Final farewell to Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor's family and friends have gathered to pay their last respects to the comedy star at his funeral.Diana Ross, George Lopez and Pauly Shore were among those who gathered at the private service in Los Angeles on Saturday (17.12.05) to share memories of the actor, who died of a heart attack earlier this month.Ross - who starred with Pryor in 'The Wiz' and 'Lady Sings the Blues' - sang 'Amazing Grace' with the late actor's family and friends.Mourners also saw Pryor - who spent years battling multiple sclerosis - at his best when a special video montage of his film and stage performances was played.Comedian Michael Epps said afterwards: "It was sad but joyous. It was the way I think Richard would have loved it to be."He would have loved to have seen the laughter and the pain also."Lopez told reporters Pryor "meant everything to me".

He added: "He was the one person who filled my house with his voice and made me not feel lonely, and made me feel my life could be worth something and that my pain could be currency for laughs."