<PAGE>   1


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 7, 2001.

                              THE LOEWEN GROUP INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



  British Columbia, Canada           0-18429                    98-0121376
----------------------------  ------------------------      ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction  (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                     Identification No.)




  4126 Norland Avenue, Burnaby, British Columbia                  V5G 3S8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of principal executive offices)                   (zip code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code          604-299-9321
                                                   -----------------------------



                                       N/A
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




                                                      Exhibit Index is on page 3
                                                                     Page 1 of 5


<PAGE>   2



ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

Pursuant to Form 8-K, General Instructions F, registrant hereby incorporates by
reference the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         Exhibit No.      Description
         -----------      -----------
         Exhibit 99       The Loewen Group Inc. Press Release dated May 7, 2001.


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: May 7, 2001.


                                       THE LOEWEN GROUP INC.



                                       By: /s/ Peter S. Hyndman
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name:    Peter S. Hyndman
                                       Title:   Corporate Secretary


<PAGE>   3


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Sequential
Number       Exhibit                                            Page Number
------       -------                                            -----------
<S>          <C>                                                <C>
99           The Loewen Group Inc.                                   4
             Press Release dated May 7, 2001
</TABLE>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LOEWEN GROUP INC", "cik": "0000845577", "assigned-sic": "7200", "irs-number": "980121376", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-12163", "film-number": "1626102"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2225 SHEPPARD AVENUE EAST", "city": "TORONTO ONTARIO CANA", "state": "A1", "zip": "V5G 3S8", "phone": "6042999321"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2225 SHEPPARD AVENUE EAST", "city": "TORONTO ONTARIO CANA", "state": "A1"}}
1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 7, 2001.

                              THE LOEWEN GROUP INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

  British Columbia, Canada           0-18429                    98-0121376
----------------------------  ------------------------      ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction  (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                     Identification No.)

  4126 Norland Avenue, Burnaby, British Columbia                  V5G 3S8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of principal executive offices)                   (zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code          604-299-9321
                                                   -----------------------------

                                       N/A
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

                                                      Exhibit Index is on page 3
                                                                     Page 1 of 5
2

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

Pursuant to Form 8-K, General Instructions F, registrant hereby incorporates by
reference the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         Exhibit No.      Description
         -----------      -----------
         Exhibit 99       The Loewen Group Inc. Press Release dated May 7, 2001.

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: May 7, 2001.

                                       THE LOEWEN GROUP INC.

                                       By: /s/ Peter S. Hyndman
                                           -------------------------------------
                                       Name:    Peter S. Hyndman
                                       Title:   Corporate Secretary
3

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
Sequential
Number       Exhibit                                            Page Number
------       -------                                            -----------
99           The Loewen Group Inc.                                   4
             Press Release dated May 7, 2001