Celebrity Death

Asia Argento headed out with her daughter Saturday ... to face the world without Anthony Bourdain.

The Italian actress was spotted for the first time since the tragic news broke of Bourdain's suicide ... leaving her home in Rome and getting into a car. We're told she's possibly traveling to his funeral.

As we reported ... Anthony and Asia seemed like a happy, romantic couple just a couple weeks ago when they were together in Florence, Italy. There was also a pic of the 2 together on set of his show 'Parts Unknown,' which Argento worked on.

It's unclear what, if anything, happened in their relationship over the past weeks, but after his death Asia said ... "He was my love, my rock, my protector ... I am beyond devastated."

Eunice Gayson -- best known for being the James Bond franchise's very first Bond girl -- has died ... according to producers of the famous film series.

The British actress -- who played Sylvia Trench alongside Sean Connery in the 1962 spy movie that started it all, "Dr. No" -- died Friday ... according to her official Twitter page. She was described as "An amazing lady who left a lasting impression on everyone she met."

Connery first uttered the iconic line, "Bond, James Bond," to Gayson's character in "Dr. No."

Eunice played the same Bond girl in the 1963 follow-up flick, "From Russia with Love," as well.

She also starred in "The Revenge of Frankenstein" and popular British TV shows like "The Avengers" and "The Saint."

Eunice was 90.

Anthony Bourdain was laughing, smiling and full of personality just days before his suicide ... according to the people who cooked and served one of his final 'Parts Unknown' meals.

Bourdain and his crew were shooting at Wistub La Petite Venise on Tuesday in Colmar, France. Sources at the restaurant tell us Bourdain was extremely friendly with the staff, telling jokes, smiling and talking about food and wine.

We're told he was in great spirits even when cameras weren't rolling.

Anthony indulged in 2 faves of France's Alsace region. Choucroute garnie -- the dish he posted on IG -- is sauerkraut, sausages, salted meats and potatoes. We're told he also tried the jambonneau ... a smoked leg of ham.

Chef Alexis Schonstein tells us, "It was a good moment I will always keep in mind." As we've reported, 3 days after the shoot, Anthony was found after he hanged himself in his nearby hotel room.

One of the last images taken of Anthony Bourdain shows him riding a tandem bike through eastern France with the chef who would find him, days later, dead in his hotel room.

The photo was taken 2 days ago in the town of Colmar. We know Bourdain had been out there filming an episode of 'Parts Unknown' with pal and fellow chef Eric Ripert. Ripert is at the helm of the bike with Bourdain, who looks deep in thought.

Anthony's crew had their own tandem ride to capture the footage as they rode alongside Bourdain and Ripert.

Anthony Bourdain wasn't just a legendary chef ... he was the most influential celebrity Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner -- who helped introduce the martial art to the masses -- so says the guy whose family founded BJJ.

TMZ Sports talked to Rener Gracie -- whose grandfather, Helio Gracie, created Gracie Jiu-Jitsu a.k.a. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu -- about Bourdain's impact on his family's sport.

FYI -- Rener's coached Ronda Rousey and UFC star Brian Ortega ... and occasionally hit the mats with A.B. (check out their training sesh below from 2014).

Bourdain wasn't the only celeb to train ... Ashton Kutcher, Vince Vaughn, Ed O'Neill, Kelly Slater, Guy Ritchie, and Keanu Reeves practice BJJ -- but according to Gracie, Anthony was the most important.

"I think that Anthony Bourdain, A, because of his enthusiasm and his ease of communication, and B, because of his age, is responsible for more people doing Jiu-Jitsu and beginning Jiu-Jitsu, than probably any other celebrity ever who's not a professional fighter."

Rener goes on to say Bourdain's passing leaves a void that might never be filled.

The tragic deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade by suicide have sparked a wave of calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ... TMZ has learned.

The Mental Health Association of New York tells TMZ ... the hotline has experienced a 25% increase in call volume compared to this time last week. The number has been shared by tons of celebs, which the MHA says has resulted in more people "being aware of the resource and calling the Lifeline to get help."

The association has proven to deescalate moments of crisis and help people find hope. Last year alone, the Lifeline answered 2 million calls. The increase in calls comes on the heels of the CDC saying suicide rates in the U.S. increased more than 25 percent since 1999.

As we reported ... Anthony was found dead in his hotel room. Kate was found dead in her NYC apartment and both died by hanging.

RIP

Anthony Bourdain revealed he suffered from depression during a 2016 episode of 'Parts Unknown' -- in which he said something as simple as a bad burger could send him into a downward spiral.

Bourdain addressed the issue while visiting Argentina -- a country that fascinated him because it embraced psychoanalysis and mental health treatment.

The episode featured several scenes of Bourdain speaking with his therapist and addressing real issues in his life. And, even though it seems like a joke at first, it becomes clear he's not kidding around.

When asked what brought him into the office, Bourdain says ... "I will find myself in an airport, for instance, and I'll order an airport hamburger. It's an insignificant thing, it's a small thing, it's a hamburger, but it's not a good one. Suddenly I look at the hamburger and I find myself in a spiral of depression that can last for days."

He goes on to explain how he often feels alone.

"I feel kind of like a freak and I feel very isolated. I communicate for a living but I'm terrible at communicating with people I care about."

The episode ended with Bourdain saying he has positive moments too.

The last of the Lollipop Guild might have fallen this week with the death of 'Wizard of Oz' star Jerry Maren -- but there are still living Munchkins out there ... 'cause we talked to one.

Joan Kenmore was cast as one of the Munchkins in the 1939 film, but didn't have a speaking role in the "We Wish to Welcome You to Munchkin Land" scene ... when Dorothy met Jerry and all the other Munchkins.

She says she heard about Jerry's failing health last year from author Stephen Cox, who chronicled the little actors' on-set memories in his book, 'The Munchkins Remember.'

Technically Joan wan't a member of the Lollipop Guild -- she's not a little person, she was just a little 6-year-old during filming. She's a spry 86 now, and says her kids still get a kick out of watching her brief appearance in the timeless classic.

TMZ broke the story ... Jerry passed away over a week ago at a San Diego nursing facility. He was the last living dwarf actor from the movie.

The world's oldest living 'Wizard of Oz' munchkin, Jerry Maren's organs were shutting down and he was fighting severe senility when he died ... TMZ has learned.

According to his death certificate ... Jerry's official cause of death was cardiopulmonary failure. However, he also suffered from cachexia -- a break down of the body's systems from chronic ailments -- and senile degeneration of the brain. As we first reported, Jerry suffered from dementia.

The doc, obtained by TMZ, says Jerry, real name Gerard Marenghi, died May 24 in San Diego County. He was buried this past Saturday in Hollywood. His occupation is listed as an actor with 75 years of experience. No mention of the Lollipop Guild.

Jerry Maren, who was the oldest living "Wizard of Oz" munchkin, will be commemorated with free whiskey ... if ya simply drop his name at an L.A.-area hotel with ties to 'Oz.'

The Culver Hotel tells TMZ it's giving away a free shot of Grant's whiskey to anyone who comes in Wednesday, and mentions Jerry's name.

We broke the story ... Jerry passed away more than a week ago, and was buried last weekend.

Jerry and some of the other munchkins stayed at the Culver Hotel while filming the 1939 classic right around the corner at MGM's Culver City studio. Legend has it, the little guys threw epic ragers while staying there.

Kate Spade's husband has finally spoken on the fashion designer's suicide -- confirming the two were living apart -- and saying her death came as a total shock to their whole family.

In a statement to the New York Times, Andy Spade says, "Kate suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. She was actively seeking help and working closely with her doctors to treat her disease, one that takes far too many lives. We were in touch with her the night before and she sounded happy."

He continues, "There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock. And it clearly wasn’t her. There were personal demons she was battling."

Spade confirms the two were living separately for the last 10 months, but says they still took vacations and had dinners together for the sake of their daughter ... he says they never discussed divorce.

Kate Spade was extremely depressed in her last days of life, because her husband wanted a divorce ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We've learned Andy Spade was not living at the family home ... he and Kate had separated and he was living in a nearby apartment.

Our law enforcement sources say after their interview Tuesday they were clear ... Andy wanted a divorce but Kate did not.

It makes her suicide note particularly interesting and possibly revealing. She wrote to her 13-year-old daughter, Frances Beatrix, "Bea - I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!" It's unclear what Kate meant by the words "Ask Daddy!" One interpretation is that he knows why she ended her life.

The couple married in 1994.

As we reported, Kate hanged herself in her bedroom.

Jerry Maren -- the world's last living 'Wizard of Oz' munchkin -- is now somewhere over the rainbow ... TMZ has learned.

We're told ... Jerry died over a week ago. His funeral was held over the weekend at Forest Lawn in Hollywood. The cause of death is unknown, but we're told he suffered from dementia. He passed away at a San Diego nursing care facility.

There were multiple reports he died back in March 2016 after a battle with pancreatic cancer ... but a close friend of Jerry's told us those reports were not true. Jerry still had a couple of years left in him.

Jerry had a bunch of small roles in Tinseltown ... but being a member of the Lollipop Guild was his most memorable.

Jerry was 98.

Kim Kardashian has a chance to use her influence for the good of the nation, just like Robert F. Kennedy did ... that is, if she heeds the advice of one of RFK's daughters.

We got Kerry Kennedy, Bobby's 7th child, on Capitol Hill Tuesday -- the eve of the 50th anniversary of her dad's assassination -- and asked what she thinks of the Kardashian sisters wading into politics.

It's a great question for Kerry, in particular, because she let out a hearty laugh when we raised this topic in 2013. Kerry was highly amused by our comparison of the Kardashians and the Kennedys back then.

However, on the heels of Kim's White House visit lobbying Prez Trump to commute Alice Johnson's prison sentence ... Kerry's no longer laughing. In fact, she offered the K fam guidance on how best to conduct themselves in the political arena.

You'll recall, Kourtney was also in D.C. recently working toward environmentally-friendly cosmetics.

6:25 PM PT -- David shared a photo of Kate, whom he calls "Katy," at his book signing ... along with a heartfelt and encouraging message.

David Spade leaned on a friend hours after getting the tragic news about sister-in-law Kate Spade's death.

The actor and comedian was out in L.A. Tuesday afternoon, looking solemn as he left home. His brother, Andy, was married to Kate and ... as we reported, he was home when she hanged herself.

David wore sunglasses and kept his head down, but was seen getting a consoling hug from a friend.

Kate and David's bro launched Kate Spade Handbags together in 1993 and got married in 1994. They have a daughter together -- 13-year-old Frances Beatrix.

We broke the story ... Kate left a suicide note behind addressed directly to Frances that said, "Bea - I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!"

12:30 PM PT -- Our law enforcement sources confirm Kate's husband, Andy was home at the time she died.

11:45 AM PT -- Our law enforcement sources confirm the note Kate left behind was addressed to her daughter ... telling the 13-year-old the suicide wasn't her fault.

Iconic fashion designer Kate Spade was found dead of an apparent suicide Tuesday morning in her NYC apartment ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources confirm a housekeeper found Kate's body at 10:20 AM ET in her Park Avenue home. We're told she hanged herself using a scarf tied to her bedroom door knob. She was pronounced dead on the scene. We're also told she left a note.

Kate got her start in the '80s working for women's magazine "Mademoiselle" in Manhattan, when she moved in with Andy Spade -- David Spade's brother. She and Andy met while attending Arizona State University and working at a clothing store.

Together, they launched Kate Spade Handbags in 1993, and it blossomed into a full-scale clothing and jewelry line. Kate and Andy got married in 1994.

Kate sold her company in 2007 and took some time off to raise her daughter -- but got back in the game in 2016 by launching a new fashion brand called Frances Valentine ... named after her daughter, who's now 13 years old.

Kate was 55.