Saturday, August 18, 2007

The Merv Griffin Funeral

Hollywood stars fondly remembered Merv Griffin at his funeral Friday, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who credited the creator of "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" with jump starting his own acting career.

Among mourners who filled the Church of the Good Shepherd were former first lady Nancy Reagan, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, Alex Trebek, Dick Van Dyke and Griffin's son, Anthony, and his family.

Schwarzenegger, who attended with wife Maria Shriver, gave one of the eulogies.

"I can say today I wouldn't have gone as far in my career if it wouldn't have been for Merv Griffin," Schwarzenegger said, recalling his appearances on "The Merv Griffin Show," which date back to 1974.

"He had me on many times, and I was on his show to teach him about fitness and he would be teaching me about acting. Well, neither worked," the bodybuilder/governor said to laughter.

Griffin's son followed with a mix of humor and affection: "I never knew anyone who loved life as much as my father," he said.

Griffin was to be buried not far away, in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, where Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Natalie Wood, Buddy Rich, Carl Wilson, Rodney Dangerfield,Dorothy Stratten ,Sebastian Cabot,Jim Backus,Heather O'Rourke,Elizabeth Montgomery, Peggy Lee, Bob Crane,Roy Orbison, Carroll O'Connor, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Don Knotts, Eddie Albert, Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, George C. Scott, Burt Lancaster, Eve Arden, Eva Gabor,Frank Zappa, and Truman Capote.are interred.

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