A large crowd of fans and media gathered outside a Thornhill, Ont., funeral home where a private family service was held for Corey Haim, a former teen heartthrob and Hollywood actor who died last week at age 38.

The service was held at Steeles Memorial Chapel, a Jewish funeral home just outside of Toronto this morning.

Around 11:40 a.m., the funeral procession left the chapel, heading to a burial site where Haim will be laid to rest.

Earlier, Haim's friend and fellow child star Corey Feldman said he would not attend the funeral to respect the family's wish for a private affair.

"I have spent much time with his mother Judy, who has always been like a mother to me," he said in a written statement released to the media on Monday.

"Understanding the recent media attention and to be respectful of the family's wishes, I have decided not to attend," he said.

Feldman said he will remain in Los Angeles to plan a public memorial for Haim, which will occur in about two weeks.

Haim had been sick with flu-like symptoms in the days prior to his death. Several bottles of prescription drugs were found in Haim's room. His official cause of death is pending the coroner's final report.

Haim was born and raised in Toronto before catapulting to fame after starring in the Hollywood blockbuster "The Lost Boys."

He last lived in Toronto in 2008 but the recovering addict was living with his mother, who is battling cancer, in Burbank, Calif. when he died on March 10.

Jennifer Matton, a longtime Haim fan, drove to Toronto from Philadelphia area after her nursing shift yesterday just to be close to the actor before he was buried.

"I wasn't going to come at first because I don't want to disrespect the family," she said. "As long as I was near to where it was, that's all I needed."

Heather Leikam, a family friend who once dated Haim, said that the troubled actor was "up and down" for much of the time she knew him.

"He didn't keep it a secret either; he was very candid about it."

Still, Leikam said the actor's life was turning around and he appeared to be making a comeback just before his death.

"This was a really good time, he was doing well. It's not fair."

Leikam said that Haim was supposed to come up to Toronto at the end of March because his sister is about to have a child.