Ava Gardner

Birth Name:

Ava Lavinia Gardner

Birth Date:

December 24, 1922

Birth Place:

Grabtown, North Carolina

Death Date:

January 25, 1990

Place of Death:

34 Ennismore Gardens, Westminster, London, England

Age:

Cause of Death:

Pneumonia and fibrosing alveolitis

Cemetery Name:

Sunset Memorial Park

Claim to Fame:

Show Business

Ava Gardner was a celebrated American actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her performance in Robert Siodmak's film noir The Killers. During the 1950s, Gardner established herself as a leading lady and one of the era's top stars with films like Show Boat, Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, The Barefoot Contessa, Bhowani Junction and On the Beach. She continued her film career for three more decades, appearing in the films 55 Days at Peking (1963), Seven Days in May (1964), The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), Earthquake (1974) and The Cassandra Crossing (1976). During her career Gardner was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in John Ford's Mogambo and for best actress for both a Golden Globe Award and BAFTA Award for her performance in John Huston's The Night of the Iguana. She continued to act regularly until 1986, four years before her death in 1990, at the age of 67.

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:

Map of Sunset Memorial Park in Smithfield, North Carolina courtesy of Google Maps

Grave Location:

Gardner Family Plot

Grave 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.