Most People Don’t Know That Ava Gardner’s Gravesite Is Found Right Here In North Carolina

Did you know Ava Gardner (1922-1990) has a unique celebrity tie to North Carolina? Growing up in the rural South, she never considered acting until Gardner turned 18 when her photograph was discovered by talent scouts from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). She was under contract with the company for 17 years and later found more success with the dynamic director John Ford. This lady will go down in history as possibly the most beautiful actress in Hollywood. It seems fairy tales can come true.

Way before Ava Gardner's lovely face lit up the silver screen, she enjoyed the southern life in Grabtown, about eight miles east of Smithfield, North Carolina.

She was born on Dec. 24, 1922, named after her aunt Ada, and was raised Baptist.

With all of those looks and personality, Ava was discovered in 1941.

As part of her contract with MGM, Gardner worked with a voice coach to remove traces of her charming, southern accent.

The film "Ghosts on the Loose" was released in 1943, her first credited film role.

It was also the first time she saw her name on a theatre marquee.

In 1949, "The Great Sinner" was released with an all-star cast, including one of our favorite movie stars, Gregory Peck.

Her career took her to fabulous and exotic locations, such as Kenya, where she made other unforgettable friends.

"Mogambo" is a 1953 romance directed by John Ford and starring Gardner with Clark Gable and Grace Kelly.

She also worked with many other leading ladies, such as the legendary Barbara Stanwyck.

They starred in the 1949 drama "East Side, West Side."

Gardner's third and final marriage was to Frank Sinatra on Nov. 7, 1951, in a small ceremony in Philadelphia when Ava was 28 years old and Frank was 35.

She was also married to actor Mickey Rooney (1942-1943), and bandleader Artie Shaw (1945-1946).

As you can see, her age never interfered with her renowned beauty and warm love for animals, especially corgis.

Gardner sadly died on Jan. 25, 1990, in London, England, and was buried at Sunset Memorial Park with her parents and family members per her request.

According to reports, Frank Sinatra did not attend her funeral, but instead sent her favorite yellow roses with a note that read, “All my Love, Francis.”

View her world through fabulous costumes, photographs, stories, and other memorabilia at the Ava Gardner Museum.

To see her final resting place, watch this poignant video.

Did you already know that Ava Gardner has a unique celebrity tie to North Carolina? Have you been to her gravesite? If so, please share your experience in the comments below.

For more information about Gardner's hometown, take the self-guided Ava Gardner Heritage Trail tour. And discover more memorabilia on Etsy.