Fans pay their last tribute to actor and director Sun Daolin at the Shanghai Longhua Funeral home on Thursday, January 3, 2008. [Photo: xinhuanet]

Related: Chinese Famous Actor Sun Daolin Dies of Illness

               Thousands Bid Farewell to Famous Chinese Actor Sun Daolin

A memorial service for actor and director Sun Daolin was held at the Shanghai Longhua Funeral home on Thursday. Thousands of fans paid their last tribute to the respected artist.

Chinese leaders including Premier Wen Jiabao and former President Jiang Zemin sent wreaths, and Shanghai Party chief Yu Zhengsheng and Mayor Han Zheng attended the service.

Sun, 86, died last Friday in a Shanghai hospital. He began his career as a stage and film actor in the 1940s, appearing in 100 movies and plays. He was also well-known for his Chinese voiceovers for a dozen foreign films, including Hamlet. He retired from acting just two years ago, with 1963's "Threshold of Spring" and 1958's "Radio Never Faded" to his credit.