10 Touching Eulogies Celebs Made for Other Stars

Top 10 Celeb Eulogies Made for Other Celebs

Welcome to MsMojo, and today were sharing some of the heartbreaking times when celebrities memorialized famous friends and colleagues after they passed away.

Whoopi Goldberg for Patrick Swayze

In 2009, the magnetic star of Dirty Dancing and Ghost passed away not long after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His friend and former co-star, Whoopi Goldberg, paid tribute to him on The View. She credits his fortitude in the face of a devastating illness as an inspiration to her. Although her fellow panelists had their share to say about him, Goldbergs closeness to Swayze is so clearly evident as she closes out the segment with tears in her eyes and a quiver in her voice.

David Letterman for Johnny Carson

When the former king of late night died in 2005, one of his many spiritual successors, Late Show host David Letterman, had a special surprise for his audience. He dedicated his January 31 episode exclusively to paying tribute to Johnny Carson. He opened with the standard monologue, hilarious and sharp as ever. But then, he revealed that the former Tonight Show host had sent him these jokes in his last few months. It was like Carson himself had come back for just a moment to test out some new material. He closes out the tribute with a musical performance led by Carsons former music director, Doc Severinsen.

Tom Hanks for Michael Clarke Duncan

Retelling a story his Green Mile co-star told him about his tough childhood, Hanks used his eulogy for Michael Clarke Duncan as a chance to celebrate the late actors sense of humor. Duncan told Hanks how his mother forbade him from joining a gang in his youth. The place sounded more like a comedy club than a memorial service as he recounted Duncans story and how his mother reacted. The story isnt just funny, but its also the perfect demonstration of what everyone had to say about Duncan. Despite his size, he was also the sweetest person.

John Cleese for Graham Chapman

As one-sixth of the groundbreaking comedy team Monty Python, Graham Chapmans lateness already saw him jokingly referred to as the late Graham Chapman. Like his castmates, he was a fan of the irreverent. So John Cleeses eulogy for him was a perfect showcase for their shared humor. Instead of going for the kind of mindless good taste Chapman hated, Cleese honored him by being completely vulgar and mean-spirited in his cutting, completely irreverent remarks. Its the kind of humor that can only work if you really know someone well, and that just makes it all the more special.

Oprah Winfrey for Maya Angelou

When the famed activist and poet passed away at the age of 86, her memorial service was a testament to her influence on some of the most important people of the last century. A former president, first lady, and an Oscar-nominated actress paid tribute to her. Oprah Winfrey was among the most touching speakers. Known for her elegance and poise, Winfreys remarks are refreshingly and movingly vulnerable. She becomes visibly tearful as she speaks about her friend and mentors advice to her about fame and meaning. Her final words about legacy, echoing the authors own, are the perfect testament to Angelous words and her place in history.

John Stamos for Bob Saget

Despite his squeaky-clean image as Danny Tanner on Full House, the late actor and standup comedian was notoriously filthy. Describing themselves as brothers, Bob Saget and John Stamos were incredibly close. Sagets sudden and tragic death took everyone by surprise. Stamos made the perfect eulogy for him, borrowing some of his trademark humor. In the speech, published in the Los Angeles Times, he runs the gamut from off-color jokes to heartbreaking realizations about losing his friend. Comparing themselves to an old married couple, Stamos ends his eulogy by calling Saget baby. And then we all sobbed.

Will Smith & the Cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for James Avery

When the cast of the hit sitcom gathered for a 30-year reunion in 2020, there was one noticeable absence. James Avery, the actor who played the beloved Uncle Phil, passed away in 2013. An entire segment is dedicated to the casts memories of Avery. Clearly, he made a massive impact on his colleagues. Will Smith credits the actor with being a father figure and a mentor who pushed him to hone his craft. In the casts eyes, he was the glue holding their family together on and off-screen. His dedication to his art and his co-stars as people is such that just watching clips of him brings them all to tears.

Cher for Sonny Bono

At the beginning of a 60-plus-year career, Cher was actually one part of a duo that defined her early career. Sonny Bono was her husband, her manager, her mentor, and her advisor. Although the dissolution of their marriage was contentious due to his controlling behavior, Cher still loved him dearly. Her stories about his rascally sense of humor are genuinely hilarious, and must ring true to everyone in the room, given how everyone is doubled with laughter. But her characteristically funny eulogy about their early relationship soon gives way to breathless, sobbing declarations of gratitude to have known him.

Kevin Costner for Whitney Houston

The beloved singers funeral wasnt just star-studded. It was an epic livestream event. Speaker after speaker, performer after performer paid tribute to Whitney Houston. But Kevin Costners eulogy hit especially hard. Having personally postponed production on The Bodyguard so Houston could be in it, he knew her talent was worth waiting for. Speaking of their shared faith, his awe at her talent, and her humanity, he paints a picture of who she was behind the voice and the stardom. Costner closes his remarks by imagining that God must be marveling at Houston, a perfect creation.

Billy Crystal for Robin Williams

The famous funny mans untimely death in 2014 was tragic for a lot of reasons. Everyone felt like they had lost someone very important to them. While many eulogies poured in, it was Robin Williams old friend and comedy partner, Billy Crystal, who broke our hearts. Given a block during the 66th Emmy Awards, Crystal spoke of their 40-year friendship. He praised his late friends immense comic talents while choking back tears, before zooming out to the cosmos, likening Williams to a star all his own. Crystal later described it as one of the hardest things hes had to do in his life.

Did these celebrity eulogies bring a tear to your eye? Tell us in the comments.