Stars gathered for Dangerfield memorial

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- An all-star lineup including Jay Leno, Jim Carrey and Tim Allen, held a private weekend memorial for the late Rodney Dangerfield, a publicist said Wednesday.

Dangerfield's widow, Joan Dangerfield, organized the tribute last Sunday. The legendary comedian died Oct. 5, 2004 following complications from heart valve replacement surgery.

Comic actor Bob Saget emceed, and eulogists including Leno, Carrey, Allen, Roseanne and Paul Rodriguez spoke.

Leno called Dangerfield "the greatest stand-up comedian of all time." Carrey said: "I'll never forget how kind he was to my father. I remember watching Rodney on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' as a child, and laughing, not because I got the jokes, but because my father was in hysterics."

Carrey joined Saget, Adam Sandler, Michael Bolton, Harry Basil, Rob Schneider, David Permut, Brian Roy and David Friedman to serve as pall bearers.

Honorary pall bearers included George Carlin, Larry David, Jon Lovitz, Anne Meara, Carl Reiner, Chris Rock, Rodriguez, Roseanne and Jerry Stiller.

A life-size bronze statue will be erected at Dangerfield's grave, and plans call for the posting of a slide show tribute by celebrity cartoonists on Dangerfield's Web site (rodney.com).