Brad Pitt has paid tribute to Ryan Dunn in a text message sent to best friend Bam Margera.

The Hollywood actor contacted the Jackass star the day after Bam and other close friends and family held a memorial service for 34-year-old Ryan, who died on Monday in a high speed crash in Pennsylvania.

Bam, who broke down in tears earlier this week when he visited his friend's crash site, said the text, along with all the others he had received,
"cheered him up".

Bam tweeted: "Wow, just got a nice text from brad pitt concerning dunn, tnx (thanks) 2 (to) everyone for the texts, cheers me up."

Earlier this week Ryan's friends gathered for a memorial service.

Jackass frontman Johnny Knoxville was among those who came to remember Ryan.

Knoxville used his Twitter page earlier this week to pay tribute to his friend. He wrote: "Today I lost my brother Ryan Dunn. My heart goes out to his family and his beloved Angie. RIP Ryan, I love you buddy."

Bam joined the congregation with parents April and Phil and wife Melissa Rothstein.

Earlier this week Margera admitted he was struggling to cope with the death of his best friend as he gave a tearful interview at the scene of Dunn's car crash.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia actors Glenn Howerton and Rob McElhenney were also at the service, which was held at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith and Boyd funeral home in West Chester, Philadelphia.

Dunn's fans have created their own memorial at the site of the car crash, leaving flowers, notes, balloons and candles.

Dunn died in the early hours of Monday morning when his Porsche left the road, flew over a guardrail, hit a tree and burst into flames.

Passenger Zachary Hartwell was also killed in the crash. He had worked on the second Jackass film as a production assistant.

The pair had been out with another friend earlier in the evening, with Dunn tweeting a picture of the trio.

Blood test results published yesterday showed Dunn was drink-driving, with his blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit at the time of the crash.

Police say their reconstruction of the crash as part of the investigation into the deaths shows the car was doing 132-140mph in the 55mph zone at the time of the crash.

Dunn's funeral is expected to be held later this week.