Television legend DICK VAN PATTEN drew a crowd of showbiz greats to his memorial service – and The National ENQUIRER was there!
The mourners included comic genius Mel Brooks, who marked his own 89th birthday while reminiscing about his old friend.
“Mel showed up late because he said he’d been at the racetrack,” said an eyewitness. “That was one of the things Dick had introduced him to.”
Mel then entertained the crowd for almost five minutes while praising Dick’s work in comedies, including “High Anxiety” and “Spaceballs.”
“I loved working with Dick Van Patten. Had he been a baseball player, he would have been a great utility infielder,” said Mel. “He could play any position!”
Mel also joked: “Dick gave everything – he never picked up a check!”
The memorial service for Dick, who passed away on June 23 at the age of 86, was held on June 28 at the tennis court at his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Betty Buckley, who played his TV wife on “Eight Is Enough,” sang “Amazing Grace” for Dick’s family, her fellow “Eight Is Enough” cast members, celebrities like David Hasselhoff, Florence Henderson, singer Gavin Rossdale, Robert Blake, “Hollywood Squares” host Peter Marshall and many more.
