Berle’s Tribute Marks Memorial for Phil Silvers

Hollywood’s kings of comedy assembled at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park Sunday to pay final respects to comedian Phil Silvers--the Broadway “Top Banana” who became television’s best-loved con man as Sgt. Ernie Bilko.

Silvers, 73, died Friday at his condominium in Century City.

Sid Caesar, Steve Allen, Danny Thomas, Carl Reiner, Nanette Fabray, Red Buttons and Morey Amsterdam were among the 100 people attending the private ceremony. They heard Milton Berle call their friend and colleague “an original--a dynamic artist who was respected by his peers.”

Berle, whom Silvers had requested in his will to deliver the eulogy, repeatedly drew laughter from the crowd with anecdotes from his six-decade friendship with Silvers, and ended with a salute to other absent friends.

“I’m sure somewhere up there, Phil is saying to Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante and all the others ‘Hi, fellas, glad to see ya,’ ” Berle said. “This top banana has joined all the other top bananas.”