Celebrity Death

O.J. Simpson no longer has black America's backing because they all know now what they refused to believe then -- O.J. is guilty of double murder ... so says 'People v. O.J.' star Keesha Sharp.

We got the actress who played Dale Cochran, Johnnie's wife, outside The Jeremy Hotel in WeHo and asked if she was gonna be watching FOX's special, "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?" She seemed iffy about it, but regardless had some strong feelings about O.J.

Keesha's adamant people didn't need to watch the special to know what they've ultimately come to realize -- O.J. killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman on the night of June 12, 1994.

O.J. Simpson talked about the slow-speed Bronco chase as if it was a victory for him, because judging from public opinion on the streets -- literally -- all he saw was support.

Simpson told his story to Judith Regan years ago, and it's now the centerpiece of the FOX special based on the book, 'If I Did It.'

This clip is predictably gross ... Simpson, a supreme narcissist, allegedly was contemplating suicide, but when you hear him talk he was reveling in the show of support from people who somehow thought it was a good idea to cheer him on as he drove on the 405.

It's almost like he was taking a poll ... whether people were buying what the media had been telling them all week long -- with blood going from the bodies to his bathroom at Rockingham, and a cut finger that matched a knife wound -- he was guilty as hell.

O.J. Simpson continues to shock, because he blames the people he killed for metaphorically killing him.

It's actually hard to watch, but Simpson says Ron Goldman and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, somehow killed him, presumably because their murders put him in a bad spot.

It's an amazing comment, given Judith Regan -- who published "If I Did It" with Simpson -- says Simpson's lawyer called her and confessed the murders to her, and said the only reason the book title needed the word "if" was so O.J. could have deniability with his children.

And for bad measure, Simpson also says he loved Nicole but didn't like her at the time of her death.

Rick Ross isn't the only person to suffer a medical emergency at his home recently ... his manager died there just months before Ross' hospitalization.

According to the investigation report ... cops were called to the rapper's Florida home on December 8 because Black Bo stopped breathing. He was found lying on his back on the bathroom floor when the officer arrived.

Rick's manager was pronounced dead shortly after fire rescue arrived on scene. The captain noted there was vomit in the toilet.

According to the report ... Rick, Black and others were out partying the night before and didn't get back to Ross' home 'til around 5 AM. Rick told the cop Black didn't seem like himself at the club, and may not have been feeling well.

One of Black's friends tried calling Black several times but he didn't answer, so he went into his room and found him unresponsive in the bathroom.

According to the report, the medical examiner determined Black's cause of death was atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ... clogging of the arteries.

Black Bo was 45.

O.J. Simpson was still married when he first laid eyes on Nicole Brown Simpson, but that didn't stop him from pursuing her and asking her out.

TMZ has obtained an exclusive clip from O.J.'s upcoming two hour sit-down on FOX where he says he met Nicole while she was working at a restaurant called The Daisy.

The Juice didn't get her digits the first time but, as they say, second time's the charm, and plus he had some help.

O.J. says he had to explain to Nicole he was still technically a married man, although it sounds like he was already separated from first wife, Marguerite Whitley. Their marriage ended in 1979.

The special "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?" airs this Sunday at 8 PM.

Harrison Ford is honoring his pal, Mark Hamill, but he also has their beloved co-star Carrie Fisher on the mind.

Han Solo came out to support Luke Skywalker -- sans the Millennium Falcon this time -- as Hamill finally got his well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "Star Wars" creator George Lucas was there too, so definitely a strong presence for the Force.

The most bittersweet moment of the ceremony came when Harrison took a moment to shout out Carrie.

O.J. Simpson was still angry at Nicole Brown Simpson at her funeral, and although he doesn't remember what he said to her when he kissed her goodbye ... he describes what he WANTED to say in this never-before-seen video from the upcoming FOX special, "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?"

It's all very strange and chilling, as O.J. elaborates to book publisher Judith Regan about the feelings he had toward his ex-wife ... and how his anger toward her didn't disappear after her death.

Simpson then oddly brings Nicole's infamous 911 call up -- where he could be heard yelling at her in the background -- as a way of explaining how he warned her of ... something. He talks in circles, but expresses regret he'll never be able to "have an effect on this person again."

O.J.'s asked what he said to Nicole when he leaned over and kissed her, but says he can't remember. He DOES remember people heard him say, "I'm sorry."

The FOX special also features what seems like a confession to the murders of Nicole and Ron Goldman in 1994, with the premise being it's only "hypothetical."

'The Lost Confession?' airs Sunday at 8 PM.

David Odgen Stiers -- best known for playing Major Charles Winchester on "M*A*S*H" -- has died after a battle with bladder cancer ... according to his agent.

The actor joined the cast of "M*A*S*H" in 1977, playing an arrogant aristocrat and talented surgeon who filled the void left by the departure of the show's Frank Burns character. Stiers did it splendidly too ... earning himself 2 Emmy nominations.

Stiers went on to have a successful career as a voice actor, as well ... voicing characters in popular Disney movies such as Cogsworth in "Beauty and the Beast" and Jumba in "Lilo & Stitch."

In 2009, David revealed he was gay and no longer afraid to hide it, saying in an interview he was "Very proud to be so."

Stiers reportedly died peacefully at his home in Newport, Oregon.

He was 75.

Emma Chambers -- best known for her role as Honey in the rom-com "Notting Hill" -- has died from natural causes ... according to her agent.

The English actress appeared alongside Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in the hit 1999 film, and was a star on the long-running British comedy, "The Vicar of Dibley," for which she won a British Comedy Award.

According to her agent, John Grant, Chambers passed away Wednesday. He says ... "Over the years, Emma created a wealth of characters and an immense body of work. She brought laughter and joy to many, and will be greatly missed."

Emma is survived by her husband, actor Ian Dunn.

She was 53.

Ex-NFL linebacker Robert Eddins -- who played briefly with the Buffalo Bills -- was shot to death in a basement by 3 drug dealers ... officials say.

Eddins and another man, Ricardo McFarlin, were murdered in 2016 in an "execution style" shooting at Robert's grandmother's home in Detroit.

Now, officials have charged 3 men in connection with the killings -- Michael Griffin, Dennis Epps and Mariano Garcia. Officials say all three men were part of a plot to deal more than 5 kilos of cocaine and heroin.

Prosecutors say the suspects traveled from Alabama to Detroit specifically to kill Eddins -- and in the process, killed the other man as well.

Cops say both victims were found with gunshots to the head.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a statement on the case ... saying, "The murders of Eddin and McFarlin is just another example of how violence is intertwined with drug trafficking."

Eddins signed with the Bills in 2011 after going undrafted out of Ball State. He also played with Buffalo in 2012 but only appeared in 1 regular season game.

Jaguars player Marqise Lee is in a legal battle with an L.A. cemetery that's refusing to allow the WR to dig up and move his brother's body ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Here's the deal ... Lee's brother Terreal Reid was shot and killed in 2006. He was buried in a "multiple plot" grave with 5 other bodies at Angeles Abbey Memorial Park in Compton.

Lee -- a 2nd round pick of the Jags in 2014 who caught 56 balls for 702 yards last season -- has petitioned L.A. Superior Court for the right to "disinter the remains of his brother" and move him to a single plot grave.

According to the docs, Lee says the cemetery has refused to exhume and relocate the body without a court order.

As for why Terreal was ever buried in a grave with other people ... Lee says his family only chose the grave site back in '06 'cause of the high cost of a single plot.

We spoke to Oscar Olivos, the owner of Angeles Abbey cemetery, who told us before burying a body, families sign contracts that prevent disinterment.

Mark Salling's death certificate confirms all the details we know about his suicide.

The Coroner's Office just released the certificate, filed in L.A. County ... and it lists cause of death as asphyxia by hanging. It also says he was found dead in a riverbed in Sunland, CA.

TMZ broke the story ... Salling was found hanging from a tree ... not far from where he lived. The Coroner had already determined it was death by suicide, as we reported.

We still do not have toxicology results from Salling's autopsy ... which will show if he had been drinking or boozing prior to hanging himself.

Prior to killing himself, the "Glee" star has pled guilty to possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors and was awaiting sentencing.

Some of the biggest stars in the NBA went to La Salle University on Sunday to pay tribute to Rasual Butler ... and honored their friend by circling together for an emotional chant.

Chris Paul, Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Jim Jackson and others were in Philadelphia for the "service of love" for Butler ... who was killed in a car crash in L.A. on January 31.

CP3 was one of the speakers -- he and Butler played together back with the Hornets.

We're told the event was more of a celebration of Rasual's life -- and the highlight was when the NBA stars and Butler's friends huddled together to perform a chant in his honor.

Vic Damone, who is considered one of the best singers of his time, is dead.

Damone was praised back in the day by the likes of Frank Sinatra, who said "he had the best pipes in the business." Damone recorded more than 2,500 songs and was part of the '50s heartthrobs, which included Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and Perry Como.

His biggest hits included "You're Breaking My Heart" and "On the Street Where You Live." He also had an NBC variety show, "The Vic Damone Show."

Damone got his break at 14, shepherded by Perry Como, who met him by chance in an elevator. Damone famously stopped the elevator between floors and began belting out tunes.

Vic died at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach surrounded by relatives.

He was 89.

Johann Johannsson -- the man behind the original scores of films like "Arrival," "Sicario," "The Theory of Everything" and "Prisoners" -- died Friday in Berlin ... according to his manager.

Johannsson was reportedly found dead in his apartment, and Berlin authorities are investigating. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

The Icelandic-born composer has been one of Hollywood's hottest in recent years, earning 2 Academy Award nominations in back-to-back years for "Sicario" and 'Theory of Everything.' He also got a Golden Globe nom for "Arrival" last year and won for 'Theory.'

Johann worked on compositions for theater and TV too, and performed as a solo musician.

He's survived by his daughter, parents and 3 sisters. He was 48.

Reginald E. Cathey, who had huge roles in "House of Cards" and "The Wire," has died ... TMZ has learned.

The beloved actor passed away at his home in New York, surrounded by friends and family. We're told he'd been battling lung cancer.

Reg played Freddy, owner of Francis Underwood's fave BBQ joint on "House of Cards." The role earned him the Emmy for Outstanding Guest in 2015.

He also famously played the mayor's aide, Norman Wilson, on several seasons of "The Wire."

He was a hard working character actor in Hollywood for more than 30 years with dozens of roles on TV and in movies ... including "Oz," 'Law & Order: SVU,' 'Fantastic Four,' "The Mask" and "S.W.A.T."

Reg was extremely close to 'Wire' creator David Simon -- he's the only actor Simon hired to work on all of his TV shows. He posted memories of his friend.

Reg was 59.