Celebrity Death

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, died on the same day as Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, 41 years later ... and it's both weird and fitting.

Aretha's passing fell on Elvis' 41st death anniversary -- August 16, 1977 -- albeit under extremely different circumstances.

As we reported ... Aretha died in her Detroit home after being placed in hospice care earlier in the week. She'd been suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, and had been gravely ill in the days leading up to her death. The singer was 76 years old.

As for Elvis, he died of a heart attack. He was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of his Graceland home in Memphis, TN.

The two singers proved to be American icons and international fixtures in pop culture. In honor of their passings ... RIP to the Queen and King.

The Detroit Lions are remembering the city's greatest singer -- sending their "deepest condolences to the family and friends of Aretha Franklin."

The Lions tweeted out, "Aretha was a groundbreaker and an icon whose legacy will live on forever."

Aretha famously busted out a FOUR-AND-A-HALF MINUTE rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at a Lions game on Thanksgiving 2016 ... one of the greatest National Anthem performances ever.

Former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas also showed Aretha some love -- tweeting, "Rest In Peace dear friend, I will remember your wisdom, laughter and music you gave us. #aintnoway #natuaralwoman #sayalittleprayerforyou."

The Detroit Tigers honored Aretha by posting a tribute on their video board ... with the message "Forever our queen."

ESPN's Jemele Hill -- who's from Detroit -- also weighed in ... saying, "Rest in power, Aretha. You were not only the Queen of Soul, but a warrior, a survivor, an icon, and a protector. You are Detroit’s heartbeat. Rest well, Queen."

Hill added, "Aretha was Detroit’s sister, auntie, momma, Queen and homegirl — all in one career. There are few people that defend, honor and protect someone the way we did Aretha. You can talk about our economy, and our crime, but say something about Re-Re, and you’ll get dealt with. Quick."

LB Bonner called 911 before he shot himself, but the operator couldn't help him out because she couldn't hear him ... according to the audio.

The former "My 600-lb Life" star can be heard trying to give his location on the call -- obtained by TMZ -- but hangs up after the dispatcher explains she's having difficulty understanding him. She then tries to call him back ... but it goes straight to voicemail.

L.B.'s mother also called 911, saying he'd been posting threats about hurting himself online and she's afraid he's going to "do something stupid." According to his mom ... L.B. reached out to many people -- including producers of the show -- about his suicidal thoughts, but then nobody could reach him.

We broke the story ... Bonner's death was ruled a suicide by the coroner, from a self-inflicted single gunshot wound to the head.

Bonner appeared in last season's "My 600-lb Life" ... which documented his journey as he dropped more than 300 pounds.

Sharon Tate is about to be resurrected in spectacular fashion in Quentin Tarantino's new movie, thanks to Margot Robbie ... so says Sharon's sister, who watched the action on the closed set.

Debra Tate says QT's flick "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" -- which centers around the murders of her sibling and her friends at the hands of the Manson Family -- is magnificent because Margot is capturing all the nuances from the slain actress.

It's a hell of an Oscar pitch. Debra says Margot's taking the role incredibly seriously ... and it shows from what she's seen firsthand on set. And, of course, the resemblance is uncanny.

There's also this ... Debra says all the A-listers attached -- including Leo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, just to name a few -- are actually super friendly in real life. How 'bout that?!

Debra had previously bashed Tarantino and his cast for not reaching out to her for her blessing, but that's all changed. She came out fully supporting the movie late last month ... and it sounds like the film has come to exceed her expectations since then.

Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart's wife told emergency personnel the ex-WWE superstar collapsed while appearing to have a seizure early Monday morning ... and slammed his head when he fell to the ground.

Elizabeth Neidhart told investigators Jim was having difficulty sleeping and got out of bed to change the thermostat. But, when Jim went to touch it, he "turned weirdly as if he were about to dance."

"He then fell towards the wall and ground," the investigation report says.

Elizabeth called 911 thinking he was having a seizure since he "suffers from seizures and takes medication for it."

Neidhart's wife says Jim's last seizure was Dec. 2017 -- and she notes doctors also believed he may have had Alzheimer's as well.

When officials arrived to Jim's home -- they found the 63-year-old on the floor with a 4-inch gash on his face.

Investigators found medication at the home, but note "none of the medication appeared to have been abused."

9:05 AM PT -- The Pasco Sheriff's Office tells TMZ Sports ... "Preliminary information indicates that [Neidhart] fell at home, hit his head, and succumbed to his injury."

"No foul play suspected. No additional information to release at this time."

Wrestling legend Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart has died, according to the WWE. He was 63.

Neidhart passed away early Monday morning after suffering a medical emergency at a home in Florida.

According to the emergency dispatch audio, emergency personnel were called around 6:30 AM about a man having seizures and convulsions.

At one point, the dispatch operator says, "They think he might be Signal 7" -- which is code for a dead person.

Jim was a WWF superstar in the mid-'80s and early '90s as a member of The Hart Foundation tag team with Bret "The Hitman" Hart ... managed by Jimmy Hart.

During his legendary career, Jim was a 2-time Tag Team champion -- defeating everyone from the Legion of Doom to the Nasty Boys to The Rockers.

Neidhart also wrestled with WCW and TNA Wrestling. He last wrestled in WWE back in 2007, but has made appearances on "Total Divas."

Before he became a pro wrestler, Neidhart pursued a career in pro football -- with brief stints with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.

Neidhart struggled with substance abuse -- he went to rehab twice after drug-related arrests.

Neidhart is survived by his wife, Ellie, and 3 daughters including Natalie -- aka WWE superstar Natalya.

R.I.P.

Smash from Demolition tweeted about Neidhart, saying, "It is terrible I just heard Jim Neidhart passed away. I just pray for his family to get through this.Jim was a great friend and I will really miss him."

Bret Hart says he's "stunned and saddened" by the death of his former tag team partner and brother-in-law, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart ... saying, "I just don't have the words right now."

Hart also posted a photo of his old friend with their tag team wrestling championship belts.

Bret and Jim started The Hart Foundation tag team group in 1985 -- and are widely considered one of the best tag teams of all time.

Ric Flair also posted a tribute -- saying, "My Good Friend Jim Neidhart, A World Class Athlete And A Man Among Men. Rest In Peace."

Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake added, "Devastating news Jim Neidhart my friend has passed away!! I can hardly believe it. Rest In Peace Brother until we meet again!!!"

The Iron Sheik wrote, "ONE OF MY OLDEST FRIENDS IN THE BUSINESS JIM NEIDHART. WE TRAVEL TOGETHER I LOVE HIM FOREVER LIKE A BROTHER. GOD BLESS FAMILY I NEVER FORGET YOU BUBBA."

Sgt. Slaughter said ... "Saddened To Hear Jim Neidhart Has Passed. My Prayers Are With His Families. Guess God Needed An “Anvil” Angel RIP Jim."

Tab Hunter -- the 1950s heartthrob actor -- died after his heart gave out but, according to his death certificate, he was also battling a debilitating disease ... prostate cancer.

According to the doc -- obtained by TMZ -- Tab died from cardiogenic shock ... which is when the blood suddenly can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Another contributing factor to his death was a massive pulmonary embolism. The doc also says he had prostate cancer.

As we reported ... the actor known for his surfer-boy looks and roles in "Damn Yankees" and "The Burning Hills" died last month -- 3 days shy of his birthday -- at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Tab always felt he would have been blackballed from Hollywood if people had discovered he was gay, so he later revealed in his memoirs that he had studio setup relationships with women.

Tab was 86.

The death of L.B. Bonner -- who was featured on the show "My 600-lb Life" -- has officially been ruled a suicide ... according to the coroner's report.

As we reported ... Bonner was found dead last week in park in Lexington, South Carolina with a gunshot wound. According to the County Coroner's Office ... he died from a self-inflicted single gunshot would to the head.

Before his death, L.B. posted a cryptic message on Facebook saying, "I just want to say thank you to everyone who has shown me love and support throughout my journey...I've realized a few things over the last few days and its time that, I face my demons head on."

Bonner appeared in last season's '600-lb Life' ... which documented his journey as he went from 642 pounds all the way down to 316.

The 49ers are paying tribute to the guys behind the most famous play in the team's history -- erecting a 2-piece "The Catch" statue at Levi's Stadium featuring Joe Montana and Dwight Clark.

Clark died in June at the age of 61 after his battle with ALS -- and it seems the 49ers are pushing the plans forward to honor him as quickly as possible. The team is also wearing #87 stickers on their helmets this year.

As for the statues -- Dwight's sculpture (full arms outstretched) will stand exactly 23 yards from his QB ... to replicate the moment from the 1981 NFC Championship vs. the Dallas Cowboys.

Dwight's statue will stand 11 feet tall. Both pieces will weigh 350 lbs.

Clark had a huge career for the Niners after being picked in the 10th round of the 1979 NFL Draft ... winning two Super Bowls and having his No. 87 jersey retired in 1988.

Joel Robuchon, who has a seismic influence on French food turning it from stuffy to fun and accessible, is dead.

Robuchon's impact on food was so enormous, he was called "cook of the century" back in 1990. One of the things he did that has been enduring ... letting diners have a peek into how his food is cooked and plated. He was the first major chef to make it cool for diners to sit at a counter next to the kitchen.

Robuchon appeared on "Top Chef" and a variety of French cooking shows.

He was the holder of more Michelin stars than any chef in the world for years. As of 2016, he held 32 stars -- his peak. This year he had 31.

Perhaps his signature dish ... puree de pomme -- which you probably know as mashed potatoes. He prepared it simply, but it was amazing.

Robuchon died in Geneva from pancreatic cancer.

Joel was 73.

Charlotte Rae -- the actress who played the beloved Mrs. Garrett in "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life" -- has reportedly died.

According to EW, reps for the Emmy-nominated star confirmed she'd passed away Sunday in her L.A.-area home. While a cause of death wasn't made immediately clear, Rae announced last year she had been diagnosed with bone cancer that spring.

Rae starred as the Drummond family's kooky housekeeper, Edna Garrett, on 'DS' ... who proved to be so popular with viewers that she eventually got her own spinoff with 'Facts,' where she played the same character heading up at an all-girls boarding school.

Both shows were wildly successful between the late '70s and mid-'80s -- but they were just a small slice of her long career. Rae also had starring and supporting roles in "The Love Boat," "101 Dalmatians: The Series," "Sesame Street," "Car 54, Where Are You?" "The Phil Silvers Show," "ER," and "Girl Meets World," among others. She has 93 acting credits to her name.

Charlotte was 92. RIP

Zombie Boy's death by apparent suicide came as a complete shock to those close to him, because he was very excited about things to come ... so says his manager.

Karim Leduc tells TMZ ... Zombie Boy -- real name Rick Genest, but known as Rico to friends and family -- was very focused on a couple of upcoming projects and had a "very positive mindset." Karim says these projects included shooting a music vid for his single called "Monster Inside" ... and working on a book of his poems.

Leduc says Rico was especially stoked about the music vid, so it makes no sense he would end his life before it got made.

Zombie Boy's manager also says he wasn't a drug user and was sober at the time of his death. There is this though -- Karim tells us Rico did mention to him recently he was going through a rough patch, but was "uplifted" by all the future projects.

Leduc insists he didn't think twice about Rico's comments, and doesn't believe it was a suicide warning sign.

L.B. Bonner -- who appeared on "My 600-lb Life" and ultimately dropped over 300 pounds -- was found dead in a ditch with a gunshot wound ... TMZ has learned.

Police were making a welfare check Thursday night when they found him in a park in Lexington, South Carolina ... this according to a police report obtained by TMZ. The circumstances surrounding his death are now under investigation.

L.B. appeared in last season's "My 600-lb Life" that documented his incredible weight-loss journey. He started at 642 pounds and trimmed off a whopping 316 pounds, but kept shedding the weight even after filming the show.

L.B. had posted a cryptic message Thursday night on Facebook saying, "I just want to say thank you to everyone who has shown me love and support throughout my journey...I've realized a few things over the last few days and its time that, I face my demons head on."

He went on to say, "No matter what you change or the efforts you put forth in life, sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and deal with things your own way...Again, thank y'all so much... Please don't ever let people you care about not know how you feel."

Cops have not yet officially ruled Bonner's death a suicide, but tell us they're not looking for any other persons of interest in the case.

XXXTentacion's posthumously off the hook for an alleged beating of his ex-girlfriend ... TMZ has learned.

The rapper was awaiting trial for his domestic violence case involving Geneva Ayala -- who claimed he abused her when she was pregnant with his child. The charges were dropped at a court hearing this week in Florida ... due to his death.

X was also facing multiple counts of witness tampering because prosecutors believed he coerced Geneva into not testifying against him. Those charges are obviously expected to be dropped as well.

As we reported ... Ayala was devastated by XXXTentacion's murder -- despite the abuse allegations -- saying, "everyone expecting me to be relieved or happy?! no, i'm broken."

Cops say Rick Genest -- best known as Zombie Boy -- jumped to his death ... but his family believes it was an accident.

Montreal law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the Canadian artist and fashion model jumped from a 4th floor balcony of an apartment building Wednesday around 5 PM in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal. We're told paramedics rushed to the scene and performed CPR, but could not revive him.

We spoke with Genest's manager, Karim Leduc, who tells us Rick's family believes his death was an accident. Leduc says Rick would smoke on his balcony, and lean back on a railing while doing so ... and his family believes this caused him to fall.

Leduc also says the fact Rick didn't leave any type of suicide note also plays to the family's suspicions, as he loved to write and would articulate his feelings through his work. Rick's family believes he would have left a suicide note for them.

As we reported ... Zombie Boy rose to mainstream fame in 2011 after appearing in Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" music video. That gig led to more high-profile fashion work on the runway with Rocawear's relaunch in Europe and modeling for magazines like GQ and Vanity Fair.

Lady Gaga responded to the sad news by calling the suicide of her friend, "beyond devastating." She also urged anyone suffering from mental health issues to reach out to friends and family, adding ... "We must save each other."

Zombie Boy was 32.

#RIP