Hundreds gathered to honor David Carradine yesterday at a funeral that was attended by family, former co-stars and other Hollywood friends.

Services were held indoors at the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills, a 400-acre cemetery.

Guests gathered and hugged outside the hall, where security ensured only invited guests gained entry.

They gathered more than a week after Carradine, 72, was found hanging in a Bangkok hotel room on June 4. A statement released Thursday by a private pathologist said suicide had been ruled out as a cause of death.

DIRECTOR BOYLE, FOX SEARCHLIGHT PEN DEAL

Fresh off his best picture Oscar triumph, "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle has signed a three-year deal with Fox Searchlight, which will co-finance and co-distribute the British filmmaker's future films.

The director has identified a possible initial production under the first-look deal, a drama about Aron Ralston, the American mountain climber who amputated part of his arm when it was pinned in a 2003 back-country hiking accident.

Fox Searchlight and Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" producing partner, Christian Colson, would not discuss the pact, and Boyle did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. But two people familiar with the deal said that Fox Searchlight will team with Pathe Films, which co-financed "Slumdog Millionaire," as part of the agreement.

BLAGOJEVICH MOCKS SELF IN COMEDY SHOW

Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich claims that while he was still in office, he liked to call up the Chicago Cubs coaching staff and give pitching advice.

Or at least that's what he told actors during a guest appearance yesterday on The Second City's "Rod Blagojevich Superstar" in Chicago.

The ex-governor introduced the show that lampoons his political rise and fall and watched it for the first time.

The former governor has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges.