Celebrity Death

Taylor Hawkins, the drummer for the Foo Fighters, Alanis Morissette and his own band, is dead.

The Foo Fighters announced his death with a post that reads, in part, "The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever."

The band is in Bogota, Colombia where they were scheduled to play Friday ... and that is reportedly where Taylor died. So far, there are no further details about where or how he passed away.

Taylor's last performance was at Lalapalooza in Argentina this month. He did not appear to have any health issues while rocking the set.

Taylor had substance abuse issues in the past, and actually survived a 2001 heroin overdose.

Along with Dave Grohl, Taylor was the most recognizable face of the Foo Fighters, which he joined in 1997. Just last year, he and the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Prior to joining FF, he'd been the touring drummer for Alanis and also for Sass Jordan.

As the band noted, Taylor was such a cool outgoing guy -- with fans, and even the media. The last time we got him out was last September in NYC, where he was having some fun with autograph seekers and his bandmates.

While he's remained with FF, Taylor also started his own side project ... a band called Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders.

Taylor and his wife Alison have 3 children -- son Oliver Shane and daughters Annabelle and Everleigh. The band's statement adds, "Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family."

Taylor and his Foo Fighter bandmates were supposed to headline Lollapalooza Brazil on Sunday night. Obviously, that gig is now up in the air.

Taylor was 50.

RIP

Bob Saget's fans will finally be able to see the touching, and sometimes hilarious, tribute his close friends put together for him -- and the list of celebs who memorialized him is seriously impressive.

Mike Binder, one of Bob's best friends, was the brains behind January's event at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood, and he says it's coming to Netflix in June.

Mike made the announcement on the Dystopia Tonight! with John Poveromo podcast, and says he hooked Netflix when he showed a video of the star-studded event to the platform's head of comedy.

It's pretty easy to see why they decided to buy it as a stand-alone special. Mike shared one clip featuring Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, John Stamos, Jeff Ross and John Mayer.

The guys were jamming a bluesy tribute, and you gotta see the punchline Rock dropped!

There were only a limited number of Comedy Store tickets made available to the public, so very few fans have seen this ... another reason Netflix locked it up.

Mike says Carrey's appearance, in particular, is pretty special because these days he frequents The Store ... but usually just hangs backstage.

Cheslie Kryst's suicide is changing the way the Miss USA pageant supports contestants ... and there's a new emphasis on mental health.

Contestants who are currently competing are now getting access to mental health workshops ... Crystle Stewart, Prez of the Miss USA org tells TMZ.

There's lots of mental stress that goes into the Miss USA pageants, which Crystle says can lead to anxiety and depression ... and the new workshops pair the contestants with psychiatrists and mental health experts.

Crystle says it's all being done through her organization, the Crystle Stewart Foundation, and she says the workshops will help the ladies prepare to be on stage and in the public eye, teach them coping mechanisms for when they feel anxious or overwhelmed, and show them how to avoid a state of depression if they don't win.

It's interesting ... Crystle says the mental health services will be just as important for winners as for those who don't take home the crown. She says the Miss USA winners almost have more stress, because they're immediately uprooted to Los Angeles, thrown into the Miss Universe competition and become overnight celebrities ... all of which require tons of mental prep.

It could be a life-saving addition to the Miss USA operation ... as we reported, Cheslie died by suicide earlier this year, and her mom said the 2019 Miss USA champion suffered from depression.

Crystle says Cheslie's death struck the pageant world really hard, and made her speed up the process to provide contestants with mental health resources.

Bob Saget's friends and family say he was his normal, happy and joking self in the days leading up to his death ... and allegations he was complaining about being sick with long-term COVID before his last show just don't add up.

We spoke with one of Bob's best friends, who was in touch with the comedian almost daily, and tells us Saget never mentioned feeling off or that he was still battling the after-effects of COVID. Not only that, we're told the friend, who saw Bob regularly, said he never exhibited symptoms of being sick either.

Not only that -- the Saget family attorney tells us Bob's wife, Kelly Rizzo, spoke to Bob the day he died -- and he never mentioned being sick or having hearing issues.

Of course, this goes against what the showrunner at the venue where Bob last performed told investigators in an interview after his death. The woman claimed Bob had mentioned he hadn't been feeling well -- battling the after-effects of COVID-19, including hearing issues and a sore throat.

There was also the valet driver at The Ritz where Bob died, who told investigators he was in good spirits, didn't appear to have suffered any head trauma, and kept his balance without issue. A photo the valet took with Bob showed him to be perfectly fine as well.

Bob Saget was not feeling well the night he went into his hotel room and ended up dying -- at least that's what one of the last people to speak with him is claiming.

A showrunner who works at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall -- where Bob's last show took place before he booked it to Orlando that fateful night -- told investigators Bob had disclosed to her and other stage crew that he wasn't well health-wise preshow.

The woman, whose name is Rosalie Cocci, said Bob had told them he was battling long-term COVID, and it had taken a toll on his body.

As far as what he was dealing with specifically ... the woman told cops Bob mentioned his hearing was off and he was constantly asking them to turn everything up.

In addition to hearing trouble, Cocci went on to explain Bob had said he was sick the day before, and his throat was sore ... she added he seemed to be "talking himself up" to get ready for his stand-up performance ... which he ultimately did.

In the end, Cocci says she and the crew were surprised he knocked it out of the park when push came to shove -- despite his earlier complaints, they say he didn't miss a beat and put on a great show, as if nothing was wrong.

If it's true that his hearing was off, that could cause balance issues ... it's unclear what exactly caused Bob's fatal brain bleed ... but a problem with balance could result in a fall or misjudging distance.

Now Bob's family tells TMZ, they don't believe he had long-term COVID, because he had only come down with the virus 2 weeks earlier and he never complained of hearing problems.

As you know, the authorities have said Bob bumped his head somehow while he was in his hotel room later that night -- and ended up dying as a result of a major brain bleed.

Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, is dead after battling cancer.

Sec. Albright's daughter, Anne, says her mother passed away surrounded by family and friends. The statement announcing her passing says, "We have lost a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend,” as well as a “tireless champion of democracy and human rights.”

President Bill Clinton selected Madeleine to be his Sec. of State in 1997. He'd previously named her U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 1993.

Albright famously helped guide American foreign policy in the wake of the Soviet Union's fall and the Cold War.

During that key moment in history, Albright championed the expansion of NATO, pushed for U.S. intervention in the Balkans to stop ethnic cleansing and the  championed the reduction of nuclear weapons around the world.

Interestingly, her passing comes just as the U.S. weighs the matter of intervention in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Albright coined the term "assertive multilateralism" to describe the Clinton administration's foreign policy.

She boldly declared the U.S. was an "indispensable nation" when it comes to defending democracies across the globe. She told NBC News in 1998, "I know that the American men and women in uniform are always prepared to sacrifice for freedom, democracy and the American way of life."

Albright had a very personal connection to the horrors of fascism, having been born to a father who was forced to flee his homeland of Czechoslovakia when the Nazis invaded in 1939. Her family emigrated to the U.S. in 1948.

President Barack Obama awarded her the Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.

Albright is survived by her brother and sister, 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren.

She was 84.

Country music icon Hank Williams Jr. is in mourning -- his longtime wife, Mary Jane Thomas, has died ... TMZ has learned.

A family member confirmed Mary Jane passed away Tuesday in Jupiter, Florida, and we're told the early indication is it appears she suffered a complication -- possibly a blood clot -- following a medical procedure.

A spokesperson for the Jupiter, FL PD tells us they got a medical call to the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa around 5PM Tuesday ... Mary Jane was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. At this time, her death does not appear to be suspicious.

Mary Jane, a former model for Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion, has been married to Hank since 1990 -- the couple met in 1985 at one of his concerts in Washington State. Her death is the latest heartbreak for Hank and his family.

He and Mary Jane had 2 children together -- daughter Katie Williams-Dunning and son Samuel Williams. Katie died tragically in a 2020 car accident in Tennessee. Her husband, Tyler Dunning was also in the vehicle, but survived with critical injuries.

TMZ broke the story ... Sam claimed back in February his father and half-sister Holly had him under a conservatorship, which began in August 2020 -- less than 2 months after Katie's death.

While Hank's known for big hits like "All My Rowdy Friends," and is frequently in the spotlight -- most recently for his Country Music Hall of Fame induction last November -- Mary Jane's known to be more private.

She and Hank had separated in 2007, but eventually saved their marriage ... fully reconciling in 2011 when they celebrated their 21st anniversary.

We reached out to a Williams family member who told us they'd like privacy at this time.

Mary Jane is survived by Hank, Sam, and 3 grandchildren.

She was 58.

Bob Saget may have died after hitting his head on the headboard in his Orlando hotel room -- at least that's what authorities believe -- and they have just released photos of the object.

The headboard -- in the Ritz-Carlton hotel room -- is padded, although cops say there's a hard surface underneath ... they believe Bob hit his head on that surface, which caused a fatal brain bleed.

The reason for the theory -- Bob's head was not bleeding externally when they discovered his body. They theorize he hit his head while getting into bed just after 2 AM.

Fact is ... authorities say they may never know precisely what caused the fatal contact. The reason they're sticking to the headboard theory -- the Medical Examiner concluded Bob hit his head on "something hard, covered by something soft."

It looks like Bob used the bathroom before getting into bed. There's a towel in the tub and toiletries in the shower as well as on the counter.

What's interesting ... Bob may have taken a shower, although authorities haven't said that. It leaves open the possibility Bob may have suffered his injury in the bathroom, although it doesn't align with the theory of something hard covered by something soft.

There's also the interview cops did with the hotel valet, who says Bob was in good spirits when he arrived just after 2 AM. The employee said Bob showed no signs of dizziness, slurred speech or other indicators of a head injury ... and there was no damage to his vehicle indicating he'd been in a wreck. Further supporting the theory the accident happened in his room. He also looked fine in a photo taken with the valet.

Lorenzen Wright's family finally got some justice on Monday ... 51-year-old Billy Ray Turner was convicted of murdering the former NBA player, and was sentenced to life in prison.

Wright, the 7th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, was killed in July 2010 in his hometown of Memphis. Lorenzen had gone missing days earlier ... before his decomposing body was discovered in a marshy field.

Prosecutors alleged Wright's ex-wife, Sherra Wright, hired two other people, including Turner, to commit the murder by luring Wright to the field under the guise they were there to meet someone who owed his ex money.

Turner, who pled not guilty to first-degree murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy, was found guilty by a jury after only 2 hours of deliberation.

The judge sentenced BRT to life in prison for the murder charge. He will again go before a judge sometime in the future where he'll be sentenced for the other two charges.

As for Sherra, she previously plead guilty to facilitation of murder and facilitation to commit first-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in July 2019. She will be eligible for parole after only 9 years.

The investigation into the shooting death of 'Walking Dead' actor Moses J. Moseley could not resolve whether the fatal shot was intentional or accidental.

According to Moses' death certificate, obtained by TMZ, the cause of death could not be determined.

TMZ broke the story ... Moses' body was found in his car back in January, and cops in Georgia started investigating his death as a possible suicide. His family believed there was something fishy about his demise, theorizing he may have been kidnapped and murdered.

The death certificate states Moses shot himself, but the doc also says the intent behind the fatal gunshot is unknown.

Moses' sister, Teerea Kimbro, tells TMZ ... the family received a letter this week from President Joe Biden, who offered his condolences.

Teerea tells us she's not sure how POTUS heard about Moses' death, but she thinks her late brother may have visited The White House before.

NFL reporter John Clayton, who covered the league for decades and was one of the most recognizable reporters on television, has died at the age of 67 years old.

The detail surrounding Clayton's death are not publicly known ... but John's friend and former colleague Chris Mortensen provided some information on social media.

"John Clayton passed away today at a Seattle area hospital. His wife Pat and sister Amy were at his side and communicated earlier he passed peacefully after a brief illness," Chris wrote.

"We loved John. We are mourning his loss. Pat has asked the @Seahawks to release further information."

Clayton began covering professional football in the early 1970s in Pittsburgh ... and ended up rising all the way to ESPN, where he wrote for the website, and appeared on TV and radio.

He first joined the network in 1995.

Aside from all his great on-camera work in Bristol, John also starred in one of the funniest ESPN commercials ever ... dropping the line, "Hey Ma, I'm done with my segment!!"

Clayton, a member of the writer's wing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2007), was incredibly respected by both colleagues and fans.

JC was also inducted into the HOF at his Alma Mater, Duquesne University, in 2001.

John is survived by his wife Patricia.

Young Thug's family is suffering through an unimaginable loss, as the mother of one of his children was shot and killed after a fight at a bowling alley.

Law enforcement sources tell us the Atlanta Police Department responded to Metro Fun Center Thursday night on a report a woman had been shot. We're told when they arrived, they found LaKevia Jackson dead -- having suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Cops say they've learned Jackson was involved in some sort of a dispute inside the venue over a bowling ball which eventually escalated to gunfire.

A local reporter spoke to Jackson's mom who said LaKevia was at the bowling alley to celebrate a friend's birthday ... and that the alleged shooter waited in the parking lot for about 20 minutes for her to leave.

Young Thug and LaKevia have a 14-year-old son, Kyvion, together ... the rapper has 6 children.

As the wrestling world continues to mourn the loss of WWE legend Scott Hall, Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page -- aka "DDP" -- had dinner with his family just days after his death.

DDP posted pictures of him and Cody Hall, Scott's son, on Thursday ... showing the men doing the iconic nWo hand signal ... which Scott made popular during his wrestling career.

"Had an awesome steak dinner last night with @realscotthall family
@cassastrudel @realcodyhall @manowarfan1 we sat around and told stories of the Bad Guy💥 DDP💎," Page captioned in an Instagram post.

Hall and Page's relationship extends well outside of the squared circle. When Hall was in and out of rehab at one point in his life, it was Page who suggested he try "DDP Yoga" -- which combines yoga, dynamic resistance, and calisthenics to improve overall health and well-being.

Hall, also known as "Razor Ramon," attributed DDP's methods with getting him back on track ... and said at the time the connection he shared with DDP as legendary wrestlers allowed him to trust Dallas.

As we reported, Hall was put on life support after suffering complications from a recent hip surgery. Once his condition deteriorated to the point where it wasn't possible for Hall to recover, one of his best friends, Kevin Nash, announced he'd be taken off life support.

Marilyn Miglin, the "Queen of Makeovers" on Home Shopping Network and whose husband was killed by serial killer Andrew Cunanan has died.

Marilyn's son Duke Miglin tells TMZ ... she passed away in Chicago Monday, surrounded by loved ones. Miglin died from complications from a stroke.

Miglin was a host of the Home Shopping Network for more than 25 years -- enticing 65 million viewers to fork over their credit cards for a slew of beauty products.

She founded a beauty company in 1963 -- Marilyn Miglin Cosmetics -- which became her empire, with 36 fragrances and perfumes. The company was valued at $50 million. She made the list of America's top 500 female business owners.

Miglin was also an activist ... using her later years to help burn survivors by offering beauty services to the facially disfigured, frequently visiting the trauma unit at the University of Illinois Craniofacial Center.

Chicago declared April 15 Marilyn Miglin Day to honor all the good deeds she did for the city. The Raoul Wallenberg Pediatric Day Hospital in Jerusalem named a burn and disfigurement unit after her in June 1998 ... recognizing her work with children.

Lee Miglin, her husband, was the 3rd murder victim of serial killer Andrew Cunanan in 1997 ... the man who went on to murder Gianni Versace. Miglin was found in the garage of their home, face covered in duct tape and wrapped in brown paper. His ribs were broken and his throat had been cut.

Following the killing, investigators noticed Cunanan slept in Lee’s bed, gave himself a shave, and ate from their refrigerator ... ultimately fleeing the house in the family car.

Miglin's story was highlighted in season 2 of "American Crime Story," with Marilyn played by Judith Light.

She leaves behind two adult children. She was 83.

Bob Saget was gracious till the end, posing for a selfie with the valet at the Ritz-Carlton hotel ... shortly before he died.

TMZ broke the story ... Bob arrived at the Orlando hotel after doing a comedy gig 2 hours away, and the valet recognized him and asked for a photo. Bob was more than willing to oblige, despite the fact it was past 2 AM and he must have been super tired.

The employee told authorities ... "I didn't see any injuries, he didn't seem hurt, he wasn't slurring his words. He was exactly as I remembered while while watching him on the TV as a child."

The 21-year-old valet said he chitchatted with Bob for a couple minutes, and then Bob walked inside and the valet parked his car.

The employee said there was no damage to the vehicle -- ruling out some kind of car accident.

There's no evidence of any bruising from the photo, but when his body was discovered that afternoon, first responders saw a bruise under his eye.

As we reported, authorities are positive Bob's death was an accident.

He was seen on surveillance going to his room and once he was inside no one opened the door until security went to check on him later in the day. Authorities say Bob hit his head on something -- they believe the headboard on the bed -- and it caused a brain bleed that tragically took his life.

Bob Saget's death has some people wondering if this was something more than a tragic accident, but new law enforcement documents reinforce the conclusion authorities found ... Bob hit his head on something in his hotel room and died in bed.

The document -- the Orange County Sheriff's Incident Report -- makes it clear ... when Bob arrived at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Orlando just after 2 AM on January 9, he was fine. According to the doc, obtained by TMZ, when Bob drove up to the valet as he approached the entrance and the valet asked for a selfie and Bob obliged. The valet says Bob seemed fine and there was no evidence of slurred speech, balance issues or anything else that might sound alarm bells.

The document details that Bob was observed on security video walking "purposely across the lobby toward the elevators without stopping or interacting with anyone." No one else is seen in the video ... Bob walked to his room alone.

Once inside the room, the door was never unlocked or opened until security came later that day and discovered his body.

The Chief Medical Examiner explained why the operating theory was that Bob may have struck his head on the headboard of the bed. The M.E. says the force necessary to cause the fracture coupled with the fact the skin on the back of his head was still in tact led him to believe the injury was most likely caused by "something hard, covered by something soft."

Cops went back to the hotel room to check what object may have caused the fatal injury, and they ruled out countertops, tables, nightstands and other hard furniture, because they all had sharp and defined edges.