Shortly before his death, Barrymore returned to his childhood Catholic faith. Although Errol Flynn's memoirs claim film director Raoul Walsh "borrowed" Barrymore's body before burial to leave his corpse propped in a chair for a drunken Flynn to discover when he returned home, Gene Fowler, a close friend of Barrymore, stayed with the body all night and denied the story. However, in a 2020 interview for the YouTube series Hot Ones, John's granddaughter Drew Barrymore claimed the Flynn account was accurate. Barrymore was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles on June 2. In 1980, Barrymore's son had his father's body reinterred in the family plot in Philadelphia's Mount Vernon Cemetery.
shortly before his death barrymore returned to his childhood catholic faith although errol flynn's memoirs claim film director raoul walsh "borrowed" barrymore's body before burial to leave his corpse propped in a chair for a drunken flynn to discover when he returned home gene fowler a close friend of barrymore stayed with the body all night and denied the story however in a 2020 interview for the youtube series hot ones john's granddaughter drew barrymore claimed the flynn account was accurate barrymore was buried at calvary cemetery in los angeles on june 2 in 1980 barrymore's son had his father's body reinterred in the family plot in philadelphia's mount vernon cemetery