Celebrity Death

Black Oak Arkansas's longtime string strummer, Rickie Lee Reynolds, has died ... TMZ has learned.

RLR's son tells us ... his dad passed away Sunday morning in a hospital, where he was battling long-term health complications, to which he succumbed. He adds that he hopes the public will hold Ricky's memory, magic and memories close to their hearts forever.

The Black Oak guitarist had been with the rock group since its inception in the 1960s, when he got together with Ronnie Smith (OG vocals), Harvey Jett (guitar), Stanley Knight (guitar), Pat Daugherty (bass) and Wayne Evans (drums) ... eventually replacing Ron with their famous frontman, James Mangrum ... who stuck around for the long haul.

They found a lot of success in the '70s, when they cranked out hits such as "Uncle Lijiah," "Lord Have Mercy on My Soul," "When Electricity Came to Arkansas" and more. That latter track ended up being controversial ... apparently, fundamental Christians thought it contained hidden Satanic messages.

1973 was even better to them, as they released their fourth and fifth albums ... which saw even more memorable tracks, like "Hot Rod," "Up," "Gigolo," and perhaps their best-known ditty, "Jim Dandy (To the Rescue)" which was a remake of LaVern Baker's '57 song.

Reynolds was with the band during this high point in their career but departed around 1976 while they finished out the '70s. In the '80s, though, RLR got back with the band ... and they produced a few more records then, although James had stepped away briefly then.

Eventually, everyone was back on the same page and touring again, and as the decades went on ... different lineups of the band formed with the OGs performing as much as possible. BOA is said to have inspired legendary acts like Van Halen.

Reynolds was 72.

Sarah Harding, a member of Girls Aloud, has died.

Sarah had been battling breast cancer and lost her fight Sunday.

Sarah's mom wrote, "It's with deep heartbreak that today I'm sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away," adding, “Many of you will know of Sarah’s battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day."

Sarah got her big break in 2002 on the British talent show, "Popstars: The Rivals" ... where the band was formed. Sarah was picked last of the 5 women, and she sobbed like crazy.

Just 3 weeks after the show ended, Girls Aloud had a number one hit, "Sound of the Underground." Girls Aloud became England's biggest girl group of the 21st Century.

Sarah had plenty of heartbreak ... she was engaged to DJ Tom Crane, but the 4-year relationship ended and she went into a tailspin. In 2011 she went to rehab for depression and alcohol addiction. She said after getting out, "I've been to hell and back ... I'm just glad I survived."

Girls Aloud reunited in 2012 -- their 12th anniversary -- but the group broke up again the following year.

In 2017, Sarah was on "Celebrity Big Brother" and won.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. She said at the time doctors told her she would not see another Christmas.

Sarah's mom says cancer should not define her daughter ... "I know she won’t want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that’s how she can be remembered instead.”

Sarah was 39.

Willard Scott -- the iconic "TODAY" show weatherman who preceded the Al Roker era -- has died.

Al himself confirmed the news this weekend, taking to IG with an honorary post for Willard and writing ... "We lost a beloved member of our @todayshow family this morning. Willard Scott passed peacefully at the age of 87 surrounded by family, including his daughters Sally and Mary and his lovely wife, Paris."

AR adds, "He was truly my second dad and am where I am today because of his generous spirit. Willard was a man of his times, the ultimate broadcaster. There will never be anyone quite like him."

Willard started at "TODAY" in 1980, and became famous for his jovial anchoring -- be it during a weather segment, or any other special event he ended up hosting for NBC thereafter. The dude's antics were hilarious -- he'd dress up in crazy costumes, joke around like crazy on the air (and during MOTS interviews) ... and was just an overall hoot of a personality.

He's also perhaps best remembered for wishing Americans a Happy 100th Birthday in an ongoing Smucker's segment ... in which he'd feature different centennials who hit the milestone. Willard also hosted some of America's most memorable celebratory moments -- covering presidential inaugurations, holiday parades and parties, expos and more.

He was pretty much the Al Roker of his day, and did indeed pass on the baton when he retired from anchoring in the mid-to-late '90s. Still, they remained great friends ... and Al credits him as his mentor.

BTW, Willard also had quite the history in clowning around -- literally. He played the very first incarnation of Ronald McDonald in TV ads during the '60s, and even had a turn at playing Bozo the Clown too. Dude was just an all-around joy-spreader -- from start to finish.

He's survived by his wife, Paris Keena, and his children. Willard was 87.

Former wrestling star Daffney Unger died from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest ... according to a police report obtained by TMZ.

As we reported, Daffney was found dead Thursday after she appeared on her IG Live the night before in what appeared to be a suicidal state, stating ... "Do you guys not understand that I am all alone? Do you not understand that?" And then she said, "Remember, my brain goes to Boston"

Police went to Unger's home in Norcross, GA Thursday for a welfare check. According to the police report, they were met by Daffney's mom, Jean. They knocked at the door but there was no answer, so they left without trying to gain entry.

They came back a second time a few hours later, and this time they saw Daffney's car parked near the apartment. A maintenance man gave cops a key but it didn't unlock the deadbolt. So, the fire department was called and they broke open the door and found Daffney's body on her bed ... a gunshot wound to her chest and a gun within reach.

The medical examiner has yet to determine the official cause and manner of death.

Daffney was battling mental health issues for weeks before her death and had urged others who were in the same predicament to get help.

Ana Montana says she's taking extra precautions in the wake of another IG model's shocking death ... including beefing up her personal security.

We got Ana leaving Toast in Los Angeles and asked if she's doing anything differently safety-wise in reaction to Miss Mercedes Morr's recent death, which cops in Texas say is an apparent murder-suicide.

Ana says she's thinking about adding muscle and she's being extra cautious about where and when she posts on social media, because she thinks Morr might have had a stalker.

It's interesting ... Ana says lots of IG models and influencers are talking about Morr's death, and it seems like it's been a wake-up call to some folks.

Ana tells us she's warning other influencers to be extra careful about giving away too much information about their personal lives in their profiles ... and she says it's not smart to tag locations while they're still physically there.

Ana's also got a message for her followers, and it sounds like she's dealt with some creepy fans before.

Former longtime NFL player David Patten has died at 47 years old ... after he was involved in a motorcycle accident on Thursday, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Law enforcement tells us the crash happened around 9:45 PM ... and Patten was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police say Patten -- on his motorcycle -- "traveled left of center" and struck a Chevrolet Sedan. The Chevy then sideswiped a Honda. The driver of the Chevrolet was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

Patten had a wonderful football career ... winning 3 rings with the Pats in the early 2000s. David caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVI -- helping TB12 win his 1st ring.

It was an improbable path for the 5'10" receiver ... he went undrafted out of Western Carolina in 1996 ... before signing with an Arena Football League squad.

He only played arena ball for 1 season before catching on with the NY Giants. Patten spent 3 seasons with the G-Men, and 1 with the Cleveland Browns before signing with the Pats in 2001.

Patten won 3 Super Bowls in New England ... before leaving in 2004. Patten played several more season in New Orleans and Washington before retiring. He ultimately played 12 seasons in the NFL.

Since hanging up his cleats, Patten had been living with his wife in South Carolina ... the state where he was born.

Many of Patten's famous teammates have expressed condolences following his death.

Richard Seymour wrote ... "heartbroken 💔 great man of God… lost for words - David Patten… 🙏🏽"

Deion Branch also weighed in on the terrible news ... "🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Great Player, but Most of All A Great Man, Mentor and Brother #LoveYou #ChiefChief"

David's former coach, Charlie Weis, also talked about the loss of his former player.

"Shocked and saddened about the sudden tragic death of David Patten. Excellent player, even better person. Family guy, team guy, devout Christian. Prayers all directed this way. RIP David. You will be sorely missed."

RIP

Keith McCants -- the 4th overall draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1990 NFL Draft -- has passed away. He was 53 years old.

McCants was found dead Thursday morning in St. Petersburg, Florida by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, according to The Athletic.

The former Alabama defensive end played in 88 games over his 6 year NFL career for the Bucs, Oilers and Cardinals ... and finished with 192 tackles and 13.5 sacks.

He also recorded one touchdown -- reaching the endzone off a 46-yard interception return.

McCants was an All-American at Alabama and was named CBS National Defensive Player of the Year in 1989. He was also selected as the Iron Bowl MVP.

After his playing days were over, McCants fell into financial troubles ... and opened up about his experiences on the ESPN "30 for 30" documentary, "Broke."

Unfortunately, Keith also shared his battles with drug abuse and painkillers ... telling Vice Sports back in 2015 he was taking more than 183 pills a week before the end of his NFL career ... and it took a toll on him mentally.

Former wrestler Daffney Unger -- who starred in the WCW from 1999 to 2001 -- has died after posting a very disturbing video to her social media page, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

She was 46 years old.

A spokesperson for the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the death to TMZ Sports, but did not reveal a cause or manner.

Daffney's friend, wrestler Lexie Fyfe, said the former WCW star -- real name Shannon Spruill -- was found dead Thursday morning.

"We are very sad to have to announce the passing of Shannon Spruill aka Daffney Unger," said Lexie, who told us she and Daffney were so close, they "called each other sisters."

"We are posting this at the request of her family. Please respect their privacy at this trying time. I will miss you my logical sister from another mister."

Daffney had gone on Instagram Live late Wednesday night and appeared to be in a suicidal state, saying in her video, "Do you guys not understand that I am all alone? Do you not understand that?"

She later could be heard in the footage saying, "Remember, my brain goes to Boston."

Fyfe tells us Daffney had been battling mental health issues in recent weeks ... and urged anyone who's going through similar struggles to reach out for help.

Fyfe also tells us cops initially had trouble finding Daffney following the posting of the video ... explaining Daffney had just moved into a different apartment just four days ago.

The wrestling world was rocked by the news ... with legend Mick Foley saying, "I'm so very sorry to learn of Daffney's passing. A terrible loss for her family, friends and wrestling. She was far ahead if her time in our business. #RIPDaffney."

Added wrestling star Frankie Kazarian, "RIP Daffney. Just, awful news. She was a guest at my wedding…This is so incredibly sad. Please, reach out. Always. Godspeed."

After her stint in the WCW, Daffney went on to have a big role with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling from '08-'11. She retired a short time later.

RIP.

Bobby Bowden is gone -- but FSU is making sure he's never forgotten, honoring the legendary football coach with a helmet sticker, field logos and much more this season.

The Seminoles announced the tributes Wednesday ... revealing Bowden's signature will be on the back of every player's helmet, while a patch will adorn the sleeve of every coach's shirt.

The team also said it will paint Bowden logos on its field ... and hang a Bowden banner in its stadium's south end zone.

The Noles explained the logo is a combo of the hat Bowden famously wore during his coaching career coupled with a "Bobby" signature.

As we previously reported, Bowden -- one of the greatest college football coaches ever -- died after a battle with pancreatic cancer last month. He was 91 years old.

Bobby was such a big deal at the school and across the state, he received a public tribute days after his death ... with a Lie In Honor at the Florida State Capitol.

Bowden earned more than 350 victories during his coaching career ... and won the 1993 and 1999 National Championships.

NeNe Leakes' husband, Gregg, has died ... this after an on-and-off battle with cancer.

The 'RHOA' star's hubby of over 20 years passed away Wednesday -- this according to a family rep. They say, "Today the Leakes family is in deep pain with a broken heart. After a long battle with cancer, Gregg Leakes has passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by all of his children, very close loved ones and wife Nene Leakes."

The rep adds, "We ask that you pray for peace and strength over their family & allow them to mourn in private during this very very difficult time."

Sources close to the family tell TMZ there won't be a funeral -- which is at Gregg's request. We're told he wanted to be cremated, and NeNe and co. are honoring that wish. Our sources do say, however, that there will be a celebration of life ceremony some point down the road.

Gregg was featured on pretty much all the season for 'Real Housewives' that NeNe appeared on before bowing out of the franchise entirely last year. His colon cancer diagnosis was covered at length on the series ... and it was incredibly emotional watching him battle.

Gregg and NeNe first got hitched in 1997 but divorced in 2011. However, a couple years later -- in 2013 -- they said "I do" once more ... and have been happily married ever since. The couple shares their son, Brent, who's in his 20s -- and also have kids from previous relationships. Despite that though ... they were quite the blended family, usually putting on a united front while cameras rolled.

The news of Gregg's passing was something NeNe alluded to just over the weekend -- a video of her at a lounge in Georgia went viral ... because she called out some clubgoer who gave her a hard time for not publicly wishing them a happy birthday over the microphone.

She ended up giving the birthday shout-out, but not before letting them know Gregg was on his death bed at home ... and that she and her fam were going through a very hard time.

RHOA honcho, Andy Cohen, also commented on Gregg's death, sending "love and strength" to NeNe -- who he has not always had the best relationship with.

Gregg was 66.

Amadeu Campos Silva -- a promising young bull rider -- died after a "terrible accident" at an event in California on Sunday, the Professional Bull Riders announced. He was 22 years old.

Campos was riding a bull named Classic Man during the championship round of the PBR Velocity Tour in Fresno ... when he was bucked off after about 5 seconds.

As he went down, Campos' spur got stuck in his rope, which led to Classic Man stepping on his chest. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he sadly passed away.

Campos was born in Brazil ... and came to the U.S. after competing in PBR Brazil in 2017 and 2018 to pursue a World Championship.

He also competed in the PBR World Finals in 2020.

"Amadeu Campos Silva was a son, a brother, a soccer teammate, and a smiling presence in the locker room, here in the U.S. pursuing his bull-riding dream," Sean Gleason, PBR's CEO, said on Twitter.

"Amadeu was a rising star in our sport; a cowboy with so much potential on and off the dirt," Gleason added.

"The entire PBR and western sports family extend our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences to Amadeu's family and friends."

"Please say a prayer tonight for them, and may Amadeu's soul eternally rest in peace."

Matthew Mindler's mom says he struggled with severe anxiety issues for years, and yet ... prior to his suicide, she says he seemed to be enjoying his 1st week of college.

The late child actor's mother, Monica Mindler, tells TMZ ... Matthew moved into Millersville University on Aug. 19, and things seemed to be going very well, until he disappeared.

Matthew's mom says he kept in constant contact with her during his first few days on the Pennsylvania campus, and he was busy. Monica says her son told her he met with an advisor about starting a campus computer/programming club, had an upcoming job interview with the IT department and was making friends.

As we reported ... Matthew, who starred in "Our Idiot Brother," never returned to his dorm room Tuesday night, was reported missing Wednesday, and found dead Saturday near campus. The coroner says he died by suicide.

Matthew's mom says their last text message exchange was Tuesday night, when she told him she was planning to pick him up Friday to spend the weekend at home. She wanted him to come home and relax for a few days, knowing he struggles with "crippling anxiety."

Monica tells us she texted him Wednesday morning, but didn't get a response -- her messages went through as texts instead of iMessages, suggesting his phone was off or in a bad service area.

Monica says she later contacted Matthew's dorm at MU for a wellness check, and got in touch with his roommate Wednesday evening, but she was told no one had seen her son and people at school were concerned.

By Thursday, Matthew's mom still hadn't heard from him and she drove to campus and got the police involved.

Matthew Mindler, the child actor known for his role in "Our Idiot Brother," died by suicide ... according to officials.

The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office tells TMZ ... Mindler's manner of death has been ruled suicide, but the cause of death is still pending toxicology results.

We broke the story ... Matthew's college, Millersville University in Pennsylvania, confirmed his death with an announcement to the student body Saturday. It said he was found deceased that morning in Manor Township near the campus.

The first-year student had not been seen since Tuesday night after failing to return to his dorm room, and was reported missing late Wednesday.

Along with his role in "Our Idiot Brother" alongside Paul Rudd, Mindler also appeared in a sketch on "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" in 2015 and had a few other acting credits to his name.

He was 19.

Dozens of Jimmy Hayes' fans paid their respects to the ex-NHL player at his funeral on Monday ... emotionally saluting the former hockey player with their sticks at the procession.

New Jersey Devils star P.K. Subban was in attendance at St. Ann's Church in Massachusetts for the ceremonies ... and captured the amazing tribute.

You can see in Subban's footage, people lined up on both sides of the street -- with Dorchester Youth Hockey players wearing their jerseys and holding their sticks to pay homage to the former pro.

Subban also shared some photos of kids holding custom-made Hayes jerseys at the salute.

As we previously reported, Hayes tragically died in Milton, Mass. last week at just 31 years old. A cause of death has not yet been publicly revealed.

Jimmy's wife, Kristen, and his brother, Philadelphia Flyers star Kevin Hayes, gave emotional speeches at the funeral Monday ... with Kristen saying, "You were simply the best. There's no other way to put it."

"The boys and I were your whole world," she added. "Every morning you would wake me up with, 'Hi, big momma' or, 'Big momma looking hot.' You said you felt bad that the boys will have the hot mom in the pickup line at school."

Kristen continued, "I will try my best to fill your shoes, but I know it's nearly impossible."

Jimmy played winger for 7 seasons ... logging ice time with the Blackhawks, Panthers, Bruins and Devils. He retired in 2019.

Ed Asner -- one the most prolific actors to ever have done it -- has died.

His reps confirm to TMZ that EA passed away Sunday surrounded by family. No other details about the circumstances of his death have emerged.

The family issued a statement saying, "We are sorry to say that our beloved patriarch passed away this morning peacefully. Words cannot express the sadness we feel. With a kiss on your head- Goodnight dad. We love you."

Ed was a veteran actor, having gotten his start in showbiz way back in the '50s, and finding critical success in a recurring role with "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" by playing Lou Grant ... Mary's TV station boss. He starred in 166 episodes of the series, for 7 long years.

He even got his own spinoff out of it ... with a show called "Lou Grant" which ran for nearly as long -- and of course, Ed took on the lead role there for over a hundred episodes. He's the most decorated male actor when it comes to Primetime Emmys ... the guy won 5 alone for his portrayal of Lou Grant, and two others for different roles in other TV shows.

"Lou Grant" was a decorated series in and of itself -- racking up 13 Emmys and Golden Globes too along the way. It was actually the third spinoff off of 'TMTMS' ... and perhaps the most successful.

Other notable TV series he was involved in with recurring appearances -- "The Bronx Zoo," "The Trials of Rosie O'Neill," "Hearts Afire," "Thunder Alley," "The Closer," "Center of the Universe" and others. His voice acting career is actually even more impressive ... taking off in the '90s and beyond.

Of course, Ed is also quite famous for his role in "Roots" ... for which he won an award as well.

But, even for brief roles ... the dude literally touched just about every major television series that was out at the time -- including shows like "The Fugitive," "Iron Horse," "Mission: Impossible," "The F.B.I.," "Ironside," "Mod Squad," "Rich Man, Poor Man," "Hawaii Five-O," "Police Story," "Insight," "Tender is the Night," "American Playhouse," "Fish Police" "Roseanne," "Mad About You," "Ask Harriet," "The Closer," "Hercules," "The X-Files," "ER," "CSI: NY" and more.

He's lent his talents to shows like "Batman: The Animated Series," "Superman: The Animated Series," "Animaniacs," "Freakazoid!," "Captain Planet," "Max Steel," "Zorro," "Jumanji," "Spider-Man: The Animated Series," "Gargoyles," "The Simpsons," "The Cleveland Show" and several more over the years. He even played the lead voice of Carl Fredricksen in Disney's classic Pixar flick "Up" ... so that just an idea of how far and wide his work is known.

Ed's movie work was just as impressive -- he's been in flicks like John Wayne's "El Dorado," "Elf," "The Gathering," "JFK," "O'Hara's Wife," "Hard Rain," "The Christmas Star," "Gus," "The Fanatics," "Basil," "The Bachelor," "The Animal," "Gigantic," "Saving Christmas," "Faith, Hope & Love," "Too Big to Fail," "Let Go" ... and dozens and dozens more.

Ed's been a part of so many iconic shows and movies ... it's difficult to even attempt to list all of them. All in all, the guy has 416 acting credits to his name ... including stuff that's still being worked on right now for future release.

The last time we saw Ed in person, he was as jovial and nice as ever ... happily signing autographs and chatting it up with us while being pushed in a chair. That's just the kind of guy he was!

He was 91.

Ron Bushy -- the longtime drummer of rock band Iron Butterfly -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Bushy passed away Sunday morning at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles -- this according to his family members ... several of whom were by his side, including his wife and daughters. We're told he'd been battling some form of cancer.

The guy was the only member of IB to have appeared on all six of their albums, and is perhaps best known for his iconic drum solo on their 1968 hit, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."

The track is legendary for a number of reasons -- not the least of which because it's more than 17 minutes long ... and Bushy completely shreds on the drums for a good 2-3 minutes.

RB went on to help record their second, third and fourth albums into the '70s -- and then took a break until the gang got back together in '74 for albums no. 5 and 6. They continued jamming into the '80s -- when a second breakup occurred -- but they rekindled once more.

There were an infamous amount of lineup changes for IB through the '70s and '80s -- but the one constant mostly throughout was Bushy ... who was usually around to keep the tempo and the beat going, through studio sessions or on tour.

He played with other bands too during his tenure with Iron Butterfly -- including groups like Magic and Gold. Ron hung up full-time playing in the mid-2010s due to health concerns, but word is ... he'd make guest appearances with the new iteration of the band in the years after.

He's survived by his wife, Nancy, their three daughters and six grandchildren. Ron was 79.