Celebrity Death

Neal E. Boyd, the "America's Got Talent" champ, who died earlier this month, was discovered by his own mother after she walked into his bedroom to check on him.

Neal's mother, Esther Rogers Boyd, told cops she couldn't wake him up, so she called 911. When officers arrived, we're told they saw Neal in bed with a sleep apnea mask on his face. They couldn't feel a pulse, so CPR was performed ... but to no avail.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, no illegal narcotics were found in his room. Cops also say there were no signs of foul play. There was no autopsy performed -- Neal had a known heart condition. We're told he was cremated the next day, and a private funeral was held a few days later.

We broke the story ... Neal died from heart failure in his Missouri hometown at his mother's home.

He was 42.

9:09 AM PT -- Sources close to Harrison tell us he passed after losing his battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Richard Harrison -- famously known as "Old Man" on "Pawn Stars" -- has died, according to his son, Rick Harrison.

'''The Old Man' Harrison passed away this morning surrounded by those he loved," Rick said Monday morning ... "He will be tremendously missed by our family, the team at Gold & Silver Pawn and his many fans the world over."

"He was my hero and I was fortunate to get a very cool ‘Old Man’ as my dad."

The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear. However, Harrison's appearances on the show over the last couple years were slim to none.

'Old Man' moved to Vegas back in the early '80s and opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop with his son, Rick.

When the producers found the family and turned their daily lives into a show, it became an instant success. It's been on the air since July 2009 with 'Old Man' as one of the fan favorites.

A rep for History Channel tells TMZ, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Richard ‘The Old Man’ Harrison, a beloved member of the HISTORY and ‘Pawn Stars’ family. He will be greatly missed for his wisdom and candor."

Harrison is a Navy veteran and often talked about his military career on the show.

Carlos Lopez Jr. -- one of the repo guys on "Operation Repo" -- is dead of an apparent suicide ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Carlos' roommate found him Sunday around 8 PM on the balcony of their downtown L.A. apartment. The roommate called 911, police and paramedics responded, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

He had a gunshot wound to the head, which police believe was self-inflicted. Our sources say he left a suicide note.

Carlos -- who was on "Operation Repo" from 2012 to 2014 -- was also a successful character actor. He had several small roles on scripted TV shows ... including "iCarly" and "CSI: Cyber." Most recently, he played a CIA station chief in Tom Cruise's "American Made."

He's also an Army vet. Carlos reportedly did 37 months in combat with the 82nd Airborne.

Suge Knight's presence will be felt at his mother's funeral even though he's not allowed to attend ... 'cause he's paying for the whole thing.

Sources close to the ex-rap mogul tell TMZ ... Suge will fork over around $20k to cover the costs associated with burying his mother, Maxine Chatman. TMZ broke the story ... Maxine died last weekend after suffering a stroke.

Maxine's plot -- at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, CA -- has already been covered. The funeral service will be held there early next month. As we first reported ... Suge's not allowed to attend the funeral because he's an inmate who falls under a category that makes him ineligible to attend funerals ... that category is murder defendant.

In the months before his death, ex-WWE star Vader received routine visits and phone calls from one of his old wrestling pals ... Sting -- and Vader's family says the relationship is nothing short of a blessing.

TMZ Sports spoke with Jesse White -- who says several of his dad's old pals reached out to offer their condolences after Vader passed away last week following a bout with Pneumonia.

"Dallas Diamond Page, [Stone Cold Steve] Austin, Mick Foley," White says ... but one of Vader's old friends made an extra special impression.

"I do have to send a big thank-you out to Sting, Steve Borden."

"Sting has been a huge blessing," White says ... noting the two became close over the past 10 months -- after Vader had been battling heart problems.

"My father was a God-fearing man and so was Sting, and they would sit down and read the bible together. Go over the bible, just talk about life and good time stories and, yeah, Stings been a huge blessing throughout this process."

White says he appreciate ALL of the support -- from friends, family and fans -- and invites people who liked his father to reach out with stories, photos and video to honor his memory.

He also told one of his favorites about his father ... so, enjoy!

XXXTentacion did his best to make sure everyone in his family was well taken care of ... buying many of them homes in the months leading up to his murder.

Sources close to the rapper tell us his most important objective in life was to take care of those around him. We've obtained real estate records that show XXX purchased 4 homes in South Florida between the months of April and June ... totaling $1.7 million. The homes break down as follows ...

-- $420,000 for a 3 bed, 2 bath 2,000 square foot home

-- $467,500 for a 4 bed, 2 bath 2,300 square foot home

-- $385,000 for a 4 bed, 2 bath 2,100 square foot home

-- $500,000 for a 4 bed, 3 bath 2,700 square foot home

It's unclear exactly who the homes were purchased for, but our source says the rapper took care of his parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandmothers and great-grandmothers.

As we reported ... the 20-year-old also had a baby on the way with his girlfriend at the time of his death.

TMZ broke the story, his killers were inside the same motorcycle shop as XXX -- scoping him out -- and then waited outside for him to leave. Cops say the shooters ambushed XXX in his car where a brief struggled ensued before he was shot multiple times.

10:00 AM PT -- Vinnie's family tells TMZ ... he died in his sleep at his home in Las Vegas. His body's been turned over to the medical examiner to determine a cause of death, and after that he'll be flown back to his home state of Texas to be buried between his mom and brother.

Vinnie Paul, a drummer and one of the original members of Pantera, is dead.

Paul was a founding member of the metal band, which formed in the '80s. His brother, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, was also a founding member. The band was huge in its day ... nominated for Grammys in 1995 and 2001. Their album, "Far Beyond Driven," hit #1 in 1994.

The group fell apart in 2003 ... by all accounts band members were feuding.

Vinnie's brother, Dimebag, was shot and killed a year later during a concert, after a man ran up on stage and began shooting ... killing a total of 4 people.

Megadeth's Dave Mustaine said, "I just woke up in Belgium to the news that my friend Vinnie Paul has passed away. Another metal hero taken too soon. Say hello to Daryl for me. Rest in Peace, my dear friend."

The cause of death is unknown.

Vinnie was 54.

Anthony Bourdain had no narcotics in his system when he died ... this according to French investigators.

As we reported ... the beloved chef died by suicide earlier this month after he was found hanging in a hotel bathroom in France. It was initially unclear if he had ingested any narcotics before his suicide, but The New York Times says a French official has ruled that out.

XXXTentacion's legion of fans might be shocked by the baby news his mom dropped, but it wouldn't have been a surprise to him -- he knew weeks ago.

Sources close to the rapper tell TMZ ... X's girlfriend -- whom he'd been dating for months -- is the mystery baby mama. We're told the ultrasound photo shared by X's mother, Cleopatra Bernard, is definitely the girlfriend's.

As we reported ... Cleopatra posted the sonogram with the caption, "He left us a final gift."

Based on the womb snapshot, taken April 23, X's gf was just over 8 weeks along back then -- so, she's about 4 months pregnant now. That also means the due date is somewhere around mid-November.

Kate Spade was laid to rest Thursday, surrounded by family and friends ... including brother-in-law, David Spade.

Kate's funeral was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri, where she grew up. David helped usher people into the service.

As we reported ... Kate's father, Earl F. Brosnahan, died the night before her funeral. His family said he had been in failing health and was heartbroken over Kate's suicide. He was 89.

The funeral was held the same day authorities disclosed they found prescription anxiety meds at Kate's home.

FOX News analyst Dr. Charles Krauthammer has died after a battle with terminal cancer.

Krauthammer had a cancerous tumor removed from his abdomen about 10 months ago. Doctors thought the surgery had been successful, but then he was told the cancer returned and he only had a few weeks to live. He revealed the diagnosis in

earlier this month in the Washington Post, where he was a contributor.

Charles -- who was paralyzed in a diving accident while in medical school -- won the Pulitzer for Commentary for his Washington Post columns in 1987. His book, "Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics,” was also a New York Times best seller. In recent years, he'd appeared on FOX News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” as a panelist.

FOX News CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement, “Charles was a guiding voice throughout his time with FOX News and we were incredibly fortunate to showcase his extraordinary talent on our programs. He was an inspiration to all of us and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his beloved wife Robyn and his son Daniel."

The network says it will air a special in his honor on Friday night.

Despite the grim prognosis from doctors, Charles still wrote in his letter, "It was a wonderful life."

XXXTentacion may have had a child on the way at the time of his murder ... at least that's what his mom is hinting.

X's mother, Cleopatra Bernard, just posted a photo of an ultrasound with the caption, "He left us a final gift." While it's hard to imagine the photo would mean anything other than the rapper had a child on the way, Cleo doesn't provide any further detail.

It's also unclear who the child's mother is ... many are speculating it's his ex-girlfriend, Geneva, but sources close to the rapper tell us it's not her.

TMZ broke the story, X was murdered in South Florida Monday after two armed men approached his car, shooting him in broad daylight.

Cops investigating Kate Spade's suicide found a variety of anxiety meds at her death scene, but no illegal drugs ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us NYPD officers combing through Kate's Park Avenue home came across the anxiety meds, which were prescribed to the designer. We don't know yet if Kate had taken any of the medications before she took her life.

Our sources say detectives did not come across any illegal narcotics in the home.

TMZ broke the story ... Spade had fallen into a state of depression in the months leading up to her death after her husband, Andy Spade, had asked for a divorce. The couple was living separately but, according to Andy, still had dinners and took vacations together with their 13-year-old daughter.

Kate's funeral is being held Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri ... where she was born and raised.

Hulk Hogan and his family were "really upset" about the death of ex-WWE star Vader -- with Brooke Hogan and Nick telling us the wrestling star was a big part of their childhood.

"He was always a really nice guy," Nick told us at LAX ... "It sucks. My dad had actually wrestled him a couple of times and they had become friends over the years."

"We got up today and we heard the news and it was kind of somber. Everybody was really upset about it."

Brooke added, "My dad was very sad today."

Vader passed away earlier this week from heart complications after a bout with pneumonia. He was 63.

5:30 AM PT -- Police have arrested Dedrick D. Williams for the murder of XXXTentacion. Broward County Sheriff's Dept. took Williams into custody Wednesday evening.

Investigators working on XXXTentacion's murder seem to be homing in on a Florida rapper who posted a pic of himself packing heat Monday, not far from the crime scene.

Soldier Kidd's been widely accused online of having possible involvement in XXX's shooting death -- mostly due to a photo of himself at Hook Fish & Chicken restaurant, which is 7 minutes from where X was killed.

In the pic, you clearly see a handgun in Kidd's lap, right next to his food. It was posted within an hour of X's shooting.

We're told detectives went to Hook Fish & Chicken late Monday to collect surveillance footage -- specifically of the time Soldier Kidd was there.

There's more -- according to the dispatch audio from the shooting, one of the 2 armed men was wearing a red mask. Kidd shared a photo of himself and a friend with a red mask in the front seat of his car.

The "Triple X" isn't necessarily a reference to XXXTentacion ... since Kidd recorded a mixtape with that title.

We're told cops have also collected security footage from the motorcycle shop where the shooting went down. Police haven't named any suspects, and Soldier Kidd has denied any involvement.

The place where boxing's GOAT Muhammad Ali lived -- and actually boxed -- is up for sale ... and it could be all yours for a cool $2.9 mil.

Ali's widow -- Lonnie -- is selling the Berrien Springs, Michigan farm that Ali bought in 1975, about 10 years before his Parkinson's diagnosis ... and it comes with a legit boxing ring in the gym.

The place is massive -- 81 acres -- and it features two houses, a bunch of garages, a steam room, a massage room and a full-length basketball court ... plus a deck overlooking the pond.

The coolest part? Its actual listing price is $2,895,037 ... 'cause Lonnie wanted to make sure Ali's 37 KOs in his career were included somewhere in the price tag.