Celebrity Death

Sarah Huckabee Sanders says it's unclear if Donald Trump will attend Senator John McCain's funeral -- but here's what we're hearing ... don't hold your breath.

We got the Press Sec. leaving Reagan National Sunday and asked for some thoughts on the late Arizona senator, who died Saturday from brain cancer. SHB had kind words for McCain, who she calls a great loss for the country, but wouldn't bite on the funeral question.

Specifically ... will DT be in attendance? It almost seems impossible. Senator McCain reportedly said he did not want Trump at his funeral. If Trump tries, he would probably be turned away. Sarah says she'll keep us posted, but it sounds like code for "hell no." Trump didn't even go to Barbara Bush's funeral, so he'll likely (most definitely) pass on McCain.

Meanwhile, ex-Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama are rumored to be offering eulogies at McCain's funeral in D.C. He will reportedly lie in state at two different locations -- the Capitol Rotunda and the Arizona Capitol -- ahead of his funeral in Washington's National Cathedral before being buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland.

Pence is also expected to attend ... and, apparently, Sarah herself will show face.

Neil Simon, one of the most prolific playwrights in American history, has died ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell TMZ, Simon died Sunday morning at 1 AM ET after being on life support. We're told he had a failing kidney and also Alzheimer's and dementia. A rep said Simon died as a result of complications from pneumonia.

Simon had a kidney transplant in 2004 and the donor was his longtime friend and publicist Bill Evans.

Simon's first big hit was "Come Blow Your Horn" in 1961, followed by "Barefoot in the Park" in 1963, which was a seismic hit. He won Tony Awards for "The Odd Couple," "Biloxi Blues" and "Lost in Yonkers."

"The Odd Couple" catapulted Simon to national celebrity. He had many other successes, including "Promises, Promises," and "The Sunshine Boys."

All in all, Simon wrote more than 30 plays. He snagged 17 Tony noms, and won 3. During one season, Simon had 4 plays running on Broadway simultaneously.

And, Simon won a Pulitzer Prize in 1991 for "Lost in Yonkers." He was also a Kennedy Center honoree in 1995 and won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2006.

He was the first playwright to have a Broadway theater named after him.

Before becoming a Broadway icon, Simon wrote for television, including "Your Show of Shows" with Sid Caesar and "The Phil Silvers Show."

Simon had a turbulent childhood, growing up in the Great Depression and enduring his parent's unstable marriage. They were poor, and it took both a financial and an emotional toll on the family. What's interesting ... Simon said he used his escape when he was a child -- the escape being movies -- as an inspiration for his writing as an adult.

Simon was married to dancer Joan Baim, who died 20 years into the marriage from cancer. He then married Marsha Mason, whom he divorced. He was then married to Diane Lander not once but twice. At the time of his death he was married to actress Elaine Joyce, whom he married in 1999. He's survived by 3 children.

We're told there will be a memorial service Thursday in New York City.

Love and heartfelt condolences from family, friends, fellow politicians and celebrities are pouring in for John McCain ... who died Saturday afternoon at age 81 after a year-long battle with brain cancer.

John's wife, Cindy, says ... "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best."

McCain's daugther, Meghan, shared an emotional message captioned "I love you forever."

And the tributes go on, from Barack Obama to George W. Bush and many, many more.

Kyle Pavone -- the lead vocalist of the metal band We Came as Romans -- has died ... according to a statement from the band.

The metalcore band from Michigan shared the sad news on social media, saying ... "Today music lost another great ... Kyle's tragic loss came too early in his life and those of his bandmates. All are devastated by his passing. We will miss his smiles, his sincerity, his concern for others, and his impressive musical talent."

Sources close to the situation tell us Kyle was transported to a Michigan hospital on August 19 and pronounced dead Saturday morning. His cause of death is still unclear, pending a toxicology report.

Bandmate Joshua Moore also shared a message on his Instagram about Kyle's passing with a photo of the 2 together captioned, "The craziest, goofiest, most funny and lovable kid. I miss you so much."

We Came as Romans is best known for their songs "Hope," "The World I Used to Know" and "I Knew You Were Trouble." Their album "Tracing Back Roots" reached #8 on the Billboard charts in 2013.

In August, Pavone tweeted the lyrics, "Will i be remembered or will i be lost in loving eyes," from the band's song "Promise Me" off their latest album. The band also shared these lyrics with their statement Saturday.

Kyle was 28.

Prince's family is going after the doctor who prescribed pain pills for him, claiming he failed to properly treat him for opioid addiction so he's to blame for his death ... according to a new suit.

The family claims Dr. Michael Schulenberg last treated Prince on April 20, but failed to appropriately diagnose and treat the rocker's addiction ... which ultimately led to his fatal fentanyl overdose on April 21.

According to the docs ... the doctor's failure played a substantial part in Prince's death.

As you'll recall ... the family already sued the hospital that treated Prince's first opioid overdose, along with the Walgreens for dispensing narcotic prescription medications to him for an invalid medical purpose and failing to make sure he was using the drug properly.

This new suit also includes that hospital and Walgreens, along with Schulenberg. TMZ broke several stories about Prince getting various prescriptions filled from a Walgreens near his home in the days before he died. We posted a pic of Prince pacing the night before his OD -- looking frail and nervous -- as a member of his team got his Rx.

Surveillance video shows Prince visiting Dr. Schulenberg's office the day before he died.

"Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" host Robin Leach has died at the age of 76.

Leach had been hospitalized since November after suffering a stroke while in Cabo San Lucas, and passed away Friday morning in Vegas ... according to his colleague John Katsilometes at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Katsilometes revealed before his death, Leach was in hospice care after suffering a second stroke on Monday. A family from his statement said, "Despite the past 10 months, what a beautiful life he had. Our Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and friend Robin Leach passed away peacefully last night."

The family continued, "Everyone’s support and love over the past, almost one year, has been incredible and we are so grateful. Memorial arrangements to follow. With love, Steven, Gregg and Rick Leach."

Leach -- a veteran journalist -- launched and hosted 'Lifestyles' in 1984 and it aired until 1995. The show gave viewers a sneak peek into the lives of wealthy entertainers, athletes and CEOs.

The show's success came on the heels of a burst of interest in the lives of the filthy rich back in the 80's. Even years after the show ended, Leach remained a figurehead in the world of wealth and luxury. Despite his ritzy reputation, Leach always insisted he was a normal and down-to-earth dude.

Robin moved to Las Vegas in 1999 and spent most of his final years as a journalist working for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and for the Las Vegas Sun covering celeb events on the strip.

Leach started his career earning just $6 an hour at The Harrow Observer. From there, he became the youngest editor at just 18 years old at London's Daily Mail and later worked for the New York Daily News and People magazine.

In a 2011 interview with The Las Vegas Sun, Leach said, "I wanted no other jobs than to work in newspapers."

Leach's mindset clearly changed when he broke into TV on CNN's "People Tonight" in 1980 and followed up in playing a major part in launching "Entertainment Tonight."

In 2007, Leach was the host of "The Surreal Life: Fame Games" on VH1. The show featured 10 celebs -- including Vanilla Ice, Chyna, Verne Troyer, Ron Jeremy and Brigitte Nielsen -- competing in a series of games for $100,000.

We had Vince Neil -- a longtime friend of Robin's -- on TMZ Live Friday ... who dished on Leach and his accomplishments.

He most recently appeared on an episode of VICELAND's "Most Expensivest" where 2 Chainz jetted to Vegas to sip champagne and eat caviar with Robin.

Leach was to turn 77 Wednesday.

Lisa Fleming, the woman who weighed more than 700 pounds and was featured on "My 600-lb Life," has died, and she's the second person from the show who has died this month.

Fleming's daughter, Danielle, says her mom passed Thursday. Danielle tells TMZ her mom's death had nothing to do with her weight. In fact, she says Lisa had lost 200 pounds after she appeared on the show and was actually able to stand on her own.

Danielle says her mom was sick before she came on the show and the various illnesses took their toll over time. She says, "At the end she was sick and her body was tired and her body just gave out."

Danielle says she held her mom's hand for 4 hours after she passed.

Lisa was featured on Season 6 back in February. She revealed her struggle with weight began as a child and it got significantly worse after she witnessed her brother's murder.

Lisa's episode was heart-wrenching ... her situation was so desperate she found maggots in the folds of her skin.

When Lisa was on the show she was bedridden and unable to care for herself. Life was so cumbersome, 7 paramedics were required to remove her from her bed.

The man who shot and killed John Lennon isn't getting out of prison anytime soon ... he's just been denied parole once again.

Mark David Chapman went before a parole board in New York Thursday, and they came to the decision to keep him behind bars ... and he won't be up for parole again for 2 years.

The board explained its decision to Chapman saying ... "You admittedly carefully planned and executed the murder of a world-famous person for no reason other than to gain notoriety."

The board added ... "While no one person's life is any more valuable than another's life, the fact that you chose someone who was not only a world renown person and beloved by millions, regardless of the pain and suffering you would cause to his family, friends and so many others, you demonstrated a callous disregard for the sanctity of human life and the pain and suffering of others."

We broke the story ... Chapman got a new mug shot before his hearing. He's been serving 20 years to life after pleading guilty to 2nd degree murder of Lennon, who he shot in front of The Beatles' legend's Manhattan apartment in 1980.

Chapman later admitted to planning the killing because he wanted to be famous. He had been denied parole 9 times since December 2000 ... and now it's an even 10.

8/24 -- The official document we received listed Gladys Knight as a performer at the memorial. A rep for Gladys tell us that there was a miscommunication ... she will not be performing, but she will be in attendance.

TMZ just got a list of the performers who will take the mic at Aretha Franklin's memorial next Thursday, and it's awesome!!!

Check this out:

The Four Tops
Gladys Knight
Johnny Gill
Ron Isley
Kiki Sheard
Kurt Carr
Jean Carne
Doug Carn
Ronnie McNeir
L.J. Reynolds
Tasha Page-Lockhart
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Dr. Bobby Jones
Jenifer Lewis
George Faison
Angie Stone
Raheem DeVaughn
Gracie Franklin
Eddie Franklin
Victorie Franklin
Santita Jackson
Ralphe Armstrong Band
Kern Brantley Band

Dr. Louis Farrakhan will be attending as a guest.

The event will go down at the Chene Park Amphitheatre in Detroit on August 30.

According to a doc obtained by TMZ, performances can be acoustic, track or with the Aretha Franklin combined band.

And, all artists will have to pay for their own air, ground and hotel accommodations.

As you know, Aretha died last week after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Ed King -- a classic rocker best known as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd and co-writer of "Sweet Home Alabama" -- died Wednesday at his home in Nashville ... according to his family.

Ed played guitar and bass for the Southern rock band from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1996. He co-wrote one of Skynyrd's most legendary hits with Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington ... none of whom were actually from Alabama.

A rep for King's family tells us Ed was first diagnosed with lung cancer but it later spread through his body.

King was not with the band in 1977 when Van Zant and 2 other members were killed in a plane crash. He rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987, but was reportedly forced to leave the band again in 1996 due to congestive heart failure.

Ed was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 along with all of the other former members of the band. He was featured in the recently released Lynyrd Skynyrd documentary, 'If I Leave Here Tomorrow' as well.

King was also one of the founding members of Strawberry Alarm Clock, formed in L.A. in the mid-1960s.

We're told the Hermitage Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens in Nashville will be handling the arrangements for Ed -- he'll be cremated and no ceremony is planned.

He was 68.

Jonathan Davis says his wife Deven was very sick for the past decade, and suggests her mental illness led to her addiction ... and it's to blame for her death.

Korn's lead singer shared a message on Instagram Wednesday night to address what happened to his estranged wife. He said, "Over the past decade, my wife has been very very sick. She had a serious mental illness and her addiction was a side effect. I loved her with ALL of my being."

He goes on to say Deven was an amazing wife, mother and friend ... and he tried for a long time to hide what was going on with her in order to protect her.

Davis says Deven's the reason he has advocated so passionately for people struggling with mental illness, and hopes her story will help inspire change. He also mentions their 2 children, saying ... "I promise I'll do everything in my power to raise our precious boys the right way, teach them the good values you wanted them to have so badly, and break the cycle of abuse we both experiences as kids."

We broke the story ... Deven died Friday, and the news came on the heels of Jonathan's request for a domestic violence restraining order on her. Jonathan alleged Deven was deep into drugs and her drug use was causing emotional harm to their 2 sons.

According to the legal docs, Deven had been in a sober home but went AWOL a week before she died.

Stefan Karl Stefansson -- the actor who played Robbie Rotten on the popular children's show "LazyTown" -- will have a performing arts academy built in his honor ... TMZ has learned.

The Stefan Karl Academy & Center for the Performing Arts will be constructed and launched next year in Switzerland. It's the actor's dream project.

Stefansson died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer ... and we're told he was hammering away at curriculum details for the academy during his final hours.

The project will be a celebration of Stefan's life and contributions to the world of humor and human expression. The academy will focus on training young people in the history and skills of expression across multiple genres. The campus will include a theater, which will host live performances.

Stefan dreamed of opening a performing arts center for years. He envisioned humor as the center piece of the academy's mission.

Stefan's wife, Steinunn Olina, will provide creative leadership in opening the academy.

Aretha Franklin shockingly left no will behind ... which is surprising given her circumstances.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the singer died "intestate" -- meaning she had no will at the time of death.

It's especially surprising given that she has a special needs son named Clarence who needs financial and other forms of support for his entire life.

Aretha was ill for several years, but apparently did not see the end coming ... or possibly a will was low on the priority list.

According to Michigan law, Aretha's 4 kids will share equally in her estate.

Aretha died on August 16 at her Detroit home surrounded by friends and family after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. The Queen of Soul's death occurred on the same calendar day as "The King" Elvis Presley's ... albeit 41 years later.

As expected, Franklin's passing sparked an outpouring of emotion, sympathy, tributes and love from countless celebs ... including the Obamas, who said of Aretha -- "every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine."

Aretha's family has scheduled a multiple-day celebration of her life next week, beginning with an open casket memorial at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Her funeral will then be held August 31 at the Greater Grace Temple -- just for close friends and family.

The man who shot and killed John Lennon will have his 10th parole board hearing this week ... and TMZ has just obtained his latest mug shot.

Mark David Chapman -- who shot the Beatles member in front of Lennon's Manhattan apartment in 1980 -- has been serving 20 years to life after pleading guilty to 2nd degree murder.

Now 63 years old, Chapman will go before a parole board in New York sometime this week in a closed hearing ... and a decision will be announced in the coming weeks.

MDC has been denied parole 9 times since December of 2000.

Chapman shot Lennon 4 times in front of his wife, Yoko Ono in December, 1980 at the famed Dakota apartment building near New York City's Central Park ... and later admitted to planning the killing because he wanted to be famous.

He's been in prison since 1981.

Pat Houston says she and her family have no animus toward Max Lomas, a close friend of Bobbi Kristina's who himself died of a drug overdose last week.

We got Pat Monday on her way into LAX ... and Bobbi's aunt was remorseful and saddened by Max's passing -- last week he was found unresponsive on a bathroom floor with a syringe near his body.

As we reported ... Max played a big role in the mystery surrounding Bobbi Kristina's death. Lomas found Whitney Houston's daughter in her bathtub on the verge of death, and was often seen with Bobbi and her BF, Nick Gordon, in the days leading up to the incident.

The wife of the lead singer of Korn has died Friday ... and it comes on the heels of a request for a domestic violence restraining order and major drug issues ... TMZ has learned.

Deven Davis was the estranged wife of Jonathan Davis. Deven was a former porn star who married Jonathan in 2004. They had 2 kids together.

Jonathan filed for divorce in October 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. Jonathan filed for a domestic violence restraining order today -- August 17, 2018. The judge issued a temporary order blocking any child custody or visitation by Deven. The restraining order also prohibits her from having contact with the family dog, Chaos.

Our sources say Deven was unaware Jonathan filed the restraining order ... she had not even been served.

Jonathan alleged in the docs Deven was deep into drugs -- something she had struggled with for more than 20 years. He alleged her drug use was causing emotional harm to the kids through neglect. He says in his court declaration she has been dependent on both prescription and illegal narcotics. She'd been to rehab 6 times and "is constantly under the influence of the nitrous oxide, cocaine and Norco."

Jonathan claimed she had a drug dealer boyfriend who was recently passed out on her living room couch when he brought the kids to her house. Jonathan says he found a heroin pipe and cocaine floating in the toilet bowl and found Deven passed out on the floor upstairs.

And there's this ... Jonathan claims when she binged on drugs she would "routinely bring home unsavory characters, including strangers. Some of these people are random fans of my music who she allows to come into the house, go into the master bedroom closet and try on my clothes."

According to the docs, Deven had been in a sober home but went AWOL last Friday and hadn't been seen for a week.

At this point we do not know the cause of death.

Story developing ...