Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. John Lennon. Greta Garbo. Jean-Michel Basquiat. Mae West. Arthur Ashe. Ivana Trump. Luther Vandross. Heath Ledger. George Balanchine. George Gershwin. Mario Cuomo. Biggie Smalls. Nikola Tesla. Celia Cruz. Joan Rivers. Aaliyah. Ayn Rand. Lena Horne. Norman Mailer. Philip Seymour Hoffman. Logan Roy.

What do these notable figures have in common?

They all passed through the Frank E. Campbell funeral home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side shortly after their deaths.

For over a century, Frank E. Campbell has been the preferred mortuary for New York’s elite and celebrities. For some, ending up anywhere else would be considered a fate worse than death.

Writer Gay Talese, a longtime resident of the Upper East Side, reflects on the significance of Campbell: “For a certain type of person, being sent off by Campbell is a matter of honor and status,” says Talese, 92. “It’s one of those rare New York businesses that might never close because it will never run out of customers—everyone dies eventually.”

He adds, “I’ll probably have my own moment at Campbell one day. I’ll arrive reclined, and friends and relatives will come to pay their respects. It’s the final destination, the last picture show.”

Frank E. Campbell occupies a five-story building at 1076 Madison Avenue, situated in one of the city’s most prestigious shopping districts. Black SUVs often idle outside as clients discuss arrangements with funeral directors.

Services can include horse-drawn carriages, private jets, and Rolls-Royce Phantoms for grieving families. The gold-hued coffin used for Ivana Trump’s 2022 service reportedly cost $125,000, while a sarcophagus casket can exceed $150,000.

In 1969, after Judy Garland’s death, the streets around Campbell were flooded with fans. An estimated 20,000 people lined up to view her body, which was dressed in a chiffon gown and silver slippers. Notable mourners included Mickey Rooney, James Mason, Lauren Bacall, and Otto Preminger—all of whom would eventually find themselves at Campbell in turn.

Lorna Luft, Garland’s daughter, recalls the overwhelming crowds: “I was 16 and scared by the throngs of people. My sister Liza and I had to share our mother with the world that day. It was a painful experience, and I still can’t look at yellow roses.”

In 1980, following John Lennon’s murder, Campbell arranged a decoy hearse to divert journalists. When Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis passed away in 1994, a Campbell undertaker discreetly embalmed her body at her Fifth Avenue apartment.

The inner workings of Frank E. Campbell are as discreet as the afterlife itself. Its staff adhere to a strict code of silence regarding clients. The funeral home’s website avoids naming its high-profile clientele.

William Villanova, president of Frank E. Campbell since 2018, emphasizes the importance of discretion: “We understand that people are curious, but privacy is our standard. People do try to see what they can, hiding in cars and behind trees, but we never discuss our clients.”

Villanova, who also appeared as a funeral director on HBO’s “Succession,” acknowledges the home’s tradition of handling the memorial services for iconic figures, reflecting its deep roots in New York’s cultural and social history.

In a rare moment of transparency, Frank E. Campbell allowed a New York Times reporter to visit during a $20 million renovation that modernized the facility while preserving its storied legacy.

During a visit, Villanova and fellow funeral director James Pescitelli discussed the range of services offered, including unique memorial options like sending ashes to a coral reef or outer space.

Frank E. Campbell has also managed services for controversial figures like Jeffrey Epstein and mob boss Frank Costello. Villanova asserts, “We do not judge the dead. We see the grieving families, and our role is to honor their loved ones regardless of public perception.”

Once known for more austere funerals, New York’s death industry evolved with innovations introduced by Frank Ellis Campbell, such as motorized hearses and elaborate viewing suites. Campbell’s reputation was cemented in 1926 with the funeral of silent film star Rudolph Valentino, whose death prompted massive public mourning.

Campbell’s legacy continued through his wife, Amelia Klutz Campbell, who moved the business to its current location in 1938. Following her death in 1954, the business changed hands, eventually becoming part of Service Corporation International, a Texas-based conglomerate. Its founder, Robert L. Waltrip, compared the company’s success to that of fast-food giants, highlighting the inevitability of death as a business constant.

Despite these changes, Frank E. Campbell remains a symbol of prestige and discretion, serving as the final destination for some of New York’s most notable figures.