Marvin Hamlisch's funeral drew some of the biggest names of stage and screen - as well as some pretty well known world figures - in New York City on Tuesday (August 14, 2012). Legendary conductor Marvin Hamlisch died unexpectedly on August 6 in Los Angeles - he was 68.
According to the Los Angeles Times, his funeral was attended by a star-studded crowd including director Mike Nichols, baseball great Joe Torre, Liza Minnelli and Bill Clinton. The former President described the late composer as a "great, giving genius", saying, "Genius is rare enough, but a good-hearted genius is rarer still.A good-hearted, humble and hilarious genius is almost unheard-of". Statements of sympathy had previously come in from President Barack Obama and the former First Lady Nancy Reagan. The well-attended funeral took place at Congregation Emanu-El, a Manhattan synagogue that also hosted George Gershwin's funeral in 1937. A choir performed Hamlisch's 'The Way We Were' and 'What I Did For Love', and singer Idina Menzel sang, 'At the Ballet'. A free memorial concert called 'Music Under the Stars' in Pasadena will be hosted by the actor Jason Alexander of Seinfeld fame.
Hamlisch was one of only eleven people who have been awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. He also won a Pulitzer Prize and a Golden Globe in an astonishing career that was unrivalled.