A New York party to honor late author Hunter S. Thompson attracted a star-studded crowd including Meg Ryan, Jimmy Buffett and Candice Bergen on Wednesday.

A new movie about the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas writer, entitled Gonzo, was screened at the bash at exclusive New York restaurant the Waverly Inn.

In the documentary, Thompson's first wife Sondi Wright attacks his 2005 suicide, claiming "this is a time (in American politics) when Hunter Thompson could make a difference in this country".

But at Wednesday's party, guests lined up to sing Thompson's praises. Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter told the New York Daily News, "Underneath his craziness, he was a Southern gentleman. he had a courtliness that I totally fell for."

Ryan added, "I loved the rollercoaster that was his mind."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)