Garry Shandling To Have Buddhist Funeral

Garry Shandling Image by Getty

By Julie Wiener March 31, 2016

(JTA) — Garry Shandling, the award-winning American Jewish comedian who at 66, will have a Buddhist funeral.

The service, which Shandling had arranged secretly, will take place next month, TMZ reported. The cause of his March 24 death is still unknown.

According to the celebrity gossip site, “He was never very vocal about it, but Garry was a devout Buddhist …”

Shandling, who the Forward eulogized last week as “one of the greatest Jewish comedians ever,” said in a 2011 interview with GQ that he had been a practicing Buddhist since he was in his 20s.

During the elaborate funeral service, “The Garry Shandling Show” star will be ordained as a Buddhist monk by having his head symbolically shaven by another monk, and while a monk leads a chant, the guests will light incense.

TMZ said it is not known whether Shandling will be buried or cremated.

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