Celebrity Death

Ex-WWE superstar Vader has died ... after a two-year battle with congestive heart failure. He was 63.

Vader's son broke the news on social media, saying, "Around a month ago my father was diagnosed with a severe case of Pneumonia. He fought extremely hard and clinically was making progress. Unfortunately, on Monday night his heart had enough and it was his time."

Vader had undergone open-heart surgery back in March and seemed to be doing well -- but his health took a turn for the worse and he wasn't able to recover.

We spoke with Vader just a few months ago -- right after his surgery -- and he told us he was feeling better and looking forward to getting out of the hospital. He was super nice to us.

Before his wrestling career, Vader -- real name Leon White -- was a football star at the University of Colorado where he was a 2-time All-American offensive lineman.

He was drafted by the Rams in the 3rd round of the 1978 NFL Draft and played in Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As a pro wrestler, Vader was a huge star globally -- he was a 3-time WCW heavyweight champ. In WWE, he famously battled guys like The Undertaker and Kane.

He also made TV appearances on shows like "Baywatch" and "Boy Meets World."

RIP

Danielle Bregoli is still taking the news of XXXTentacion's murder hard, and pleading for the violence to end.

We got Bregoli downtown L.A. -- on the set of her music video "Trust Me" with Ty Dolla $ign -- where she shed tears over XXX's murder, which Bregoli says needs to be a wake-up call for others like Tekashi69 and Trippie Red who act all big and tough.

Bregoli and XXXTentacion were good friends apparently ... something people didn't really know 'til Danielle shared a video Monday of a phone call she recorded with the late rapper. In the call, XXX apologized about something, although Danielle didn't elaborate on it.

XXXTentacion was putting the finishing touches on his dream home when he was shot and killed Monday ... something that was supposed to be a crowning moment of achievement.

XXX plunked down $1.4 million in November on the Parkland, Florida mansion located 15 minutes from the shooting. The nearly 6,000 square foot home has 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, and a pool on more than an acre of land.

Neighbors tell us construction crews had been working to complete the project, installing a security fence on the perimeter. XXX moved in recently and neighbors say he was quiet, but friendly.

TMZ broke the story, XXX was gunned down Monday in what the Broward County Sheriff's Office says appears to be an attempted robbery as he left a local motorcycle store.

"House of Cards" star Reg E. Cathey had a small fortune to his name when he died earlier this year from lung cancer ... TMZ has learned.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ, Reg -- also known for his huge role on "The Wire" -- had about $495k in several accounts. The docs include a list of his relatives who could be eligible to claim the assets.

TMZ broke the story ... the beloved actor died in February surrounded by friends and family. His funeral costs were just over $2k, according to the docs ... and included $180 for cremation. A family member tells us his ashes were spread in NYC, where he lived most of his adult life.

While the aura of Anthony Bourdain lives on, fans who drive down Wilshire in West L.A. will get an extra reminder of the celebrity chef ... thanks to an awesome new painting by a popular street muralist.

Jonas Never completed his Bourdain mural Friday in Santa Monica, on the side wall of a new restaurant and bar called Gramercy. He tells TMZ ... he was hired by the joint to paint its signage lettering, and asked if he could also do the mural as a tribute.

Never says he saw how the world was affected by Bourdain's suicide and the legacy he left behind, so he felt compelled to find a way to honor him. Gramercy's an L.A. joint that aims for a New York Lower East Side vibe ... so they agreed it was the perfect spot for his art.

We're told Jonas did the mural for free. His murals can be seen all over L.A. -- from Venice to Burbank -- and outside of Floyd's barbershop locations.

Bono spoke for Anthony Bourdain's fans, friends and most likely his family too when he dedicated a song -- about another celebrity suicide -- to the beloved author and TV host.

U2 played an invitation-only show at the Apollo Theater Monday night and during the gig Bono addressed the deaths of Bourdain, Kate Spade and several other rock stars in the last year.

He said, "Music lost some great people who gave up on their own life, and that makes it kinda harder. Fashion and now this great storyteller, who I'm sure had stories he couldn't tell us."

Blake Painter had a variety of drugs near his body when cops found him in his home, and it appears he'd been dead for several days ... TMZ has learned.

According to the incident report from the Clatsop County Sheriff's Office in Oregon ... a concerned friend of the former "Deadliest Catch" captain came by to check on him and spotted him through a window lying on the floor of his living room, so he called the cops.

The officer who entered the home says he could smell "the odor of decaying flesh" immediately and discovered Painter lying on his side ... his face, back and stomach were blue.

The report says a bottle containing the painkiller Tramadol was on the couch, along with another bottle with an assortment of pills. There was also a pipe, tinfoil and an Altoids container with what cops believe were heroin and meth inside. The medical examiner discovered another small pipe in Painter's shorts.

We broke the story ... Blake was found dead in his Oregon home on May 25. His friend told cops he'd been trying to reach Painter since Monday, and he'd been sober and happy in the days prior. Blake even took his daughters swimming the Sunday before he died.

Painter was best known for being a captain on seasons 2 and 3 of "Deadliest Catch."

Avicii's death certificate has been released -- and while it doesn't reveal much -- there is an interesting reference to the Islamic calendar on the form.

According to the doc -- obtained by TMZ -- Avicii's date of death in the Hijri calendar is April 8, 1439. His religion is listed as Christian of Swedish nationality. His name and date of birth are redacted for some reason, yet the certificate was released to us as his.

TMZ broke the story ... the incredibly talented DJ used a broken glass to cut himself and commit suicide. The gash -- whether it was to his neck or wrist -- caused massive bleeding.

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.