STIRRING CHAMPAGNE SENDOFF FOR ROBIN LEACH

Chefs, entertainers, film stars, friends and family – about 300 in all – attended a private celebration of life Friday at the Palazzo Theatre for Robin Leach, the longtime entertainment journalist and host of the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”

Clint Holmes sings “Hallelujah” at Robin Leach memorial on Friday. At right: a table with a glass of champagne and a bottle on ice and an empty chair. Courtesy photo

Thirty five chefs took the stage during a memorial honoring Robin Leach on Friday at The Palazzo Theatre. Courtesy photo

A table with a glass of champagne, a bottle of bubbly on ice and an empty chair were placed on the side of the stage to honor the memory of the British bon vivant.

Leach died August 24, 10 months after suffering a stroke while vacationing in Mexico. He was days away from his 77th birthday.

He had worked at the Las Vegas Review-Journal since 2016 after more than a decade of covering the celebrity scene for the Las Vegas Sun.

The Silicone Valley Girls of the bawdy show “Absinthe” performed, along with the Australian quartet Human Nature and the Tenors of Rock, who sang “Tears of Heaven.” Close friend and entertainer Clint Holmes provide a stirring rendition of “Hallelujah.”

Speakers included Ken Henderson of BEST Agency, who produced the show; Saville Kellner, Tom Kaplan, Eric Klein and Michael Mina were part of a tribute involving 35 chefs on stage. Chefs Wolfgang Puck and Thomas Keller appeared on videos. Other speakers were Robert Earl, Planet Hollywood founder, actresses Suzanne Somers, Morgan Fairchild and Joan Severence and longtime friend Michael Severino.

The show was hosted by The Gazillionaire, host of “Absinthe.”

Celine Dion, Brad Garrett, Terry Fator and Gene Simmons sent video tributes.

After the program, the audience moved to the Love sign in The Palazzo for a champagne toast and a huge group photo.