An Auburn University junior who disappeared while traveling with family in Japan has been found dead ... bringing a devastating end to a week-long search effort.
James "Weston" Higginbotham -- a 20-year-old biosystems engineering student -- was found by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, according to a Facebook post by his parents Saturday.
"Our family is heartbroken to share that Weston was found deceased," they wrote ... adding, "The grief we feel is impossible to put into words."
Actor Patrick Godfrey -- best known for portraying Leonardo da Vinci in the 1998 film "Ever After: A Cinderella Story" starring Drew Barrymore -- has died.
Patrick passed "peacefully at home surrounded by his family" on Thursday, his talent agency announced in a statement. They added ... "Paddy was an exceptionally talented actor and a remarkable individual, and we will miss him greatly."
A cause of death was not revealed.
Patrick enjoyed a prolific career spanning nearly 70 years, which included roles in period dramas, novel adaptations, musicals, and more. Some of his notable projects aside from 'Ever After' include 1986's "A Room with a View," 1993's "The Remains of the Day," 2002's "The Count of Monte Cristo," and 2012's "Les Misérables."
Greg James -- the legendary tattoo artist whose work appeared on Ozzy Osbourne, members of Mötley Crüe and countless other rock stars -- has died, TMZ has learned.
The Sunset Strip Tattoo founder's family tells TMZ he passed away Thursday in North Carolina. His cause of death is unknown at this time.
Over the years, Greg became one of the most recognizable names in the tattoo world, earning the trust of some of rock's biggest icons, including Joan Jett, Buckcherry members, and more.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is mourning the death of her "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" costar Anthony Head ... and her tribute is sure to make fans bawl.
Not long after news broke that Head -- who played Rupert Giles -- died of complications from pneumonia ... SMG shared her heartbreak on Instagram.
Along with several snaps from the classic '90s series. Sarah wrote ... "'Tell Giles I figured it out and I’m ok.' Well, I don’t have it figured out, and I’m not ok. But I know I’m the lucky one because I knew you. Thank you to Daisy and Emily, who not only shared their dad with me, but with the world."
A blood-soaked Lil Poppa was taken off in a stretcher after shooting himself in his car ... new police bodycam video from his February suicide shows.
TMZ obtained the footage Friday and it shows the law enforcement response to Lil Poppa's suicide in Georgia ... including the moment cops find him slumped over his his car, with blood all over the interior.
You can see Lil Poppa on a stretcher before paramedics rush him to Grady Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The NASCAR community is mourning the loss of Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett ... who died at 93 years old, his family announced Friday.
A statement from Jarrett's loved ones revealed he passed of natural causes at his home in Newton, North Carolina, on Thursday ... and he was surrounded by those closest to him.
"Our father was a devout Christian and a devoted, loving family man," the family stated. "He was a friend to everyone he met and NASCAR’s oldest living champion."
Kyle Busch's wife is opening up on the NASCAR legend's tragic death ... saying the love his fans have sent to their family has gotten them through the worst days of their lives.
Samantha went to Instagram minutes ago to say thank you to the 41-year-old's supporters ... sending the emotional note alongside a heartbreaking family photo.
"The prayers, messages, flowers, meals, hugs, and countless acts of kindness have carried us through the most heartbreaking days of our lives," Samantha said minutes ago. "While our hearts are absolutely shattered, we have felt God’s presence and arms wrapped tightly around us through each and every one of you."
Actor Anthony Head, who shot to fame playing Rupert Giles on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" before playing Rupert Mannion on "Ted Lasso," is dead.
According to his daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, Anthony died of complications from pneumonia. They say he went peacefully, surrounded by family.
Emily and Daisy told the Press Association in a statement ... "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father, Anthony Head."
They went on to say ... "It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many."
Emily and Daisy say their grief is "far greater than the hole he has left behind" ... and their father's legacy lives on through his work and the impact he had on audiences.
They conclude ... "How lucky we are to know we are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us."
Anthony recently appeared in "Ted Lasso" as former football club owner Rupert Mannion, and also had roles in "The Iron Lady," "Persuasion," "The Inbetweeners" and "Manchild" ... among others.
A longtime Hollywood character actor is dead after a shocking stabbing ... and cops say the man accused of killing him is his girlfriend's son.
According to LAPD, 81-year-old actor James Handy-- whose credits include "Top Gun: Maverick," "Jumanji" and "Arachnophobia" -- was found Wednesday morning in front of a Tarzana home with a stab wound to the chest. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police say the suspect -- 44-year-old Michael Gledhill -- made a bizarre 911 call before officers arrived ... allegedly telling dispatchers, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin."
2:25PM PT -- Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Homicide Bureau detectives have posted a second update, saying they've "determined that Mr. Whiten is the biological father of Ms. Savannah Whiten and Ms. Sienna Whiten, and co-parent to Ms. Hyer."
The statement adds ... "The investigation revealed that Mr. Whiten committed these heinous acts and then took his own life. The investigation continues."
A Florida realtor, her ex-husband, and their two young daughters are all dead ... in what police are calling a murder-suicide.
Law enforcement responded Tuesday to a welfare check at a Doral home and found Melanie Hyer, Ryan Whiten and their daughters Savannah and Sienna dead, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
MDSO says all four had stab wounds and they believe the tragic incident is a murder-suicide ... but no word yet on who did the stabbing.
Tanya Brown, the sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, wants the NFL to make a major change ahead of a painful milestone ... bench O.J. Simpson's iconic No. 32 jersey number and turn the focus back to Nicole and Ron Goldman.
Speaking to TMZ ahead of the June 12 anniversary of Nicole and Ron's murders, Tanya says the number remains deeply tied to trauma for many people connected to the case.
"It's also the 32nd year of Nicole and Ron's murders," Tanya tells us. "Every time I see someone on the field with that number, it brings me back and I have trauma."
Karl-Anthony Towns' mom wasn't physically in the stands for game 1 of the NBA Finals, but the Knicks star says he felt her presence in a real way ... and it helped KAT lead N.Y. to a huge victory!
"I just felt a calm and a peace that had to be coming from the woman above," Towns told the "Inside the NBA" crew after the thrilling game.
KAT:
"I just felt a calm and a peace that had to be come from the woman above (his mom). I felt like a kid. It was just fun out here. It felt like I was a kid getting ready to go play my Saturday AAU games and Sunday AAU games. In a way I felt like I was seeing her in the… pic.twitter.com/iGj4FwxL8C@ohnohedidnt24
"It felt like I was a kid getting ready to go play my Saturday AAU games and Sunday AAU games. In a way, I felt like I was seeing her in the stands. It was fun. It was really fun, and it was really comforting."
Claude Lemieux's body was transported from Florida to North Carolina ... where the late hockey legend will be laid to rest, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ Sports.
Lemieux, who was 60, was found deceased on May 28 by one of his adult children at a warehouse owned by the family.
Missing government worker Melissa Casias has been found dead ... with her body "skeletonized" and a gunshot wound to her skull, a report says.
According to New Mexico State Police, a hiker found "human remains" at McGaffey Ridge area of the Carson National Forest ... who authorities have ID'ed as Melissa. They also said a gun was found "alongside the remains."
NMSP hasn't announced cause or manner of death, but investigator Thomas McNally -- who'd been looking into the case for Melissa's parents -- told DailyMail that her body was "skeletonized," sitting against a tree with a gunshot wound in her skull.
Matt Brown's autopsy is shedding a little light on his tragic death. According to the Okanogan County Coroner, the "Alaskan Bush People" star was high on meth when he took his own life, TMZ has learned.
The coroner's office tells us Matt died by suicide, and the official cause of death is a "single penetrating gunshot wound to the head."
The autopsy also says he was under the influence of methamphetamine ... stating "subsequent immersion in water (river)" contributed to his death. The coroner's office plans to release Matt's body to his family for final arrangements.
Duane Ollinger, the star of Discovery Channel's "Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch," has died at 68, TMZ has learned.
A family source tells TMZ Duane died yesterday at a Texas hospital following a battle with ALS.
The Texas oilman became a fan favorite on the reality series, which follows Duane and his son Chad as they hunt for a legendary cache of lost Aztec gold believed to be hidden beneath their sprawling Utah property.
