Celebrity Death

2/25 -- A rep for Once Upon a Time in LA Festival tells TMZ, "Once Upon a Time in LA joins Drakeo's family, friends, and fans in grieving his loss. The festival is continuing to support local authorities in their investigation as they pursue the facts."

Drakeo the Ruler's brother is suing the folks behind the music festival where he was stabbed to death ... he says concert promoters failed to keep the L.A. rapper safe.

According to a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Drakeo's bro claims the rapper's life was in jeopardy the moment he arrived at December's Once Upon a Time festival concert ... and he's blaming a lack of security.

In the docs, Drakeo's bro says Drakeo was attacked within minutes of arriving ... describing it as a "violent mob attack" that broke out backstage and lasted up to 15 minutes. His brother claims the all-access area should have been a safe place, and he's ripping the promoters for what he claims were "lackadaisical to totally absent" security measures.

Drakeo's bro claims promoters should have braced for the worse because the concert, held at L.A.'s Exposition Park, is in the middle of a gang-infested neighborhood and Drakeo was already the target of gang threats.

In the docs, the brother claims Drakeo entered the festival grounds through two "checkpoints" ... but he says they were hardly secure. The brother claims the first was just a booth with 2 unarmed staffers who let anyone in as long as they flashed an all-access pass.

Drakeo's bro claims the second "checkpoint" had a metal detector, drug sniffing dog and a small group of security guards ... but he says not every car was searched, and he claims he heard gang chants from some cars that went through without being searched.

In the suit, Drakeo's brother claims Drakeo was attacked by a mob of 50 to 100 people, including some armed with knives ... leaving Drakeo's group to fight for their lives without sufficient security.

The brother says Drakeo was stabbed in the chaos and claims it took up to 30 minutes for emergency personnel to get to Drakeo, who eventually died in the hospital.

Drakeo's brother and others are suing Live Nation, Snoop Dogg's LLC and the Los Angeles Football Club ... the festival was held at the MLS team's stadium ... and they're going after them for millions in damages.

Sally Kellerman -- famous for playing Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in 'M*A*S*H' -- has died.

The Oscar-nominated actress died early Thursday morning at an assisted care facility in Los Angeles, following a battle with dementia ... according to her son, Jack Krane.

We're told Sally was diagnosed with dementia around 2017 and wasn't doing well the last couple years. Her son says he last saw her Wednesday night, when it became clear to him it would be her last time seeing her, and he said his final goodbyes.

While Sally was most known for the husky voice she used to play a U.S. Army major on 'M*A*S*H' she was also famous for her singing chops ... releasing an album and even having a Grand Funk Railroad song written for her.

Sally also starred in "Back To School" as the love interest for Rodney Dangerfield's character ... and Trekkies will remember her for playing Dr. Elizabeth Dehner on the third episode of "Star Trek," when she sacrifices her life and has some last words for Captain Kirk.

The actress made a ton of guest appearances on TV shows back in the 1960s ... including "12 O'Clock High," "Ben Casey," "Mannix," "That Girl" and "The Outer Limits."

In addition to TV and movies, Sally also acted in plays and found success in soap operas as her career progressed ... getting a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2015 for her work on "The Young and the Restless."

Sally lent her voice to commercials and animation too ... doing voiceover work for Hidden Valley Ranch dressing and a few animated movies.

She was twice married ... first to "Starsky & Hutch" writer and director Rick Edelstein from 1970 to 1972 ... and then tying the knot in 1980 to "Face/Off" producer Jonathan Krane.

Sally was 84.

Donny Davis, the beloved entertainer who has performed with Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and many other stars, may have died as a result of foul play ... this according to Vegas cops.

TMZ broke the story ... Donny was found dead Tuesday in his room at Resorts World.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Donny and another man hung out with 2 women at the Dawg House bar at the hotel at around 1 AM. The women took the party to the Flamingo, but came back to Resort World at around 2:30 AM and beelined it for the bar.  One of the women told cops, the bartender would not serve Donny because he was too intoxicated.

The man and Davis went back to Donny's room at around 3:30 AM.

The other man left the room at around 4:20 AM and came back to the room at 5 AM with one of the women, when they noticed Donny sitting in a chair and his hands looked pale and pink and began turning purple. The woman said Donny's hands were "freezing" and he was not breathing.

They moved him to the bed and placed him on his side ... then called security, who in turn called 911. Donny was taken to Sunrise Hospital where he was declared dead just after 7 AM.

As for why cops suspect foul play ... we're told it was the number of people who were in the room. Also, according to the police report, the male would not speak with cops but instead said he wanted to speak to an attorney. Cops say they had trouble getting information from those in the room.

Donny was a staple in Vegas and, in addition to performing with Britney and Miley, he performed with Seth McFarland, Mariah Carey, Joe Jonas, Kelly Osbourne and Hayden Panettiere. He was also the star at Beacher's Madhouse for 2 decades.

Matt Hutchins, husband of Halyna Hutchins, shook his head in disgust as he recounted how he felt when he heard Alec Baldwin talk about how he was grief-stricken over Halyna's death but accepted no responsibility.

Matt begs to differ, telling Hoda Kotb on "Today" it was absurd for the person who fired the bullet that killed his wife was blameless, and the way Baldwin described his pain further angered Matt.

He also explained how he told his 9-year-old son that his mother was dead. He said, "I just had to be very direct and blunt," said Hutchins... "because going to pick him up and go to the airport to go to Santa Fe, I didn’t want him to think that we were going to be seeing her and having fun together, and getting his hopes up." He then describes how they cried together.

As for the moment when they landed in Santa Fe and were embraced by Baldwin, Matt says, "I feel like to understand that moment, you have to remember the shock we were in. I spoke with Mr. Baldwin and was just looking for a way through the storm."

Baldwin has maintained he did not pull the trigger, and there seems to be divided thought on whether such a gun can fire with only the hammer or whether the trigger is required.

Matt says there were numerous safety lapses and says there were "multiple responsible parties."

Matt and his son have filed against Baldwin and many others ... even asking for punitive damages for alleged reckless conduct that led to Halyna's death.

Donny Davis -- a longtime Vegas impersonator who performed with Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Chelsea Handler -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ  ... Donny passed away Tuesday in Las Vegas, where he was found in his hotel room bed.

The cause of death will not be determined until an autopsy is performed. We're told Donny was partying at one of the nearby hotel casinos hours before his body was discovered.

It's tragic news, as Donny was incredibly well-known and beloved in and around Hollywood ... not just serving as a regular guest on "Chelsea Lately" -- sometimes filling in for her go-to little person sidekick, Chuy Bravo -- but also performing on stage with Britney herself.

DD was hired as a dancer for Brit's Vegas residency show when it kicked off in 2013 ... and was a favorite pal of Britney's for years, often posing with her for photos and getting shout-outs from her too.

He also performed with Mariah Carey, Seth McFarland, Miley Cyrus, Joe Jonas, Kelly Osbourne and Hayden Panettiere.

He was a staple at Beacher's Madhouse for 2 decades, where he starred in a vaudeville-style variety show that featured tons of celebs. Jeff Beacher tells us they discovered Donny online and after he performed for a few years he was so talented Jeff let him produce the show.

He was also hired to perform private gigs for the likes of Paris Hilton, Victoria Beckham, Charlize Theron and other big stars.

Donny has a couple of movie credits under his belt, with appearances in 2017's 'It's Gawd!' opposite Tommy Chong, as well as a role in "Pain & Gain." Donny also stood out as a fierce advocate for little people, not just in showbiz ... but beyond.

Beacher tells TMZ, "Donny broke barriers in the little people community and was an inspiration to his peers. He will be missed terribly but his legacy and the impact he had on those who loved him will live on forever."

Donny was 43.

Stand-up comedian and shock magician "The Amazing Johnathan" is dead after battling heart issues for years.

An assistant to Johnathan's wife tells TMZ ... Johnathan passed Tuesday night while at home "cuddling" with his wife of 11 years, Anastasia Synn. We're told a hospice nurse had been staying with him for the last 3 weeks, and confirmed he had passed.

The former Las Vegas headliner, whose real name was Johnathan Szeles, had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2007, and it's been a very tough road. The assistant says, "We have thought we lost him so many times that we never thought it would actually happen."

Johnathan was reportedly making up to $3 million per year at the peak of his Vegas fame when he had a residency at Bally's casino. His gonzo act featured some astounding, and downright shocking, moves ... including putting a spike through his tongue and sucking on his dangling eyeball.

The Detroit native gained a more mainstream audience after appearing on Criss Angel's reality show, "Mindfreak."

During a 2014 appearance, he announced he'd been told he only had one year to live ... but he was still around 5 years later when he launched a comeback tour.

Anastasia's assistant says they will have memorials for Johnathan in Vegas, Michigan and in L.A. they will hold the "Los Angeles Broken wand ceremony at the Magic Castle."

Johnathan was 63.

Lindsey Pearlman, the "Empire" and "General Hospital" actress who was found dead in her car Friday ... had a history of depression before committing suicide ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Lindsey called her husband, Vance Smith, the day before her body was found, saying she was intent on ending her life. Her husband contacted police in a frantic effort to find Lindsey. He never saw her alive again.

We're told Lindsey drove to the base of Runyon Canyon in Hollywood -- a popular hiking spot -- and swallowed enough pills to fatally overdose. A hiker came upon her car last Friday, saw her body inside and called police.

We've learned Lindsey left a suicide note at her home and also left a note in her car ... telling whoever found her to call 911.

Investigators learned Lindsey suffered from bouts of depression over the years, and it appears it just became too overwhelming.

After her body was found, Lindsey's sister posted the phone number of the National Suicide Hotline on social media and said, "Please know that you are never truly alone."

The Los Angeles County medical examiner's office says an autopsy was performed but they are requesting more tests and studies before determining an official cause of death, but our law enforcement sources say it's apparent it was a drug overdose.

Gary Brooker, the singer who put '60s British rock group Procol Harum on the map with an iconic hit of the 'Summer of Love,' is skipping the light fandango in heaven now.

Gary died Saturday after battling cancer according to a statement released by the band. They say their lead singer and pianist died peacefully at his home.

Procol Harum is best remembered for their 1967 hit, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" -- it was co-written by Gary, and became an anthem of the famous 'Summer of Love' in San Francisco.

The Hammond organ-heavy track is one of those '60s hits everyone kinda knows when ya hear it -- and the lyrics and their meaning have long been debated in rock history.

Just a sample:
"One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might have just as well've been closed"

Most critics and fans agree the haunting song is about a psychedelic or drunken sexual encounter. Let's face it ... there were lots of those back in '67 when Procol Harum formed!

The song's been covered by other artists countless times, and the OG single sold more than 10 million copies. The band broke up in 1977, but reunited in the '90s and continued to perform here and there until 2018.

Brooker's bandmates said, "The single defining constant of the band's 50-year career, Gary's voice and piano playing was legendary and he leaves behind a legacy that will last for generations. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him."

'America's Got Talent' breakout star Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski has died after a battle with cancer ... TMZ has learned.

A source with direct knowledge tells us the phenom singer passed away Saturday after months of receiving treatment for the disease ... which had spread to her lungs, spine and liver.

Nightbirde withdrew from 'AGT' mid-season -- when she announced she'd be focusing on her health full-time. She had previously survived breast cancer after being diagnosed in 2017 ... but it eventually returned, coming back in a metastatic state.

She'd said doctors gave her a slim chance at survival -- just 2% -- and the remainder of her life had been given a small window in 2019 ... just 3-6 months. Incredibly, she beat those odds and was declared cancer-free the following year ... only to have it return in 2021.

All things considered, she lived much longer than health professionals ever thought -- fighting hard for survival, and ultimately ... winning over audiences on 'Got Talent' and beyond.

'AGT' judge Howie Mandel posted a touching note about Nightbirde, saying, "(she) was such a bright inspirational light in all our lives.we must continue to live and learn from her words and lyrics. As much as I feel horribly about her passing I feel lucky to to have met, heard and known her."

Her story captivated America -- during her initial outing, she sang an original song, "It's Okay," which absolutely blew the judges away ... making Cowell emotional and getting a standing ovation from the others, not to mention a rare golden buzzer from SC himself. Obviously, she got a green light to move on -- and made it to the quarterfinals. She may well have even won the whole competition ... if not for having to pull out.

Unfortunately, her 'AGT' run was cut short due to the cancer ... and she's been mostly out of the spotlight since -- doing a few interviews here and there, while also staying positive on social media and sharing her journey.

Sadly, Nightbirde was never officially signed to a label and doesn't have an album out -- but she does have some EP releases and singles under her belt from her early years in the music biz, when she was trying to break out into the mainstream out in Virginia.

She was just 31.

RIP

The Young Dolph murder case continues to produce new leads -- police say there are now more people they want to talk to about what happened that fateful day.

Memphis PD announced Sunday two persons of interest in connection to the homicide -- 26-year-old Devin Burns and 26-year-old Joshua Taylor ... both of whom the cops say they are unable to locate, and need the public’s help in finding.

Burns is described as 5'6" at about 135 lbs. and Taylor’s a tad bit bigger ... 6'6" at 180 lbs. MPD says Burns has unrelated open warrants for his arrest -- but both men appear to have posed for mug shots before.

It’s unclear how or why exactly these two are suspected to be related to the murder -- but cops say they want to sit down with them regardless.

The authorities have already nabbed two men they say are the actual shooters -- Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, who’ve both pled not guilty to first-degree murder charges, among others.

A third man was also arrested ... Shundale Barnett, whom the police say served as an accessory in helping Johnson flee Tennessee.

Lindsey Pearlman, the actress with credits that include "Empire" and "General Hospital" was found dead 3 days after disappearing ... the LAPD now confirms.

The body of the 43-year-old was found Friday at the base of Runyon Canyon Park in Hollywood ... a very popular hiking spot. Her body was discovered inside a car.

The cause of death has not been released, but Saturday Lindsey's sister said on Twitter, "Please know that you are never truly alone," as she posted the phone number to the National Suicide Hotline.

Pearlman, who also appeared on "Chicago Justice," "The Ms. Pat Show," and "Selena," was last heard from Thursday afternoon. She called her cousin and phone data shows the call was made a mile-and-a-half from where her body was discovered.

Lindsey's husband, Vance Smith, said, "The police found Lindsey. She's gone. I'm broken."

The family says to honor Lindsey -- an animal rights advocate -- please donate to the Sante d'Or, an L.A,-based animal rescue org.

The investigation into the shooting death of 'Walking Dead' actor Moses J. Moseley just took a dramatic turn ... although cops believed he took his own life, new evidence suggests otherwise ... possibly foul play.

Moseley's body was found in his car January 26, with a bullet wound to his head and a gun sitting in his lap. Cops were investigating the death as a possible suicide.

Captain Randy Lee of the Stockbridge, GA PD tells us, "During the preliminary investigation, the potential of the death being a suicide was considered while not ruling out any other possibilities. As investigators progressed their investigation and more evidence was processed, reviewed and analyzed, other possibilities have presented themselves including accidental."

We spoke to a family member of Moseley ... they say investigators pointed to evidence of blood splatter, the way the bullet entered Moses' skull and his grip on the gun as not necessarily aligning with suicide.

The family member tells us the bullet entered below Moses' eye and never left his skull, whereas people who shoot themselves usually will put the gun to their temple (and the bullet exits on the other side) or in their mouth. He also had a "loose" grip on the gun, as if someone had put it in his hand.

TMZ broke the story, Moseley's family believed there was something fishy about his death from the get-go ... thinking it was possible he had been kidnapped and murdered.

Bob Saget will be remembered for many incredible things ... but, being Desiigner's personal chef definitely isn't one we saw coming.

You heard that right! Saget plays a money-catching chef in Desiigner's music video, "Bakin" -- and it turns out to be one of the last roles he ever shot.

The video opens with Snoop Dogg suggesting Desiigner, "get Bob on the job" ... and we then see Saget whipping up bacon, catching cash and vibin' to the music alongside pornstar Kendra Sunderland.

The song’s co-writer and producer DJ Whoo Kid said folks on set didn't believe Saget would play the chef ... until he showed up. He told Rolling Stone rappers normally pull up in fancy cars, but Saget rolled up and parked his Lexus on the grass, "looking like a dad.”

Ex-'SNL' star Jay Pharoah is also in the video, and says, “It’s so funny because this video is a testament to what Bob Saget was on stage.”

The "Bakin" music video was actually shot back in December ... just a few weeks before Saget was found dead in his Orlando hotel room. The end of the vid now reads "Rest In Peace Bob Saget" and shows footage from the shoot.

Former Angels staffer Eric Kay has just been found guilty of distributing the drugs that led to the death of ex-MLB pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

The jury just announced the verdict ... finding Kay guilty of one charge of conspiracy to possess fentanyl with the intent to distribute and one charge of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death.

Kay is now facing life behind bars. Sentencing has been set for June 28.

According to The Athletic's Sam Blum, who was in the courtroom for the Kay trial this week, Skaggs' mother and wife broke down in tears and hugged following the verdict.

As we previously reported, Kay -- who had worked as the communications director for the Angels for several years -- had been accused of supplying Skaggs with the drugs that ultimately led to his overdose death before an Angels game in Texas in June 2019.

Skaggs was just 27 years old.

Story developing ...

Bob Saget's death is creating a mystery for many experts, who wonder how he suffered such a severe skull fracture ... and what exactly he hit -- but authorities are firm on what didn't happen, and they think the injury was caused by something connected to the bed.

As we've reported, Bob died from a brain bleed after hitting his head on something. Sources with direct knowledge of the investigation tell us the Medical Examiner and police are clear there was no foul play, and they're certain the blow to his head had to happen in the hotel.

We're told the injury to his head was severe enough that they're sure he could not have made the 2-hour drive from Jacksonville to the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando.

But, here's the mystery ... some medical experts say the skull fracture is consistent with being hit by a bat, or falling as far as 30 feet. Obviously, that kind of fall didn't happen, but as for Bob being struck -- we're told the electronic front door lock to his hotel room shows no one else entered the room. Once Bob entered, the next time the door opened was when hotel staff found him in the afternoon.

Our sources say the authorities say it's most likely Bob struck a portion of the bed's headboard that is not padded. We're told it's wood, and the best guess is he hit his head. Since he was under the covers, they believe he quickly lost consciousness. What's interesting ... although authorities on the scene felt the headboard scenario was the most likely, the Medical Examiner never mentioned it.

Rather, the M.E. theorizes it was an "unwitnessed fall backwards."

We're told the authorities who discovered Bob's body did not see a bruise on his head. We're told the bruise was only discovered during the autopsy.

Saget's family has filed a lawsuit in Orange County, Florida to block the release of photos from the hotel room -- because under Florida law police could go public with the images.

MLB star Matt Harvey admitted on Tuesday that he used cocaine during his baseball career ... calling himself a "partier" and saying his former New York Mets team never "really asked" him about it.

The right-handed pitcher -- a current free agent who was one of the best in the game from 2012 through 2015 -- made the revelation during an explosive testimony during a trial related to the 2019 death of former MLB pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

On the stand, Harvey -- who was teammates with Skaggs on the Angels at the time of the pitcher's death -- told the courtroom that he used to party with cocaine.

When asked about his use of the drug and if he lied about taking it when he was with the Mets ... he said, according to ESPN reporter T.J. Quinn, "No one really asked."

Per Quinn, Harvey told the courtroom he was still using the drug after he signed with the Angels following the 2018 season.

Harvey -- who played for the Mets, Reds, Angels, Royals and, most recently, the Orioles, later said, "no one from teams ever asked if he was still using drugs," Quinn reported.

The news is a bombshell, but it was hardly the only one Harvey dropped during the testimony.

The 32-year-old, who testified under immunity, said he and Skaggs had talked about drug use when they were teammates, and added that the two had taken the substances in clubhouses.

Harvey said he'd take painkillers, and said that, according to Quinn, Skaggs told him "he crushed and snorted oxy on the toilet paper dispenser in the clubhouse bathroom."

Harvey also said, per Quinn, that he did give Skaggs Percocets. He also said he obtained pills from ex-Angels staffer Eric Kay, who's been accused of supplying Skaggs with the drugs that investigators say might have led to his death.