Grave Hunter Irving Thalberg D.O.B.: May 5, 1899 (Brooklyn, NY) D.O.D.: September 14, 1936 (Santa Monica, CA) Cause of Death: Pneumonia Location: Forest Lawn Glendale; Great Mausoleum Biographical Notes: Thalberg was born in New York City of German immigrant parents. He had a bad heart and was plagued with other ailments all of his life. He was quite intelligent with a thirst for knowledge but, convinced that he would never see thirty, he skipped college and became, at 20, a high-level executive at Carl Laemmle's Universal Studios. In 1924 he became the #2 man under Louis B. Mayer at MGM, the biggest studio in the world. In 1927 he married the actress Norma Shearer, whose career flourished as the wife of the most powerful and respected producer in Hollywood. They had two children; Irving, Jr. and Katherine. Thalberg believed in making quality pictures, as he felt that they brought status and prestige to the fledgling industry. His fragile health gave out on Sept. 14, 1936. After his death the Motion Picture Academy created the Irving Thalberg Award, given for excellence in production. Produced: "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935) Movie "The Merry Widow" (1934) Movie "Ben Hur" (1925) Movie "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) Movie