Ben Stiller has paid tribute to his late "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" co-star Bernie Mac.

Ben - who reprises his role voicing Alex the lion in the animated sequel - says Bernie, who recorded his lines as Alex's father Zuba before his untimely passing in August aged 50, is the "core of the movie."

Samuel L. Jackson was among 6,000 mourners who gathered to remember comedian Bernie Mac at a service on Saturday.

The "Pulp Fiction" actor paid his respects to the "Ocean's Thirteen" star - who died on August 9 after suffering complications related to pneumonia - and made a touching speech during the ceremony at Chicago's House Of Hope Church.