Susan Watts/New York Daily News
Marvin Hamlisch's coffin is brought out the Temple Emmanu-El synagogue in Manhattan. Among the honorary pallbearers was ex-Yankees manager Joe Torre.
A packed house of celebrities bid farewell to composer Marvin Hamlisch at a service that, like his life, was filled with music.
On hand Tuesday to say good-bye to the hometown-kid-made-great were star performers Liza Minnelli and Richard Gere, newswoman Diane Sawyer, Daily News chairman and publisher Mortimer B. Zuckerman and former President Bill Clinton, among others.
A choir of 600 voices paid tribute to Hamlisch with some of his biggest hits, including “The Way We Were†and “What I Did for Love†and “At the Ballet,†both from “A Chorus Line.â€
In addition to original “Chorus Line†stars Donna McKechnie, Priscilla Lopez and Kelly Bishop, the mourners included Bernadette Peters, Bette Midler, Lucie Arnaz, Sheldon Harnick, Kelli O’Hara, Raul Esparza and Leslie Uggams, who told The News that she’d known Hamlisch since they were kids.
“He wrote me a song called ‘Can You Tell Me That I’m Lonely’ when I was 12,†she said.
Speakers at Congregation Emanu-El on the upper East Side included composer Richard Kagan, philanthropist Lily Safra and Sony head Howard Stringer, who described “A Chorus Line†as “the first musical reality show†and Hamlisch, who composed the score, as “the merriest of minstrels.â€
Susan Watts/New York Daily News
Billy Stritch, Liza Minnelli and Lily Safra reminisce about Hamlisch.
Hamlisch's widow, Terre, called him an unsung humanitarian who'd never say no to anyone. She remembered how when she was having a bad day, he'd put on a show for her and their dogs and before long she'd be laughing.
In his remarks, Clinton noted that Hamlisch, who died on Aug. 6 and was known as “the people’s composer,†was the rarest kind of person â€" “a genius†who was also “generous and hilarious.â€
After the 90-minute service, ex-Yankee manager Joe Torre, an honorary pall bearer, told The News that he met Hamlisch in the club dugout. “He was a degenerate Yankee fan. We were friends,†Torre said. “I had a 60th birthday party and he made the words to his songs all about me.â€
Susan Watts/New York Daily News
Ann-Margret arrives at Temple Emmanu-El on 5th Ave.
Film star Ann-Margret, who looked shaky after the funeral, wiped away tears and said, “I’m devastated.â€
In all, about 2,000 friends and admirers attended the service at Emanu-El, the same synagogue where George Gershwin’s funeral was held in 1937. But longtime friend and collaborator Barbra Streisand was a no-show.
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