Hazell Stoudemire, the older brother of NBA star Amar'e Stoudemire, died early this morning in a car accident in Florida ... TMZ has learned.
The accident happened on Route 27 in Lake Wales. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Stoudemire was driving at a "high rate of speed" when he collided with the rear of a tractor trailer.
He died on the scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol says 35-year-old Stoudemire was not wearing a seat belt when he smashed into the big rig ... and they are unsure if alcohol was a factor.
Story developing ...
Hollywood legend James Farentino didn't die from heart failure -- according to the actor's death certificate, obtained by TMZ, he died from every old person's worst nightmare ... a broken hip.
There were reports the actor croaked thanks to a bum ticker -- but while his heart may have been a contributing factor in his demise ... the official cause of death is listed as "sequelae of right hip fracture."
For those who don't know ... sequela is doctor-speak for a pathological condition that stems from a previous injury -- in this case, a broken hip.
According to the death cert, Farentino broke his hip in December after falling out of his bed. The nature of the complication that eventually killed him last month is unclear.
Farentino was 73.
Leslie Carter was battling an addiction to prescription medication in the days before her death ... and family members believe she died as a result of an overdose.
Sources close to the "House of Carters" reality star tell TMZ ... the 25-year-old sister of Nick Carter had recently moved from Canada to Upstate New York to live with family members while she attempted to kick her addiction.
We're told family members had attempted to rid the home of any prescription medication -- including Xanax -- and were hopeful Leslie was on the road to recovery.
Sources say family members believed Leslie would be OK to stay alone in the home for roughly an hour yesterday while they ran errands ... but when they returned, Leslie was unconscious.
Officials were called to the scene ... but Leslie could not be saved.
We're told Leslie's 1-year-old daughter was not at home with Carter at the time of her death.
Don Cornelius did not leave a suicide note at the home where he shot himself ... this according to multiple law enforcement sources.
We have been told by numerous people today that Don's health problems plagued him for years ... and the pain had become unbearable.
As we first reported, Don was discovered early this morning at his Sherman Oaks, CA home with a gunshot wound to his head.
The picture shows the ambulance that took Don to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead early this morning.
Former Soul Train host Shemar Moore said his “heart is heavy” after hearing about the suicide of Don Cornelius -- and says it was impossible to fill his shoes on the iconic show.
Moore, who hosted Soul Train from 1999 to 2003, released a statement saying, Cornelius was “one of a kind” ... and "showed generation after generation over 40 years how to keep it funky and get your groove on every Saturday morning on ‘The Hippest Trip In America’”.
Moore added he was honored that Don gave him the opportunity to host Soul Train for 5 years, but insists, "I didn't dare try to fill his shoes because it just couldn't be done! Don was The Man!!"
"House of Carters" reality star Leslie Carter -- younger sister of Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter -- died yesterday in New York at the age of 25 ... the family confirms.
The Carters released a statement saying, "Our family is grieving right now and it’s a private matter. We are deeply saddened for the loss of our beloved sister, daughter, and granddaughter, Leslie Carter. We request the utmost privacy during this difficult time.”
The details surrounding Leslie's death are unclear.
Leslie was an aspiring singer, who gave birth to a daughter back in April.
Story developing ...
A member of the condo board that Nick Santino said pressured him to euthanize his pit-bull -- a decision that drove him to suicide -- says the condo board is NOT responsible for his death.
Board member Marilyn Fireman says she is sorry that Santino is dead, but says it has nothing to do with the building's no-pet policy. She tells the NY Post, "You just assumed that [his suicide] was a result of a board’s decision."
Fireman did concede Santino routinely complained about the building’s anti-dog policies.
Santino's sister tells the paper the family is holding off on funeral arrangements until the dead dog's ashes are brought home ... saying, "They'll be buried together."
Santino had his beloved and healthy pit-bull Rocco put to sleep on Tuesday, Santino's 47th birthday. A few hours later, he overdosed on pills.
Rev. Al Sharpton gave the eulogy and Christina Aguilera sung her classic song "At Last" ... as 300 mourners gathered at Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena, CA for the funeral of legendary singer Etta James.
James passed away on January 20 at the age of 73.
Stevie Wonder was also in attendance. He performed "Shelter in the Rain" and sang The Lord's Prayer.
Sharpton read a note from President Barack Obama that said in part, "I know she will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her."
A soap actor killed himself this week on his 47th birthday ... hours after he was forced to put his beloved dog to sleep under pressure from his Manhattan condo.
According to the NY Post the building had a ban on pit-bulls, but Nick Santino's dog had been grandfathered in ... which didn't sit well with some of the neighbors. Some claimed the dog was loud and aggressive, but others said building management was just harassing Santino ... trying to force him to get rid of the dog.
Santino had Rocco put to sleep on Tuesday -- for some reason he felt that was his only option.
According to the paper, a tearful Santino brought dog treats to the doorman and said, "Give these to the other dogs. Rocco is no more."
Later that day Santino left a suicide note that read, "Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend ... Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn't deserve this."
Santino -- who has appeared on "All My Children" and "The Guiding Light" -- OD'd on pills early the next morning.
Rocco was cremated and friends told the Post Santino will be too.
Actor Robert Hegyes, one of the stars of the 70s sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter" died today of an apparent heart attack.
Hegyes was best known for his role as the Puerto Rican-Jew on that show -- Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein. Epstein for short.
Hegyes reunited with John Travolta and the rest of the Sweathogs last year to accept TV Land's 35th Anniversary Award.
He also co-starred on the hit drama, "Cagney and Lacey."
Hegyes was in his New Jersey home this morning when he suffered the heart attack. He died at JFK Medical Center in Edison, NJ. He was 60 years old.
