TORONTO — Canadian actress Pamela Anderson said Saturday she was honoured to speak at the funeral of her friend, The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon.
“It was a lovely service,” Anderson wrote on her website, “full of laughter and tears.”
Simon, who died March 8 after a battle with cancer, was a close friend of Anderson and shared her passion for animal rights advocacy.
The funeral was followed by a reception for family and close friends.
TMZ reported erroneously Saturday that Simon’s family banned Anderson from the funeral — which TMZ said is on Tuesday — because she accepted a ring worth around $800,000 from him in his final days.
The website quoted “sources who were close to Sam” as saying his family was “infuriated and felt Pam took advantage of a weak man.”
Among the mourners at Simon’s funeral was his ex-wife, B.C.-raised actress Jennifer Tilly, who thanked Anderson on Twitter for her “beautiful speech.”
A message on the Facebook page for the Sam Simon Foundation said the funeral was “an amazing experience.”
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It read: “Having a room full of comedy writers and animal lovers ensured that the ceremony was everything Sam would’ve wanted. We choose to believe he was there laughing and crying along with us.”
Simpsons writer Stephanie Gillis described the funeral as “hilarious & poignant.” She tweeted: “Sam wins award for best funeral. If only he could accept.”
Also speaking at the funeral were actor and Price is Right host Drew Carey, Simpsons producer Al Jean, Simpsons writer Jay Kogen, TV writer Merrill Markoe and PETA president Ingrid Newkirk — as well as Simon’s girlfriend, makeup artist Kate Porter.
Former Price is Right host Bob Barker told those gathered to honour Simon: “I’m tearing up my notes. I’ve never before been to such an unusual funeral. It’s like nobody died.”
Simon’s casket was covered with an image of Bart Simpson made of flowers. A cartoon bubble read: “Later, man.”
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