmount Friends Church in Fairmount, Indiana.
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James Brown (1933–2006)
The Reverend Jesse Jackson delivers the eulogy at the funeral for the “Godfather of Soul” at the James Brown Arena in Augusta, Georgia.
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Judy Garland (1922–1969)
Crowds gather outside the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan, New York as Judy Garland’s funeral service takes place.
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Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970)
Jimi Hendrix’s casket is followed from Dunlap Baptist Church in Seattle’s Rainier Valley in Washington state by members of his family and childhood friends.
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Harry Houdini (1874 –1926)
The flower-laden coffin of illusionist and stunt performer Harry Houdini, noted for his sensational escape acts, arrives at the Elks Club in New York City prior to his funeral.
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Jean Harlow (1911–1937)
Fans line the streets near the secluded Wee Kirk O’ The Heather Church at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California, for the funeral of classic Hollywood actress Jean Harlow.
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Josephine Baker (1906–1975)
The funeral procession of American-born French entertainer Josephine Baker as her body is taken to Le Madeleine Church in Paris.
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Babe Ruth (1895–1948)
Baseball legend Babe Ruth lies in state in the Rotunda of the Yankees stadium as 50,000 sports fans pay their last respects.
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Robert F. Kennedy (1925–1968)
Family mourners, including Jackie Kennedy and her children and Jackie’s sister Lee Radziwill, kneel at the grave of Robert F. Kennedy.
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John Lennon (1940–1980)
Fans of the former Beatle hold a vigil after he was shot dead by a fan on December 8, 1980, at his home in New York City.
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Johnny Hallyday (1943–2017)
The funeral ceremony of singer Johnny Hallyday, the “French Elvis,” at Le Madeleine Church in Paris.
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Brian Jones (1942–1969)
The coffin of Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones before being buried in his grave at Cheltenham Cemetery, England.
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Marcello Mastroianni (1924–1996)
Hundreds of Romans bade a final farewell to Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, whose coffin is lying on Rome’s Capitole Square.
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Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
The coffin of British novelist Thomas Hardy makes the journey from his home at Max Gate in Dorchester to Woking, England, for cremation. He gained fame as the author of novels such as ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ (1874) and ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ (1891).
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Enrico Caruso (1873–1921)
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