Top 10 Famously Unique and Unexpected Funerals

Funerals and memorials are often serious and reflective – but not always. Some people, especially celebrities and those with big personalities or big budgets, choose to go out in unforgettable style. From pink Cadillac motorcades to ashes launched into space, these unusual funerals prove that a final farewell can be just as bold and creative as the life that came before it.

We’ve rounded up ten of the most memorable celebrity funerals, burials, and ash scatterings. Let their stories inspire your own end-of-life planning, whether you prefer something traditional, unique, or entirely unexpected.

1. Fredric J. Baur

The inventor of the Pringles can wanted his ashes buried inside his iconic creation. Unsure if he was serious, his family honored the request, selecting a can from a local Walgreens. They opted for the original flavor.

2. Aretha Franklin

The Motor City resident loved pink Cadillacs so much that she requested a funeral motorcade of 100 of them. And sure enough, her request was honored. Franklin also had four outfits for her viewing and funeral, and her guests were a who’s who of the music industry.

3. Hunter S. Thompson

The gonzo journalist turned his funeral into a literal blast — a cannon shot his ashes into the sky, just as he’d imagined. A 150-foot tower was built to honor his wish with a cannon placed on top and fireworks accompanying the blast. The event was by invitation only and included senators, actors, journalists, and musicians, among others. Actor Johnny Depp financed the production at a cost of $2 million. Bill Murray, Sean Penn, and Jack Nicholson were among the famous attendees.

4. Carrie Fisher

The Star Wars actress and her famous mother, Debbie Reynolds died a day apart but had different plans for how they’d be “laid to rest.” Fisher preferred cremation while her mother wanted a burial. While some of her ashes were placed in Reynold’s casket at the famous Forest Lawn cemetery, her brother, Todd Fisher, arranged for her to be placed inside her favorite possession, a large replica of a Prozac pill.  

5. Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee died at 32 in 1973 in Hong Kong. Portions of his real funeral were used in the movie Game of Death, which was released after his death, and his more famous film, “Enter the Dragon.” He and his son Brandon are buried in Seattle. While his funeral was traditional, elements of it appeared in his posthumous films, turning it into an unexpected cinematic memorial.

6. James Doohan

Space was the final frontier for Star Trek actor James Doohan. After several failed attempts, a portion of his ashes were finally smuggled aboard the International Space Station – making his space burial wish come true, 3 years after his death. His ashes were also scattered in Seattle’s Puget Sound. Another portion was flown into space by a Falcon 9 rocket in 2012.

7. Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was given what his family said was a “sort of a Viking funeral” to recognize his Norweigan roots. He was buried with some of his favorite earthly delights: chocolates, burgundy, snooker cues, HB pencils, and even a power saw in a themed burial that reflected his humor and imagination.

8. Luke Perry

The 90210 actor died in 2019, and his daughter said he had been buried in a biodegradable “mushroom suit.” The website for the company is no longer live, but in articles from that time, company officials said their products had a built-in “biomix” that was made up of mushrooms and other microorganisms to help decompose the body.

9: Jim Henson

The creator of the Muppets died in 1990 and had several services including one in Manhattan and another in London. Famous Muppet puppeteers including “Big Bird” performed in character singing through tears. Henson had shared his wish that no one be allowed to wear black and requested a jazz band. His wishes were honored, and the New York service concluded with a New Orleans-based jazz band performing “When the Saints Go Marching In.” The celebration of life was described by Life as an “epic and almost unbearably moving event.”

10: Bela Lugosi

The Hungarian actor made famous by his role as Dracula was buried in his full cape and costume in Culver City, California. In interviews, his son, Bela Junior, confirmed that he and his mother (Lugosi’s fourth wife, Lillian) decided on his attire. Lillian also paid for his plot and marker (inscribed “beloved father”), while his fifth wife, Hope, paid for the service and the coffin and later moved to Hawaii to work at a leper colony.

These famous farewells show that there’s no one “right” way to say goodbye. Whether you’re drawn to a traditional service, an eco-friendly burial, or a creative celebration of life, the most important thing is that it feels true to you. By making your funeral plans in advance, you can ensure your final send-off reflects the life you lived – and the story you want to leave behind.