Funeral for ‘Lucas’ actor Corey Haim is held in Toronto

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About 200 mourners -- including family, friends and fans -- filled Steeles Memorial Chapel in Toronto on Tuesday for the funeral of actor Corey Haim, who died Wednesday at age 38.

Haim starred most famously in the 1980s hits ‘Lucas’ and ‘The Lost Boys’ and was more recently seen in a short-lived A&E reality series ‘The Two Coreys,’ with longtime cohort Corey Feldman.

“I think I’m his No. 1 fan,” Jennifer Matton, 35, told the Toronto Star. “I’ve loved him since I was 13. I’ve never done anything like this before, but when I found out he died, I was very sad.” The Star reported that Matton, a nurse, had driven eight hours from Philadelphia for the funeral.

Also Wednesday, the 911 call Judy Haim placed early Wednesday upon finding her son, who was not breathing, was released.

Feldman, who appeared on ‘Larry King Live’ in the wake of his costar’s death to chastise the Hollywood community for exploiting and then abandoning Haim, did not attend the funeral, saying instead ...

... that he’d be at home mourning and organizing a memorial service to be held in L.A.
‘The family has decided to make Corey’s funeral on Tuesday a small private affair,’ Feldman said in a statement. ‘Understanding the recent media attention and to be respectful of the family’s wishes I have decided not to attend. Instead I will remain in Los Angeles quietly mourning and planning his memorial.’ In the statement, he also mentioned the family’s ‘strong religious beliefs’ and urged the media to stay away from the Toronto funeral, inviting coverage instead at his own event.

Maytal Kotler, Feldman’s second cousin, said the service was ‘very sad but with a lot of laughter.’ Messages offering condolences were posted on the chapel’s website Tuesday.

Family friend Michael Kronick, who runs a celebrity memorabilia company, donated money to help pay for the funeral; reports that the city of Toronto would be helping with costs were inaccurate. Haim’s personal items were also sold on eBay to raise money.

Despite reports of preliminary autopsy results released to Judy Haim, the cause of the actor’s death has not been confirmed yet by the Los Angeles coroners office. Last Friday, Corey Haim was linked to an investigation of a ring allegedly distributing fraudulent drug prescriptions.

-- Christie D’Zurilla

Related dispatches from or presented by the Ministry of Gossip:

Corey Haim’s personal items being sold on EBayLicense to Cry: Why Corey Haim’s death matters (sort of)

Corey Feldman on ‘Larry King Live’: Corey Haim and the pitfalls of HollywoodPREACH IT! Feldman and other celeb friends mourn Corey Haim, dead at 38

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