Freddie James -- the legendary high school football coach featured in "Friday Night Lights" -- has died.
Freddie passed away on Thursday morning ... his family confirmed.
The coach famously led Texas' Carter High School to a state championship in 1988 ... before the title was revoked due to a "no-pass, no-play" rule involving a player.
Dolly Parton's estate shake-up is far from over ... 'cause TMZ has learned the late country legend's niece has been fired just weeks after opening Dolly's highly anticipated museum.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the folks overseeing Dolly's estate fired her niece Rebecca Seaver, the sister of Bryan Seaver, on Thursday from her position overseeing Dolly's archive and museum operations.
We're told Rebecca wasn't the only one shown the door ... her entire staff was also let go, though it's unclear exactly how many employees were affected.
Australian actor Richard Norton reportedly admitted to taking double his prescribed dose of peptides before his death ... despite a nurse warning him to cut back before things took a deadly turn.
According to a coroner's report obtained by People, Norton requested a replacement vial after claiming he'd broken his original ... and admitted he'd been doubling up on his injections.
The "Mad Max" actor had only recently started peptide therapy two weeks before his death to combat fatigue, shoulder pain and muscle loss ... and initially told his doctor the treatment was working.
We reported earlier ... Bennett's death was the subject of an investigation by police in the UK ... with authorities believing that she had taken her own life.
The woman who was renting the home at the center of Anne Heche's fatal crash is firing back against the actress' son, claiming he mismanaged her estate and failed to account for assets like missing diamond rings ... TMZ has learned.
In docs obtained by TMZ ... Lynne Mishele objected to Homer Heche Laffoon's first account of the late star's estate ... 4 years after she filed a $2 million creditor claim against Anne's estate.
Mishele's legal team claims that despite reaching an agreement in principle, Homer has stalled the probate process.
"Days of Our Lives" actor Robert Kelker-Kelly's cause of death has been revealed as arteriosclerotic heart disease ... according to multiple reports.
According to the Office of the Regional Medical Examiner in St. Charles, Missouri, the condition caused by plaque buildup in the arteries is listed as Robert's primary cause of death, with his manner of death ruled "natural." He was 62.
Patrick Stewart-- the veteran actor best known for his roles in the "Star Trek" and "X-Men" franchises -- is dead.
His social media account announced his death Thursday afternoon ... the post says Patrick died Wednesday in the care of his loving wife, Sunny, after a brief battle with Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia.
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Patrick's team says he was "held in the warm embrace of friends and family" and "surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter" when he died.
Sir Ian McKellen was hit hard by the death of his close friend and collaborator, Sir Patrick Stewart ... mourning the loss of a legend.
Ian remembered his friend saying, "He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love."
The 'Lord of the Rings' star remembered meeting Patrick "half a century ago" ... however, his first strong memory of his friend was warning him not to take his now iconic 'Star Trek' -- believing it would put his prestigious stage career at risk.
Paul Wesley is reflecting on the loss of a fellow 'Star Trek' captain ... revealing he had the chance to meet Patrick Stewart before his death.
We caught up with Paul at LAX Thursday, and the "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" actor -- who plays Captain James T. Kirk -- told us he'd just heard the heartbreaking news.
Paul is remembering Patrick as one of TV's iconic heroes ... and a genuinely good guy.
Hugh Jackman is mourning the loss of his longtime friend and "X-Men" co-star Patrick Stewart ... sharing a heartfelt tribute to the late acting legend.
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Hugh took to Instagram Thursday, posting two touching photos of the pair together ... including one showing Hugh wrapping his arm around Patrick as they share a sweet moment.
Hugh wrote ... "We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days."
Actress Elke Sommer -- best known for her sexy role as Maria Gambrelli in Peter Sellers' “Pink Panther” franchise -- has died one week before her 86th birthday, according to a new report.
Sommer's stepson, Sebastian Walther, told German news outlet Bild that Sommer died from heart failure Wednesday at her home in Bel Air, a ritzy neighborhood in Los Angeles. Sebastian also said Sommer's husband, Wolf Walther, died three months earlier after losing his battle with cancer.
Born in Berlin, Germany, Sommer spent nearly 6 decades as a Hollywood actress, kicking off her successful movie career in the 1960s with her most famous role as Gambrelli in the 1964 "Pink Panther" sequel, "A Shot In The Dark," starring Peter Sellers.
Iconic activist and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta is dead.
Her family announced her death Wednesday in a social media post, saying ... "We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today at the age of 96."
Dolores reportedly died after a battle with cancer.
She dedicated her life to activism and cofounded United Farm Workers alongside Cesar Chavez.
Susan Saint James' co-star on the hit show "Kate & Allie," Jane Curtin, has opened up about the death of "my friend" at the age of 80 ... talking about how much she'll miss her.
Jane told Page Six ... “We lost a decent person today. Susan St. James was a decent person who made 'Kate and Allie' a joy. She juggled a really full life from the Ed Sullivan Theater in between working on stage and being the Mom on set."
Jane added ... "Susan was my friend, and working with her brought such laughter, community and family to the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater. I’ll miss her."
