Celebrity Death

The late DeForest Kelley, who played Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy on "Star Trek," will be joining his costar Nichelle Nichols' ashes in a unique way ... as they both go to deep space.

A sample of DeForest's DNA will be onboard United Launch Alliance's aptly-named "Vulcan" rocket with Nichelle's remains as it launches into space later this year ... creating a once-in-a-lifetime reunion mission.

The announcement comes on the 56th anniversary of the OG TV series' first episode ... also known as "Star Trek Day." Charles M. Chafer, co-founder of Celestis, says, “No mission to deep space would be complete without a ship’s doctor.”

DeForest, who's best known for his role as the wisecracking Dr. Bones, died of stomach cancer back in 1999, but a close family friend and caregiver named Kris Smith tells TMZ she had kept a lock of his hair all this time. She donated it to Celestis so her friend could take one final "journey into interstellar space."

She adds, "I think De would have loved to 'go hopping galaxies' again with cast and crew mates."

DeForest and Nichelle won't be alone ... as we reported, the remains of 'ST' creator Gene Roddenberry, along with actors James Doohan ("Scotty") and Majel Barrett Roddenberry ("Nurse Chapel") will all be aboard when they're launched into an orbit around the sun.

The Celestis Enterprise Flight is set to boldly go well beyond the Earth-Moon system, traveling between 150 million and 300 million kilometers into deep space.

Dave Grohl did Taylor Hawkins proud during the latter's tribute show in the UK -- with the Foo Fighters frontman taking on the station that his late bandmate once helmed.

The show is currently underway in London, where Dave and a slew of other artists are doing a huge concert at Wembley Stadium in honor of Hawkins -- who died earlier this year. The lineup is stacked ... with members of several iconic bands scheduled to hit the stage.

Some of those acts include ... Nirvana, Metallica, Queen, Led Zeppelin, RUSH, AC/DC and The Police. Liam Gallagher of Oasis also performed, with Dave backing him on percussion.

There were a number of emotional moments throughout the concert, which is now winding down. At one point ... Dave's voice started to crack a bit when he was talking about Taylor, but he pulled it together and carried on. Safe to say, the vibe was very bittersweet.

As you can imagine, the place was absolutely packed ... which makes total sense. The sheer number of artists on the bill for this is staggering -- which just speaks to how much TH meant to the music community. But yeah, this is a show folks definitely didn't want to miss.

It's actually the first of two tribute concerts that are going to be done on behalf of Taylor -- there's another that's scheduled in Los Angeles later this month ... and that one, too, is likely to be star-studded. Anyone who isn't there now will probably show up in L.A.

As we reported ... Taylor was found dead at his hotel in Colombia, where he was touring with his band. An official cause of death has yet to be released, but an overdose of some sort seems to be what might've killed him -- upwards of 10 different substances were found to be in his system when an autopsy was done.

Anne Heche was not rescued immediately after her car slammed into an L.A. home and caught the house on fire -- not even close -- it took the fire dept. 45 minutes to rescue her.

New information has surfaced from the L.A. Fire Dept. ... a timeline of the horrendous crash that took the actress's life. According to the records, obtained by NBC4 LA, the blaze was so intense firefighters couldn't even get near Anne's car for at least 20 minutes ... once there, it took an additional 20 minutes to extricate the vehicle from the burning home.

An L.A. fire chief says the combination of smoke and fire made it nearly impossible to see or approach the car.

Firefighters arrived at 11:01 AM but apparently they were unsure if someone was in the car. 21 minutes later, it appears they confirmed someone was inside the vehicle.

Then, 3 minutes later, they found Anne inside the car. One of the responders said, "We have identified one patient, inaccessible at this time, he's pushed up against the floorboard!"

According to firefighters, Anne was not in the driver's seat ... a fire official said, "I will say that where the person was in the vehicle was not in the driver's seat, but on the floorboard of the passenger seat."

Just before 11:50 Anne was removed from her Mini Cooper.

"Naked and Afraid" contestant Melanie Rauscher accidentally died from sucking in a lethal amount of compressed air used in cleaning products, this according to her autopsy report.

35-year-old Melanie was found dead near cans of dust cleaner in Prescott, AZ, on July 17. The report, obtained from the Yavapai County Medical Examiner, says that Melanie inhaled the toxic propellant, leaving her unresponsive.

Her official cause of death was listed as difluoroethane toxicity, which is commonly known as "huffing" among young adults looking for a quick and cheap way to get high. The report noted that drugs and alcohol did not play a role in her death.

As we reported, Melanie was dog-sitting at a residence whose owners returned home from vacation to find her deceased on the bed in the guest room.

Gospel star Earnest Pugh is feeling the wrath of Dionne Warwick this morning after he incorrectly announced the death of Whitney Houston's mother -- someone who's very much alive, according to Dionne.

Earnest shook up the Internet Wednesday with a now-scrubbed post about the "passing" of Cissy Houston, who is also Dionne's aunt ... so, it didn't take long for Dionne to call BS and throw some serious shade.

Dionne told the world Cissy is still with us, adding "This Earnest Pugh needs to get a life and stay out of other peoples lives!"

Friend of the Houston family and fellow Gospel singer Kim Burrell echoed the good news, minus the sass ... saying, "Please respect her life as she continues to live. She's home. Thank you all🙏🏽"

Good to hear Cissy's alive and well after all -- and, not shockingly, Earnest has yet to respond to Dionne.

Country music singer Luke Bell battled severe bipolar disorder for years before recently going missing and being found dead ... and his manager says he'd disappeared a few times before.

Luke's business manager, Brian Buchanan, tells TMZ ... the singer tried to cope with bipolar disorder, but could never find a solution that worked for him. When Luke disappeared in the past, Brian says they were always able to track him down.

We're told the singer-songwriter was prescribed medication, but his manager wasn't sure if Luke was taking his meds earlier this month when he went missing in Arizona.

Cops say Luke's body was discovered Friday in Tucson, and Brian tells us he'd vanished one night while getting food in the area with his musician friend Matt Kinman.

We're told Luke and Matt were in Tucson to visit Matt's family and play some gigs. Matt had searched for Luke for at least 10 days before the body was found.

Police say an investigation is ongoing ... and we're told an autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death.

Luke's manager tells us ... "Luke fought this as hard as he could, but the disease got the better of him. When he was beating the disease, he was the sweetest and most generous guy. He's found peace now and there's some comfort."

Luke was 32.

RIP

If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

Former NFL pass rusher Steve White -- most known for his time as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer -- has sadly died at 48 years old, his former teammates confirmed Tuesday.

The ex-defensive end had been dealing with chronic lymphocytic leukemia -- a type of cancer that affects blood and bone marrow.

He spoke about the fight with the disease in a tweet back in April, saying it had been affecting him for nearly a decade.

"Many of you know that I have been dealing with a cancer (CLL) diagnosis over the last 8 years," he said. "I am now at a point where I need to go through a bone marrow transplant. It is something I knew would eventually have to happen since 2017 and now that day is actually here."

White's ex-playing mates paid tribute to him Tuesday following the news of his passing -- with Warren Sapp tweeting a highlight video that featured the two getting after Donovan McNabb together.

"RIP Steve White #94 in your Program but #1 in Our hearts!!" Sapp said. "#SmartToughAndGreatMan #DLine."

Former Bucs QB Shaun King added, "Just heard my former teammate @sgw94 passed away. Condolences to his family and loved ones. Always had an encouraging word for me when I was a young player with the @Buccaneers."

White was initially taken by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 6th round of the 1996 NFL Draft, but he went on to join Tampa Bay -- and played six seasons for the Bucs, piling up 11.5 sacks in 94 career games. He did his best work in the playoffs for the team, famously recording seven tackles, one interception and two sacks in the Buccaneers' two postseason games in the 1999 season.

White finished his career with the Jets. He went on to write about football following his retirement.

"#RIP to my road game roommate @sgw94," White's former teammate Tyoka Jackson said Tuesday evening. "My condolences go out to his wife, children, family and friends. The memories, the fun, the conversations will never be forgotten."

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union who was largely responsible for ending the Cold War, has died.

Gorbachev was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 - 1991. His title changed to President in 1990.

He was initially a Marxist-Leninist, but eventually realized his country needed to evolve into a more democratic union.

Maybe the most famous reference to Gorbachev was one where he was not present -- when Ronald Reagan paid a visit to the Berlin wall -- which separated the Communist East Berlin from the democratic West Berlin -- and challenged his counterpart to "tear down this wall."

Gorbachev won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his role in ending the Cold War.

His rise was spectacular -- raised by peasant parents, he climbed the political ladder to the top.

Gorbachev was Kennedy-esque in the sense he was a vibrant leader with a very glamorous wife -- Raisa -- who was a fashionista in the same vein as Jackie Kennedy.

He had a very distinct, large birthmark on his forehead ... it was quite prominent, and on occasion, when he sat for an official photo, the birthmark was removed for the portrait.

By 1991, the Soviet Union had broken apart and Gorbachev stepped down and handed the mantle of power to Boris Yeltsin.

Charlbi Dean -- famous among DC fans, indie film buffs and fashionistas -- has died.

A rep for the South African actress/model tells TMZ Dean passed away Monday from an unexpected sudden illness. We don't yet know what illness Dean was fighting, but a source tells us she died in a hospital in NYC.

Dean recently landed her biggest role in "Triangle of Sadness." It hasn't hit theaters just yet, but it did impress at this year's Cannes Film Festival ... where it took top honors with the Palme d'Or award. It's about a wrecked cruise ship and its passengers getting washed ashore, Charlbi is the lead, starring opposite Woody Harrelson ... the cast made a big splash in France in May, showing up at events and hitting red carpets together.

When their film won, Charlbi wrote ... "Congratulations our family we did it!!! @ruben_ostlund you're the GOAT I'm forever thankful for you for trusting me to be apart of your genius and my dear @sinaostlund Can't believe I had the best year making this during one of the hardest times in my life. Here's some pics of the year in Sweden and Greece during the pandemic. Forever and always our @triangleofsadness family."

She is also known for her work on the CW show "Black Lightning," where she played Syonide ... an assassin/hitman-type of anti-hero who's got bulletproof skin and top-notch combat skills. Other films she's worked on include "Blood in the Water," "Don't Sleep," "An Interview with God," and "Porthole."

She's also walked her fair share of runways and graced a number of magazine covers too ... CD has modeled all over the world.

Charlbi was engaged to male model Luke Volker. She was 32.

Chris Rock has the Internet up in arms over a joke he made comparing his possible return to The Oscars with Nicole Brown Simpson's vicious murder.

Rock performed Sunday in Phoenix where he reportedly told the audience coming back to host the 2023 Oscars would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson to go back to the restaurant where she ate before she was brutally murdered in 1994.

Some people on social media have accused Rock of being misogynistic and cracking jokes at the expense of a woman, similar to the criticism he got for the Jada Pinkett joke. Others on social believe Will should have slapped Chris harder.

It was 6 months ago when Will Smith got up on stage and slapped Chris after the comedian made a joke about Jada's shaved head.

Chris Rock later said he was unaware Jada suffered from alopecia.

Tragic news ... Kenyan cyclist Sule Kangangi has died after he crashed in a race on Saturday in Vermont.

He was only 33 years old.

Kangangi's racing team, AMANI, confirmed the rider's passing on Sunday -- saying their team captain died after "crashing at high speed" during the Vermont Overland gravel race, a 59-mile dirt road competition.

"Sule is our captain, friend, brother. He is also a father, husband and son. Gaping holes are left when giant's fall. Sule was a giant," the team said.

"Instead of leading us at the front of the pack, he will now lead us as our guiding pole star as we press forward in the realization of his dream."

The fatal crash reportedly happened during the final leg of the race that hosted almost 900 cyclists in West Windsor -- an hour south of Montpelier, the capital of Vermont.

"He was a kind friend and an inspiring and heroic athlete to his teammates and the gravel cycling community at large," Vermont Overland said in a statement.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, his friends, @teamamani, and the people of Kenya who are mourning his loss today."

Kangangi just started competing on gravel after many years of racing on the road.

Kangangi made his way to the United States to race in three gravel competitions this month in Colorado, Nebraska and Vermont -- with Kenyan riders John Kariuki, Nancy Akinyi and Jordan Schleck from Uganda.

Several cyclists have paid tribute to Kangangi ... including 4-time Tour De France winner Chris Froome, who called his death "heartbreaking."

A GoFundMe has been launched to support his wife and children after the tragic loss.

The death comes just one week after pro cyclist Rab Wardell passed away in his sleep -- two days after he had won the Scottish MTB XC Championships.

"The Sopranos" actor and broadway legend Robert "Bob" LuPone has died.

The Tony-nominated actor passed following a 3-year battle with pancreatic cancer, according to his rep.

The MCC Theater, an off-broadway space Bob founded, released a statement, saying he "lived fearlessly and with great curiosity, good humor, a boundless passion for connection, and a whole lot of heart. We will miss him deeply and always."

Fans of "The Sopranos" will remember his work as Dr. Bruce Cusamano -- the family physician and next-door neighbor to Tony. He also starred in "Sex and the City," "Guiding Light," and "All My Children," for which he got a Daytime Emmy nom.

Bob, the brother of Patti LuPone, was born in 1946 in Brooklyn -- he graduated from Juilliard School in '68 with a degree in dance. His Broadway debut was the same year, in a production of Noel Coward’s "Sweet Potato."

He later was nominated for a Tony award for his work in the original run of "A Chorus Line" ... even convincing the director to play the role of Zach after the original cast member left the show. He received a best-featured actor Tony nomination for the role.

Bob is survived by his wife Virginia, his son Orlando, his sister Patti, and his brother, William.

He was 76.

Mable John -- Motown's first female solo artist -- has died.

The singer passed away at her L.A. home Thursday, this according to her nephew, Kevin John ... who spoke to The Detroit News. He said, "We loved her and she was a kind person." A cause of death wasn't offered.

Berry Gordy signed MJ to his new label -- then known as Tamla Records -- in 1958. She was the first woman under his brand to get her own record deal without a group attached. Other acts that were signed early included Smokey Robinson (and the Miracles), Eddie Holland and Mary Wells.

Gordy actually served as a coach/mentor for John -- who was opening for Billie Holiday in Detroit during the '50s. She and BG had a solid partnership, which flourished into a somewhat short-lived working relationship under Motown. She left the label in mid-'60s.

Still, John recorded a number of songs with them during her tenure. Some of her famous tracks include, "Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like That?," "No Love," "Actions Speak Louder Than Words," "Looking for a Man," "You Are My Only Love!" among others.

After a brief stint with Motown, she went on to sign with Stax Records -- where she churned out a memorable hit, "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)." John left Stax and went on to perform with the Raelettes, backing Ray Charles. Eventually, she hung her mainstream career and pursued a career in gospel music ... getting very involved with the church.

She opened her own charity in Los Angeles called the Joy Community Outreach, which does work with homeless people. Despite stepping away from showbiz, she certainly left her mark.

Naomi Judd died from a gunshot wound to the head -- confirmed by the singer's autopsy -- which also revealed she left a suicide note at the scene of her death.

The medical examiner's office in Nashville released Judd's full autopsy report Friday, shining some light on the 76-year-old's mental health struggles. The report states Judd battled anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder ... Judd was always very public about her mental health.

What's more -- the autopsy reveals she left a suicide note -- which was found near her body.

Naomi took her own life back in April, and in May, her daughter, Ashley revealed her mother had shot herself. In an interview, Ashley said, "Her brain hurt, it physically hurt and I'm tasked with an exceedingly difficult task in disclosing the matter in the way my mother chose to continue to live."

Ashley also revealed she was the one who discovered Naomi's body, saying, "It was a mixed day. I visit with my mom and pop every day when I’m home in Tennessee, so I was at the house visiting as I am every day. Mom said to me, 'Will you stay with me?' and I said, 'Of course, I will.' … I went upstairs to let her know that her good friend was there and I discovered her. I have both grief and trauma from discovering her."

Just days after their mother's death, Ashley and Wynnona paid tribute to Naomi in a tearful segment during the Country Music HOF ceremony.

The sculptor who made the iconic Kobe and Gigi Bryant statue that was placed at the crash site earlier this year has made several replicas of the tribute ... and he tells TMZ Sports he's giving them out to fans in honor of Mamba Day.

On the 2nd anniversary of Kobe and Gigi's death, Dan Medina made a 160-pound bronze statue of the NBA legend and his 13-year-old daughter ... and brought it to the Calabasas location on January 26.

That monument was only temporary (since the city of Calabasas told us a permanent one won't be installed anytime soon) ... but Medina created four miniature ones just like it for a special giveaway that started on 8/24 -- AKA Mamba Day.

"I will be giving away 4 Bronze sculptures in the near future," Medina tells us.

"The designs are 12 inches tall and are an exact replica of the larger design I displayed last January 26."

The replicas all sit on black granite and each one has a different finish -- bronze patina, polished gold, Black Mamba patina and stainless steel.

"I'm genuinely humbled by my opportunity in keeping their legacy alive," Medina says. "The world needs this."

To be eligible, Medina fans have to donate $24 or more to the Mamba and Mambacita Foundation starting on Mamba Day ... and after following instructions from his Instagram account, he will randomly pick 4 winners by January 2023 -- which marks the third anniversary of the tragedy.

"My plan is when anyone donates a specified dollar amount they will need to input an email that puts them in a pool, then I will randomly choose a winner," Medina said.

The actor who played the owner of the Peach Pit on "Beverly Hills, 90210" -- the watering hole for Brandon, Brenda, Dylan, Kelly and the rest of the high schoolers -- has died.

Joe E. Tata, who played Nat on the iconic show, has passed. Joe was suffering from Alzheimer's since 2014.

Fellow castmate Ian Ziering posted his remembrance ... "Joey was truly an OG, I remember seeing him on the Rockford files with James Garner years before we worked together on 90210. He was often one of the background villains in the original Batman series. One of the happiest people I’ve ever worked with, he was as generous with his wisdom as he was with his kindness."

Joe was in 238 episodes of "90210." He also appeared occasionally on the reboot of the show.

As for his other credits, they are numerous ... "Magnum P.I.," "The Rockford Files," "Hill Street Blues," "Batman," and "The A-Team."

The Peach Pit was a throwback -- in a way, like "Happy Days" -- the diner where the kids went to hang, and it became a centerpiece of '90210.'

Joe was 85.