Memorable Epitaphs

[Joe Buck]

11 Memorable Epitaphs

They might be six feet under, but a good epitaph means they'll never be forgotten. Here are some of our favorite gravestone inscriptions.

1. Mel Blanc: "That's all folks!"

Arguably the world's most famous voice actor, Mel Blanc's characters included Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Yosemite Sam, and Sylvester the Cat. When he died of heart disease and emphysema in 1989 at age 81, his epitaph was his best-known line.

2. Spike Milligan: "Dúirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite."

The Gaelic epitaph for this Irish comedian translates as, "I told you I was ill." Milligan, who died of liver failure in 2002 at age 83, was famous for his irreverent humor showcased on TV and in films such as Monty Python's Life of Brian.

3. Joan Hackett: "Go away -- I'm asleep."

The actor, who was a regular on TV throughout the 1960s and 1970s, appearing on such shows as The Twilight Zone and Bonanza, died in 1983 of ovarian cancer at age 49. Her epitaph was copied from the note she hung on her dressing room door when she didn't want to be disturbed.
 
                               JOAN HACKETT     
                                 1934---1983
                           GO AWAY- I'M ASLEEP

                 * Joan Hackett's epitaph quoted a sign
                    hung on her dressing room door.

4. Rodney Dangerfield: "There goes the neighborhood."

This comedian and actor died in 2004 from complications following heart surgery at age 82. His epitaph is fitting for this master of self-deprecating one-liners, best known for his catchphrase, "I don't get no respect."

5. Ludolph van Ceulen: "3.14159265358979323846264338327950
288 . . ."

The life's work of Ludoph van Ceulen, who died from unknown causes in 1610 at age 70, was to calculate the value of the mathematical constant pi to 35 digits. He was so proud of this achievement that he asked that the number be engraved on his tombstone.

6. George Johnson: "Here lies George Johnson, hanged by mistake 1882. He was right, we was wrong, but we strung him up and now he's gone."

Johnson bought a stolen horse in good faith but the court didn't buy his story and sentenced him to hang. His final resting place is Boot Hill Cemetery, which is also "home" to many notorious characters of the Wild West, including Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers, who died in the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

7. John Yeast: "Here lies Johnny Yeast. Pardon me for not rising."

History hasn't recorded the date or cause of John Yeast's death, or even his profession. We can only hope that he was a baker.

8. Lester Moore: "Here lies Lester Moore. Four slugs from a 44, no Les, no more."

The date of birth of this Wells Fargo agent is not recorded, but the cause of his death, in 1880, couldn't be clearer.

9. Jack Lemmon: "Jack Lemmon in . . ."

The star of Some Like It Hot, The Odd Couple, and Grumpy Old Men died of bladder cancer in 2001 at age 76.

10. Hank Williams: "I'll never get out of this world alive."

The gravestone of the legendary country singer, who died of a heart attack in 1953 at age 29, is inscribed with several of his song titles, of which this is the most apt.

11. Dee Dee Ramone: "OK . . . I gotta go now."

The bassist from the punk rock band The Ramones died of a drug overdose in 2002, at age 49. His epitaph is a reference to one of the group's hits, "Let's Go."