Celebrity Death

4:01 PM PT -- Ice Cube, who starred in "Boyz n the Hood" just gave us an emotional statement on John's passing, saying, "Thank you John for being my friend, brother and mentor for 30 years. For believing in me when I was unsure of myself. Your passion for telling our stories from our point of view was more than an obsession, it was your mission in life."

Cube continues, "Your love for the black experience was contagious and I would never be the man I am without knowing you. On April 29, 1992 you were on TV warning the world what was to come. I'm sad today, cause on this April 29th who will warn the world what's to come. I love you and miss you already brother."

"Boyz n the Hood" was Cube's first major role in film.

John Singleton, the first African American nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director -- whose decorated career spanned nearly three decades in Hollywood -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

A Singleton family rep says he passed "peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends." The news comes more than a week after the famed director suffered a massive stroke. As we first reported ... John's mom, Shelia Ward, filed legal docs asking the judge to appoint her temporary conservator because he was "unable to properly provide for his personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter." He had been in a coma in ICU at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A.

The "Boyz n the Hood" director suffered the stroke 12 days ago after returning from Costa Rica and experiencing problems with his legs. He checked himself into Cedars where he suffered a stroke on April 17 in his hospital room.

John directed 9 films ... including "Poetic Justice," "Higher Learning," "Four Brothers" and "2 Fast 2 Furious." He also has several high-profile producer credits to his name ... including the critically acclaimed film "Hustle & Flow." He co-created the FX hit series "Snowfall" and directed episodes of "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" as well as "Empire" and "Billions."

John's burst to stardom came just 2 years after he graduated from USC. He was only 24 years old when he made his directorial debut ... and the world noticed, earning him an Oscar nomination in 1992 for Best Director. He also earned a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

He heavily guarded the project from start to finish ... only allowing the 'Breakfast Club' director John Hughes to read his script. Raised in South Central L.A. and coupled with the fact 'Boyz' was set in the same area -- John refused to let anyone else direct his film.

The move paid off ... because in 2002 it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

John's family said, "Like many African Americans, Singleton quietly struggled with hypertension. More than 40% of African American men and women have high blood pressure, which also develops earlier in life and is usually more severe. His family wants to share the message with all to please recognize the symptoms by going to Heart.org."

The family also revealed something we didn't know. He kayaked in Marina del Rey every morning. They also said his greatest joy other than making movies was sailing his boat, J's Dream, up and down the Pacific Coast.

The family added, "We who have grown up with John, made movies with him, sailed with John and laughed with John, know the universe of calm and creativity he created for so many. Now in the wake of his death, we must navigate the storm without him. It is, for us, heartbreaking."

John was married only once ... to Ghanaian actress Akosua Gyamama Busia in October 1996. They divorced a year later. He's survived by his mom and 7 children.

John was 51.

RIP

Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, the actor who played the dirty cop in "Boyz n the Hood," is dead ... TMZ has learned.

Jessie's son, Jace, tells us ... he died Friday night at their home in Palmdale, California. Jace says he found his dad next to his bed with the TV on, and it comes as a shock because he was spry and seemed healthy in the days leading up to his death.

Jace says, "He was a strong, beautiful intelligent black man and he wanted the best for his son and all people."

Law enforcement tells us it was a natural death, nothing suspicious. We do not know the cause of death.

Check out the scene ... Jessie's character, Officer Coffey, puts a gun to the throat of a black man and says, "You think you're tough? I could blow your head off right now. That's why I took this job."

Jessie appeared in other movies, including "The Chosen One," "The Presidio" and "Prince of Darkness."

As you know, the famed director of "Boyz n the Hood," John Singleton, is currently in a coma in at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. following a stroke last week. He's been in ICU for 10 days. A war has erupted between John's mom, Shelia Ward, and daughter Cleopatra.

Shelia has asked a judge to appoint her temporary conservator, saying her son suffered a major stroke and is unable to conduct important business affairs, so she wants the power to step in. Cleopatra says the stroke isn't as bad as Sheila says, and believes the mom is trying to drain the estate.

Whitey Bulger died swiftly from blunt force injuries to his head during a prison attack ... this according to his death certificate.

Whitey's death certificate was released Thursday and shows he was pronounced dead at 8:21 AM on October 30 ... just minutes after he was bludgeoned inside his cell at U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton in West Virginia. Bulger's death is listed as a homicide in the document.

As we've reported ... 4 inmates walked into the notorious Boston mobster's cell, where he was sitting in a wheelchair, and beat him with a lock in a sock. They also tried to gouge his eyes out with a shiv and attempted to cut out his tongue.

As for the motive behind the hit ... our prison sources say prison officials believe it was mob retaliation because Whitey turned informant and ratted out other mobsters. We're told officials believe that's exactly why the attackers attempted to remove Bulger's eyes and tongue.

The attack was not caught on video ... we're told the inmates who attacked Bulger wheeled him into a corner that can't be seen by surveillance cameras.

The ex-crime boss was on the lam for years, and was one of the FBI's most wanted before being captured in 2011 living in Santa Monica.

Bulger was convicted in 2013 for a slew of crimes, including being linked to at least 11 murders, and was serving a life sentence. He had just been moved to the maximum-security prison before he was killed.

The Uber driver accused of killing former UFC fighter Rodrigo de Lima during an altercation in Brazil on Sunday has been fired by the rideshare company ... an Uber spokesperson tells TMZ Sports.

As we previously reported, the 26-year-old MMA fighter was a passenger in an Uber in Belem, Brazil with friends when he allegedly got into a verbal altercation with the driver.

The driver, later identified as Jefferson Roger Maciel, reportedly kicked Rodrigo out the car -- and despite initially driving away from the scene, turned around and smashed into Rodrigo from behind.

Rodrigo died from his injuries. He's survived by a wife and 2 young children.

A rep fro Uber confirmed Maciel was working for them at the time of the incident.

Uber says allegations are "horrible" -- adding, "As soon as we learned of this incident we immediately removed the driver’s access to the app and we stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation."

On Monday, cops said they were still searching for Maciel -- no word if they've located him yet.

De Lima was 9-3-1 as a pro -- and earned the nickname "Monstro" (which means monster) -- due to his fighting style.

It wasn't easy but Kristoff St. John's death was addressed head-on when "Young and the Restless" hit the airwaves Tuesday with an emotional episode.

The scene begins with 'Y&R' costar Bryton James -- who plays Kristoff's TV son, Devon Hamilton -- walking into his father's house looking for him. James calls out for Kristoff, who for nearly 3 decades played Neil Winters. James says, "C'mon wake up. It's not a party until Neil Winters shows up."

Check out the clip ... it's a heart-wrenching moment when James walks downstairs, inconsolable after realizing his father is gone. As we first reported ... Kristoff was found dead back in February. It was later revealed he died from heart disease.

Tuesday's episode was the beginning of a 4-episode story arc paying tribute to Kristoff. Many of his former costars returned to the show and paid their respects ... including Shemar Moore, who played Kristoff's TV brother, Malcolm.

The network will also honor Kristoff next week with a special tribute episode ... showing clips from the show along with current and former cast members sharing their best memories of him.

A former UFC fighter was hit by a car and killed in Brazil after officials say he got into an argument with his rideshare driver.

The fighter is 26-year-old Rodrigo de Lima -- who fought Neil Magny in 2014 and Efrain Escudero in 2015 during his stint in the UFC. He lost both of those fights.

Rodrigo was a passenger in a car in Belem, Brazil when he got into an argument with the driver. According to reports, the driver stopped the car and booted de Lima from the vehicle.

Once outside the car, the driver allegedly drove away from the scene -- then turned around and struck de Lima from behind, killing the fighter.

There are reports the driver was working for Uber at the time of the incident. We've called Uber to confirm but so far, no word back.

Officials are currently on the hunt for the driver. De Lima is survived by his wife and two young children.

De Lima was 9-3-1 as a pro -- and earned the nickname "Monstro" (which means monster) -- due to his fighting style.

Luke Perry's final curtain call is coming this week on "Riverdale."

The last episode Luke filmed for the hit CW series is set to air Wednesday ... nearly 2 months since the actor died from a massive stroke. "Riverdale" showrunner, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, revealed the details Sunday night.

Cole Sprouse revealed last month the show had something planned to address Luke's sudden passing. As you know, "Riverdale" acknowledged Luke shortly after his death -- closing an episode with an "In memoriam" graphic.

This week's episode will, naturally, be more in-depth as it will include the final scenes he ever shot on camera.

As we've reported ... Perry was incredibly beloved by fans of the show -- as well as his costars and the crew -- as he played Fred Andrews. KJ Apa stars as his son, Archie Andrews. KJ also paid tribute to Luke days after his passing, saying, "Rest in Love bro."

Luenell is disgusted Laura Ingraham still has a job -- after mocking Nipsey Hussle the day after his memorial service -- and says if FOX News won't take action, she wants it handled another way.

The comedian and "A Star is Born" actress was leaving the Atlanta Comedy Theater Thursday night when we asked her about the Ingraham clip ... where she sarcastically calls Nipsey a "dear artist," and laughs at lyrics to a YG song that featured Nip. It's gone viral because people are PISSED.

Luenell says she's seen it and hates it, and tells us there are 3 options for Ingraham -- resign, sincerely apologize or get fired. She doubts any of those will happen.

So instead, Luenell suggests a fourth option, and based on her insinuation here ... it doesn't seem like Laura will like it. For the record, we've reached out to Fox News, but no word back.

Luenell's far from the only celeb incensed by Ingraham's treatment of Nipsey. Justin Bieber recently called for her to be fired too.

In the meantime, Luenell urges advertisers to boycott Laura's show -- like some did when Ingraham ridiculed Parkland student, David Hogg, last year.

Lorraine Warren, the real-life paranormal investigator whose work inspired the 'Conjuring' horror franchise, has died.

Lorraine died quietly and peacefully earlier this week, according to her grandson, Chris McKinnell. He said, "Last night my grandmother, Lorraine Warren, quietly and peacefully left us to join her beloved Ed. She was happy and laughing until the very end."

Lorraine and her husband, Ed, who died in 2006, were world-renowned paranormal investigators whose casework sparked James Wan's horror film franchise. Lorraine's character was played by Vera Farmiga.

Lorraine -- born on January 31, 1927 -- and Ed investigated scores of paranormal cases, but none more famous than what went down in Amityville, NY. That creepy case inspired the 1977 book, "The Amityville Horror" ... as well as the 1979 horror flick and the 2005 remake.

In "The Conjuring," Lorraine's character investigates a haunted Rhode Island farmhouse, but not before the film introduces the audience to the infamous Annabelle doll in the opening scene -- showing 2 roommates getting tortured by the doll with creepy messages on the walls.

Years later, Lorraine and Ed would go on to create a museum featuring the haunted objects they had kept from their investigations ... including the real Annabelle doll.

Nipsey Hussle's friend who was shot during the fatal attack is about to get sprung from jail.

As we first reported ... Kerry Lathan -- a 56-year-old man who was shot in the back when Nipsey was killed outside his The Marathon clothing store -- was arrested days after because one of his parole conditions is not associating with known gang members. You'll recall cops said Nipsey was a member of the Rollin 60s Crips.

Lathan was transferred to Men's Central Jail in downtown L.A. but a rep with L.A. Superior Court tells us the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation withdrew its petition to revoke his parole.

It's unclear why the Corrections Department is making this move but as you know ... Nipsey's been celebrated as a hero in his community by everyone from L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti to President Obama.

In fact, Nipsey was supposed to meet with city officials the day after he was brutally gunned down ... to hold a gang violence summit with LAPD.

Jordan Clarkson is following up on his passionate nightclub speech on the late Nipsey Hussle with a more permanent tribute ... honoring the slain rapper with a tattoo on his body.

As we previously reported ... the Cleveland Cavaliers guard gave an emotional tribute to Nip at a Scottsdale nightclub hours after Hussle was murdered ... calling for an end to gang and gun violence.

Clarkson decided to go one step further to show love for Nip ... getting the rapper's face tattooed on his left arm on Wednesday ... along with "TMC," for Hussle's "The Marathon Continues" slogan.

JC already has a bunch of body art -- he's almost fully covered now -- but this one has to mean a lot to the baller, hitting up Canada-based artist Steve Wiebe for the job.

You've probably seen Wiebe's work before -- he also works with stars like Future, Kelly Oubre Jr., Rita Ora and P.J. Tucker.

Clarkson joins fellow NBAer J.R. Smith with the permanent tribute to Nip ... who also paid homage with body art.

#RIP

Bradley Welsh -- a co-star in 'Trainspotting 2' -- is dead after he was shot in the head on the streets of Scotland's capital city ... this according to multiple reports.

The actor was reportedly gunned down Wednesday night on the streets of an affluent neighborhood in Edinburgh ... and he died at the scene. Scottish police swarmed the area to investigate the shooting ... putting the neighborhood on lockdown.

Bradley biggest film success came playing a gangland boss in the "Trainspotting" sequel. His character owned a couple of seedy saunas around Edinburgh.

Welsh is also a former British ABA Lightweight boxing champion. Back in 2009, he was featured on the Bravo docuseries, "Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men." Bradley wasn't even an actor before catching his big break on 'Trainspotting 2' ... and he reportedly ran into trouble with the law as a soccer hooligan.

Welsh was a positive force in his community in recent years ... reportedly running a boxing gym and staying involved with charity projects aimed at helping youth stay out of trouble.

Bradley was 42.

Nipsey Hussle was in the middle of some big plans to give back to his Crenshaw neighborhood with his own foundation ... and now that baton is being passed to his relatives.

Sources close to Nip's family tell TMZ ... he was in the process of creating a foundation designed to improve the quality of life in his community -- primarily for young people -- and he started laying the groundwork long before his murder.

Nipsey's vision for his foundation looked something like this: Working with schools to rebuild playgrounds, helping improve public parks in Crenshaw and moving forward with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs for students.

Turns out, Nip had already started some of this work. L.A. City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson tells TMZ, the rapper donated shoes to kids at 59th Street Elementary, and also repaved the basketball courts there.

We're told Nipsey had a total of 14 businesses, but his family is making the foundation their top priority. One of the first things they'll be addressing is naming the foundation.

As you know, Nipsey loved giving back to his community ... he opened his Marathon Clothing store at the intersection of Slauson and Crenshaw, seeing an opportunity to invest in his hood and give people jobs.

Plus, he was heavily involved in Destination Crenshaw -- a beautification project to turn a 1.3 mile stretch of Crenshaw Blvd. into an open-air art museum. We're told his family intends to keep contributing to that project.

As we reported ... Nipsey also had a meeting scheduled -- sadly, the day after his murder -- with L.A. Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff to help prevent gang violence.

Georgia Engel, who rose to fame playing Georgette Franklin on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," has died.

The actress died Friday in Princeton, NJ, according to the New York Times, and a cause of death has not been determined. Georgia was a Christian Scientist and reportedly did not see a doctor.

Georgia joined 'Mary Tyler Moore' in 1972 during the show's third season, and she was nominated for 2 Emmy Awards for supporting actress in a comedy. As the innocent girlfriend of Ted Knight's news anchor character, Ted Baxter, Georgia's breakout character Georgette was soft-spoken and ditzy on the outside, but tough as nails inside.

Georgia also earned 3 Emmy nominations for her work on "Everybody Loves Raymond," guest starring as Pat MacDougall in 13 episodes. She also had a handful of stints on "The Betty White Show," "Goodtime Girls" and "Jennifer Slept Here."

Georgia is best known for her roles on TV ... but her career began onstage when she reached Broadway in 1969 as a replacement in the original production of "Hello, Dolly!" Afterwards, Georgia appeared in an off-Broadway production, John Guare's "The House of Blue Leaves," before eventually finding her way to 'Mary Tyler Moore.'

Georgia was 70.

Nipsey Hussle will live on in the Crenshaw District with a public basketball court that now bares his image across 78 feet of pavement ... which is getting a ribbon cutting Sunday.

A court outside the Crete Academy charter school -- which is just blocks away from where Nipsey was killed -- is holding an event that'll unveil the gorgeous mural done by artist Gustavo Zermeno, which was put into motion by Venice Basketball League's CEO, Nick Ansom.

Ansom told the media that the court was done as a way to pay Nipsey back for all his work in the community. Nipsey was a big sports fan, especially of hoops.

After the ribbon cutting at 3 PM, there's gonna be some games ran on the new court. There will be a high school showcase at 4 PM, and then an All-Star game at 5 PM. There's no telling who might show, but ya gotta imagine some famous faces could surface.

The memorial court is just the latest tribute to Nipsey -- who was murdered two weeks ago in front of his Marathon Clothing store. He died at the young age of 33.

A Celebration of Life for Nipsey was just held at the STAPLES Center in DTLA, which drew tons of fans all over California. The procession that followed was a heavily guarded affair as fans flocked to see Nip pass through South L.A. one final time.

Nipsey Hussle's gravesite looks like a floral garden the day after he was laid to rest by family and friends.

TMZ got these shots of Nip's burial grounds the morning after his funeral Friday at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills.

It's clear ... loved ones left him with something to admire from up above. You can see a number of flower arrangements, as well as some sentimental items like a magazine cover he was featured on and a banner sporting his name.

As we reported ... Lauren London and a number of close family members flocked to the cemetery Friday afternoon to pay their respects one final time as they put the L.A. legend's casket six feet deep in what appears to be a closed-off, private burial plot.

Friday's gathering marked the end of an emotional two weeks for Nipsey's family, who had just celebrated the man's life at a massive memorial service Thursday at STAPLES Center in DTLA. Lauren shared some words about her late soulmate, and we can only imagine she had some final words for him on Friday as well.

We broke the story ... Nipsey was shot and killed nearly two weeks ago tomorrow in front of his Marathon Clothing store in the Crenshaw District of South L.A. The alleged shooter has been charged with murder ... to which he pled not guilty last week.