12 of the Best Famous Eulogies (Examples for Inspiration)

Writing and delivering a eulogy can be challenging. Most of us are not professional speakers, and grief makes finding the ability to say the right thing even more difficult.

Yet we can learn lessons from some of the most famous eulogies of our times. These heartfelt speeches not only get to the heart of the people they honor, they provide us with a roadmap of what makes a great eulogy. If you need to know how to write a eulogy, these examples are a great place to begin.

Remember, it’s important to keep in mind what a eulogy is and is not, because it’s not the same thing as an obituary. An obituary is a published piece of writing announcing someone’s death and paying tribute to the biographical details of their life. By contrast, a eulogy is a speech delivered at a funeral service, spotlighting the departed’s achievements, character, and personality.

Let’s look at 12 of the best famous eulogies: what they mean, why they moved us, and why they’re important. These examples may help inspire any of us to deliver a great remembrance speech.

12 Top Examples of Famous Eulogies

#1: Eulogy for the Crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger by President Reagan

When the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch in January 1986, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members, the nation froze in shock. Among the victims was teacher Christa McAuliffe, the first participant in the NASA Teacher in Space Project and a hero to schoolchildren around the country. It felt as though everyone’s next-door neighbor had unexpectedly died.

President Ronald Reagan had planned to deliver a State of the Union address that evening, but he switched gears and offered a short but powerful eulogy to the Challenger astronauts instead. Perhaps most moving was the moment when he spoke to the children who witnessed the disaster on television, explaining:

Three days later, Reagan spoke again at the astronauts’ memorial service. In his longer eulogy, he paid tribute to each of the seven astronauts individually.

Again, the president emphasized an important lesson that can help us all begin to heal after we mourn a loss: Tragedy is a part of life, and even the terrible grief we feel is a normal human experience.

#2: Eulogy for Apple CEO Steve Jobs by his sister, Mona Simmons

When Apple cofounder Steve Jobs’ sister, Mona Simmons, delivered his eulogy, she revealed his final words, words that served to humanize this larger-than-life person in a way no other sentiment or story could. They were:

Simmons chose to only skim through Jobs’ professional accomplishments and instead focus on painting a picture of him as a whole person – his personality, his love for his family, and his quirks.

It made for a heart-wrenching tribute that allowed us to better know a man who was otherwise in many ways unknowable. And that is, in many ways, exactly what a good eulogy should do.

These are inspirational examples, but if you have never done this before, you may not even know where to begin. Here’s how to get started.

How to Start a Eulogy

A good opening for a eulogy is simple: Begin with general thoughts about who the deceased was, either to you personally or to the world at large. It’s absolutely okay to say “obvious” things that everyone already knows. The point is to remind listeners why they are there and to put the departed’s life in context.

A good example of a famous eulogy that begins this way is when Bindi Irwin honored her father, the beloved “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin.

#3: Eulogy for Steve Irwin by Bindi Irwin

This one is a great lesson in learning that you do not need to be a seasoned public speaker to deliver a moving eulogy. Bindi Irwin was just 8 years old when her father, the Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin, was killed by a stingray while filming a nature documentary.

Despite her young age, Bindi wrote the speech herself and read it with confidence. It’s simple and short, but in just a few paragraphs, she managed to express her love for her father and all that he accomplished. Importantly, Bindi’s opening words set the tone for all that followed:

Bindi’s opening was direct and to the point, quickly helping the audience understand the depth of her loss and, perhaps more importantly, setting the tone for what was to come and letting the audience know that Irwin was just as beloved off screen as he was on.

#4: Eulogy for Nelson Mandela by Jacob Zuma

Another strong example of summing up big ideas in just a few worlds is when Jacob Zuma delivered farewell words for South African President Nelson Mandela.

Mandela’s legacy loomed large. A victim of systemic discrimination who was imprisoned for 27 years due to his anti-apartheid activitism, Mandela became South Africa’s first Black head of state after he was finally released from his long confinement in 1994. When it came time to pay tribute to that legacy, Zuma began his eulogy by evoking the tremendous scope of Mandela’s life’s impact:

That’s it. Simple, direct, and to the point. Just those few brief words put into context the grand sweep of a remarkable person’s life. Once the eulogist breaks the ice with that kind of introduction, the words that follow feel even more meaningful.

The Best Closing Line for a Eulogy

If you want to make an impact on your audience, how you finish is just as important as how you start. Consider what the best closing line for your eulogy will be.

Focus on the tone you want to set and the message you want to leave people with. For some, a light-hearted comment or joke that the deceased would have appreciated is the perfect note to finish on. For others, more solemn thoughts about how the deceased touched the lives of those around them may be more appropriate, allowing people to ruminate for a moment on what they’ve lost.

Whatever message you wish to impart, you can find inspiration in some famous eulogies. Here are some examples.

#5: Eulogy for Princess Diana by Charles Spencer

The closing thoughts in the eulogy for Princess Diana delivered by her brother, Charles Spencer, summed up not only his own love for Diana, but the love of a nation. Diana was one of the most popular members of the British royal family in modern history, beloved across the world. When her brother delivered his speech, he shared personal stories, reminding listeners that she was a human being – but an extraordinary one. His closing line came from his personal perspective, but in many ways, he spoke for others, too:

Here, Spencer did what good eulogies should do: he framed his personal loss in a way that everyone listening could relate to. Diana was a public figure, beloved by many, and the Spencer let us know that the woman we all loved from afar was indeed the extraordinary person we thought she was.

#6: Eulogy for Lorna Colbert by Stephen Colbert

While Spencer’s speech was measured and serious, you can leave audiences on a humorous note, too, even while warming their hearts. A good example of this is when talk show host and comedian Stephen Colbert eulogized his mother, Lorna Colbert, on his show, The Colbert Report.

Lorna Colbert wasn’t famous, but many viewers felt as if they got to know her when her well-known son spoke of her life. They also got to know a little more about the comedian she raised, as he credited her for his own success. Stephen typically performed on The Colbert Report as an exaggerated, over-the-top character, so it surprised viewers that evening when be turned serious. Key was how he finished: Colbert retained some of that trademark humor, but he did so in a gentle way that made it a tearjerker moment.

And then he turned to the camera and delivered the usual introduction to his show.

The closing of Colbert’s eulogy for his mother provides an important lesson that you, too, may want to impart when honoring someone who has passed: The best way to honor those we have lost is to live our lives as best as we can, in their memory.

#7: Eulogy for Bob Saget by John Stamos

You can, of course, make your closing heartbreakingly personal when you write a eulogy. That’s what actor John Stamos did when he spoke in recognition of his friend and “Full House” co-star, Bob Saget. Stamos’s eulogy for Saget was full of personal stories of the closeness they shared. His closing lines said it all:

Eulogies are generally intended for those listening, but as Stamos shows here, they can also serve as a way to send a final message to the deceased, one that celebrates the life and times you had together.

Things You Should Not Say in a Eulogy

While it’s fair to say there is not one correct way to approach doing a eulogy, there are, of course, things you should not say. Here are a few to keep in mind, followed by a famous example of how to handle awkward moments and memories.

1. Avoid focusing on the negative. A eulogy should be a celebration of life, not a platform for airing grievances. Avoid dwelling on the deceased’s shortcomings. Instead focus on the positive aspects of their life and the impact they had on the people around them.
2. Steer clear of unnecessary details. It’s essential to be mindful of the audience. Avoid graphic or unnecessary details about the cause of death. Instead, keep the focus on the departed’s life experiences, values, passions, and what made them unique.
3. Don’t settle personal scores. It’s not uncommon for family members to fall out for various reasons, such as inheritance disputes, estrangement, and past grudges. Despite this, avoid using the eulogy as a platform to address these simmering (or boiling hot) disagreements.
4. Don’t make it all about you. Remember that your role as the eulogist is to honor the deceased and comfort grieving loved ones, not to seek attention or sympathy. Keep the focus on the deceased and their life (though don’t be shy about sharing stories that involve you, if they illuminate the departed’s life).

Note that there are ways to address the negative aspects of someone’s legacy in a way that is still enlightening and respectful. A good example of that is when President Bill Clinton eulogized President Richard Nixon.

#8: Eulogy for Richard Nixon by President Clinton

President Richard Nixon was not universally admired. Though his presidency had its successes, it was deeply marred by his involvement in the Watergate scandal, which has become his most lasting legacy.

When President Bill Clinton delivered Nixon’s eulogy, he didn’t shy away from acknowledging that historical moment. How could he? But as a president who made a few mistakes of his own, Clinton knew, and reminded his listeners, that a legacy is made up of all the facets of one’s life, not just a person’s best known bad decisions.

They were words that should resonate with anyone who isn’t perfect.

Though there are things you should avoid in a eulogy, it may surprise you to learn that humor is not one of them…

How to Use Humor in a Eulogy

Despite the solemn occasion, humor is okay. Sometimes it’s encouraged! Laughter is part of the human experience. It’s also a wonderful balm for grief. For example, when actor and comedian John Cleese honored his friend and fellow Monty Python alum Graham Chapman, he delivered a eulogy his old friend would have appreciated – a funny one.

#9: Eulogy for Graham Chapman by John Cleese

Cleese, was responsible, according to the Cleese himself, for the first instance of the f-bomb at a British memorial service, and he dropped it during Chapman’s eulogy — after imagining that Chapman was whispering in his ear, goading him to do it.

Cleese went on to tell story after story of Chapman’s silliness, each goofier and more inappropriate than the last, sparing little time for seriousness. Why take such an irreverent, often profane approach to honoring his dead friend? As he explained in the eulogy:

The key here is not that Cleese chose laughter over tears, it’s that he did so in a way that was in line with what Chapman would have wanted. Humor is a great tool, just be sure to use it in a way that reflects the deceased’s sensibilities.

Others Famous Eulogies You Can Learn From

The above examples give you some broad basics to work from. Use our other guides to writing a eulogy for more detailed advice and more ideas. In the meantime, here are a few more famous examples we think are worth your time:

#10: Eulogy for The Rev. Mychal Judge by The Rev. Michael Duffy

Father Mychal Judge was a chaplain for the New York City Fire Department and the first person declared dead in the 9/11 attacks. He died while ministering to the firefighters who were trying to rescue civilians trapped in the Twin Towers. It was the kind of work he loved. When he heard of the attacks, he dashed to the towers, knowing he was needed.

Father Duffy’s eulogy for Judge is touching and honest, getting to the heart of the man’s life and character. Most notably, Duffy explained what he thought Judge’s mission was, in life and death:

This sort of imaginative storytelling is gently playful; there’s just enough lightness in it to keep listeners from dissolving in grief during those tumultuous post-9/11 days.

#11: Eulogy for Jim Henson by Frank Oz

When master puppeteer and filmmaker Frank Oz paid tribute to his friend and colleague Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets and many other iconic characters, he spotlighted how Henson impacted his life, and in doing so illustrated how Henson made life better for those around him.

This is one of the key takeaways from a good eulogy: showing listeners that the deceased changed lives for the better – and in turn, reminding those listening that they can do the same in their own lives.

#12: Eulogy for Rosa Parks by Oprah Winfrey

Rosa Parks is one of the most admired women in U.S. history, a fact that’s evident here at Legacy, where her Guest Book contains more signatures than any other we’ve ever published. The combination of her fight for justice and her gentle heart made her widely beloved. Media icon Oprah Winfrey captured a bit of that love when she eulogized her.

Winfrey’s eulogy was a short remembrance, but it was particularly powerful through its use of repetition, particularly the sentence:

Evoking the African-American spiritual that became an anthem of the civil rights movement, as well as Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus, Winfrey returned to the sentence again and again as she spoke.

Consider this when writing a eulogy. Repeating a simple theme or idea can enhance its impact and ensure your audience walks away with that message embedded in their mind, and in their memory of the deceased.

Conclusion

All the eulogies we’ve discussed here share one thing in common, and it’s not fame. They all find a way to get to the heart of what the deceased meant to people, whether through humor, personal memories, or stirring nods to their place in history.

Famous or not, apply these same ideas to your eulogy for a loved one, and you will not only wow the crowd, you will give your loved one the gift of honoring their memory in a way that will be remembered as fondly as they were.

Need to write an obituary? Start here.

(Additional research & writing by Linnea Crowther)