Ava Gardner
Fun Facts
How did a simple small-town girl end up in the glamour of Hollywood? Gardner was visiting her sister Beatrice in New York City in the summer of 1940 when Beatrice’s husband Larry Tarr, a professional photographer, offered to take her portrait as a gift for her mother. He was so pleased with the results that he displayed the finished product in the front window of his Tarr Photography Studio on Fifth Avenue. A talent agent spotted her photo in the window and shortly after Ava Gardner’s photograph landed on the desk of Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM. He wrote back to his people stating: “She can’t sing. She can’t act. She can’t talk. She’s terrific!” Miss Gardner was offered a standard contract by the studio and left school for Hollywood in 1941, with her sister Beatrice accompanying her. MGM’s first order of business was to provide her with a speech coach because her Carolina drawl was nearly incomprehensible and Harriet Lee as her singing teacher.
Cemetery Information:
Final Resting Place:
Sunset Memorial Park
Highway 210
Smithfield, North Carolina, 27577
USA
North America
Map:

Grave Location:
Gardner Family PlotGrave Location Description
As you enter the cemetery through the main gates, drive straight ahead to the flag pole, turn left at the end of the road and park on the right. Look for the sign indicating her final resting place and walk along the concrete pathway to the end. The much visited gravesite of actress Ava Gardner can be found on the left.
Grave Location GPS
35.51771748295793, -78.359617598504Visiting The Grave:
Photos:
FAQ's
Read More About Ava Gardner:
- Published Obituary
- Wikipedia Entry
- Scott Michaels FindaDeath - Ava Gardner
- The Ava Gardner Museum
- The Wild Life and Many Loves of Ava Gardner
- Turner Classic Movies - Ava Gardner
- The Life of Film Star Ava Gardner in Photos
- Ava Gardner: 10 essential films
- Ava Gardner tells all about Mickey Rooney
- Pop History Dig: Ava Gardner
- Ava Gardner - The World's Most Beautiful Animal