M.F Steen has been a funeral service provider for 35 years. For more than a decade he directed funerals and burials for the rich and famous at Pierce Brothers Westwood Memorial Park, resting place of Marilyn Monroe and other many others.

In 1989, Gentleman's Quarterly called Mr. Steen the "Mortician to the Stars."

Michael was born and raised in Nebraska and got his start as a death-care provider in 1966 in his hometown while attending college. The firm where he started was owned by Art Chambers, whom he had modeled himself after, since the age of ten. Chambers proved to be as good a mentor, teacher and friend as he was a funeral director. He willingly gave of his time, talent and knowledge. If he ever tired of my endless questions, he never let on.

In 1967, Michael moved to California to attend the California College of Mortuary Science where he received an Associate Arts degree in September 1968. He received my California Embalmers License on April 1, 1971. (More proof that God has a sense of humor.)

After graduation from CCMS, he attended California State Polytechnic University in Pomona and received a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1971.

From the beginning of his career, Michael had worked only for family owned funeral homes.

In May 1974, he was recruited to work for Westwood Village Mortuary and Memorial Park. At that time, the James and Clarence Pierce families owned it.

In August 1982, Tom Johnson, then the President of Pierce Brothers Mortuaries and Cemeteries, requested that he manage their Hollywood and Beverly Hills locations. In 1986, Pierce Brothers bought Westwood Memorial Park and Westwood Village Mortuary. Mr. Johnson desired that Michael return to Westwood as the first Pierce Brothers manager.

In June 1989, Michael was featured in Gentlemen's Quarterly as the "Funeral Director to the Stars." It was a heady experience for Miichael to be able to walk past a newsstand and know that a magazine included him.

In October 1989, he departed the private sector for the public sector by accepting a position with the City of Santa Monica, as Cemetery Business Assistant. Within six months, he was appointed Acting Cemetery Superintendent. In February 1990, he was selected to be the Cemetery Superintendent. This is the position he still holds today.

He lives in Santa Monica, California.