Maher, Shandling Attend Carlin Memorial
AP Photo/Nick Ut
George Carlin may have been one of comedy's biggest stars, but his memorial was a small—and private—affair.
Roughly 150 people, among them Garry Shandling, Bill Maher and Carlin's former stand-up partner, Jack Burns, turned up at a private memorial for the late comedian in Los Angeles Sunday, which was closed off to both the public and the media.
"It was a very, very light event, as he wanted it," Carlin's only child, daughter Kelly Carlin McCall, told the Associated Press after the two-hour event. "He wanted a lot of laughter. I'd say 90 percent of it was laughing and just remembering what he brought to us in his funny way."
The celebrated comic died of heart failure June 22 at age 71.
McCall said Shandling spoke during the service of a "life-changing moment" he experienced nearly 40 years ago, when, as a college student, he sought out Carlin. The comedian not only agreed to read Shandling's material but encouraged him in his career.
"He went out of his way to make sure friends and family members, if they needed anything, he was there for them," McCall told the AP.
Meanwhle, Kenny Rankin sang "Here's That Rainy Day," while Spanky McFarlane, from the '60s pop group Spanky and Our Gang, sang "Coming Home."
Carlin's older brother, Patrick, and partner, Sally Wade, were also among the mourners. During the service, a montage of clips from the controversial funnyman's 51-year career was shown, with Carlin himself speaking over the footage.
"He was a complete man," McCall said. "He was more than just the seven words you can never say on television."
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