Celebrity Death

Johnny Wactor wrapped his final film before he was tragically gunned down last year -- and we’ve got an exclusive scene for you ahead of its world premiere next week.

The late actor stars in the indie drama "Ciao, Mama" ... which will officially premiere at the Dances With Films festival next Tuesday at L.A.’s iconic TCL Chinese Theatre -- honoring Wactor’s life the same week his suspected killers return to court.

The movie's premise is about a man returning home to face what he left behind and wrestle with what it means to move forward with his life. Wactor didn’t just act in the film -- he also produced it.

Anne Burrell's husband was the person who found her unresponsive and lying on the floor of their shower ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Burrell's husband, Stuart Claxton, found her unconscious in the bathroom early Tuesday morning.

We're told Claxton last saw her alive around 1 AM the night before ... then found her between six and seven hours later in the shower. He then called 911.

"Step Up 2: The Streets" choreographer Dave Scott has died.

The beloved dancer died Monday, according to a post on his official Instagram account shared Tuesday.

An official cause of death has not been revealed. Rather, the heartfelt tribute focused on his impact as a father, dancer and friend to many, noting ... "The weight of this loss will send ripples through time. But his memory and legacy will continue to live on."

The Food Network and culinary world are mourning the sudden death of Anne Burrell, with an outpouring of tributes from stars like Gigi Hadid, Buddy Valastro, Carson Kressley and more.

Gigi Hadid, who guest-starred with Anne on the network, shared a photo of the two and wrote, "I am heartbroken to hear of the loss of the Great Anne Burrell. As a longtime fan, getting to share this day with her was a dream come true. Beat Bobby. Hang. Eat. I wish we could have done it again. She was awesome. Rest in Peace"

"Cake Boss" star Buddy Valastro shared on Instagram, "Anne, your passion, energy, and love for food lit up every kitchen. You were a true force and a beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Chef 🤍 We’ll miss you dearly."

Our deep dive into Liam Payne’s tragic death is officially up on YouTube -- and now’s your chance to catch all the jaw-dropping details if you haven’t seen it yet.

'TMZ Investigates: Liam Payne: Who's to Blame?' takes you to Argentina, where TMZ hit the ground to uncover shocking new information behind the former One Direction star’s fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

The doc features exclusive interviews with three suspects prosecutors want charged in connection with Liam’s death, along with a chilling, never-before-heard firsthand account from an eyewitness who was there for Liam’s final hours.

Actor David Hekili Kenui Bell -- who appeared in Disney’s live-action "Lilo & Stitch" -- has died ... his family confirms to TMZ.

David’s sister Jalene initially shared the heartbreaking news in a lengthy Facebook post Sunday, calling him "a generous, funny, brilliant, and handsome little brother" who gave her the unconditional love.

Jalene reflected on their bond and how just two weeks ago, he treated the family to the "Lilo & Stitch" opening night in Kapolei. His final outing with them was watching fans in full Stitch gear, sharing popcorn, and dreaming of shave ice after the film.

One of the doctors charged in connection with Matthew Perry's ketamine death is one step closer to doing hard time ... because he just copped to a slew of crimes.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Dr. Salvador Plasencia -- one of 2 physicians busted in the Perry case -- has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine.

Federal prosecutors say they expect Dr. Plasencia to formally enter his plea in the coming weeks ... he's facing up to 40 years in federal prison, but both sides have agreed to recommend a sentence of 15 to 21 months, though it's ultimately up to the judge.

Ananda Lewis left her mark on the entertainment world in her short time on Earth ... a feat Bill Bellamy says he's fortunate to have witnessed in person!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the tenured comedian on Thursday, just as the reality of Ananda's death after a lengthy breast cancer battle had set in.

Ananda passed away yesterday and Bill says he always referred to Ananda as his "little sister," but certified she had a big aura.

Ananda Lewis, a popular host from the MTV "veejay" era in the late '90s ... died on Wednesday after a lengthy breast cancer battle.

The news was broken by her sister Lakshmi on Facebook, who celebrated the end of Ananda's suffering in an emotional post.

Lakshmi tells TMZ Hip Hop ... Ananda died from stage 4 breast cancer at 11:35 AM on Wednesday while in hospice at her Los Angeles home.

Lakshmi tell us she braved the diagnosis for 6 years and even tried out some conventional/some unconventional treatments ... choosing her own path.

We're told her family has heard from a lot of celebs already who want to speak on how Ananda influenced their careers and handled her interviews so well with them at her memorial, which will be in a few weeks.

Lakshmi tells us Ananda's 14-year-old son graduated middle school today ... a terribly bittersweet day.

"General Hospital" and "The Bold and the Beautiful" star Chris Robinson has died.

The actor passed peacefully in his sleep early Monday morning at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona, his collaborator and friend MJ Allen announced on Facebook. Allen said his official cause of death is heart failure, which he had been dealing with for "some time."

They notably worked together on what would be his final film credit -- 2022's "Just for a Week."

Sly Stone -- the frontman for the legendary funk band Sly and The Family Stone -- has died Monday ... TMZ has learned.

Stone died Monday in Los Angeles, and his family released a statement saying he died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health issues.

His family said Sly "passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family," while taking "solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come."

Wayne Lewis -- an R&B singer best known for starting up the group Atlantic Starr -- has died ... according to a Facebook post put up by the band.

The band shared the announcement Friday ... letting fans know Wayne passed away Thursday.

They asked fans to respect his family's privacy at this time. A cause of death was not provided. We've reached out to the band for more information.

"Cheers" star George Wendt died from cardiac arrest, TMZ has learned.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released GW's death certificate Thursday.

The certificate lists George's immediate cause of death as cardiac arrest ... with congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as underlying causes.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus offered a full-throated mea culpa to the LGBTQ+ community on Thursday ... saying his department made a mistake by so quickly dismissing the hate crime allegation in the shooting death of Jonathan Joss.

The "King of the Hill" voice actor was shot to death Sunday night on his own property in the city, allegedly by neighbor Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez during a heated exchange ... but Joss' husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, called the shooting a homophobic hate crime. The next day ... police said in a statement there was no evidence of a hate crime.

Chief McManus told reporters on Thursday that the announcement was "way too premature" ... and he took full responsibility. In the same breath ... the chief reassured the LGBTQ+ community their safety was of the utmost importance to police.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry nearly changed their family name to Spencer -- the maiden name of his late mother, Princess Diana -- out of "sheer exasperation" from ongoing passport issues for their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex even went as far as asking Harry's uncle, Earl Spencer, for his blessing, according to a new report from The Guardian.

Earl was reportedly "enthusiastic and supportive" of the potential name change, though the parents of two ultimately did not make the move because they finally obtained UK passports for their little ones after about 6 months of waiting.

The late Richard Simmons' posh Hollywood Hills pad just hit the market -- and it can be yours for a cool $7 million.

Check out the listing photos ... the Los Angeles area mansion is polished and pristine ... welcoming potential buyers with a stately front portico and welcome hall that offers a view directly into its lush backyard.

The 4-bedroom, 5-bathroom home -- listed by John A. Lucy of Keller Williams Hollywood Hills -- boasts just over 4,000 square feet of living space on a half-acre lot that features a unique circular swimming pool and pool house.