Celebrity Death

The memorial being held to honor Charlie Kirk is being treated like a Super Bowl level occasion and is categorized as a SEAR Level 1 event -- which means it's given the highest level of national security priority.

A DHS Senior Official tells TMZ, "The Department of Homeland Security has designated the upcoming funeral and memorial service as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event. This designation is reserved for events of the highest national significance and enables the federal government to provide the full range of law enforcement and security resources necessary to support local officials in ensuring a safe and successful event."

Thousands have gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona to honor the life and legacy of the founder of Turning Point USA.

Erika Kirk is holding tight to a heartbreaking reminder of her late husband Charlie Kirk -- the blood stained pendant he was wearing when he was gunned down less than two weeks ago.

In an interview with The New York Times, Erika revealed she now wears the small St. Michael icon that was ripped from Charlie's body by medics as they fought to stop the bleeding at the Turning Point USA event in Utah. The tiny cross still carries traces of his blood in its crevice ... a haunting memento of the moment America lost the conservative activist.

An armed man posing as a law enforcement officer at Charlie Kirk's memorial service site was taken into federal custody Friday and charged by the state of Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety tells TMZ ... 42-year-old Joshua Runkles was taken into custody and booked into the Maricopa County Jail after "exhibiting suspicious behavior" Friday afternoon at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona ... the location of Sunday's memorial service for Kirk.

The Arizona DPS and Secret Service tell TMZ the man informed Secret Service agents he was armed when they approached him, and he falsely claimed to be a member of law enforcement. Officials say he is not affiliated with law enforcement.

Brett James -- a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter who worked with the likes of Taylor Swift -- has reportedly died in a plane crash.

James -- best known for his collaborative hit with Carrie Underwood, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” -- was reportedly flying aboard a small plane when it went down in a field near a school in Franklin, North Carolina about 3 PM Thursday. Police said none of the students or school staff were injured.

WLOS-TV reports the aircraft took off from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, with three people on board, and all of them died.

Charlie Sheen doesn't believe Matthew Perry was sober the year before his death ... which he finds ironic given the "Friends" star was promoting a book about his sobriety at the time.

The actor made the bold claim on "Piers Morgan Uncensored" Tuesday, where he said he "could tell" Perry wasn't sober on the press tour for his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” which dropped a year before his fatal overdose in October 2023.

Remember, Perry claimed to be 19 months sober when his book dropped in November 2022.

Robert Redford -- the legendary Oscar-winning actor and director -- has died.

Redford's rep, Cindi Berger, tells us ... Robert passed away Tuesday morning at his home in Sundance, Utah. Berger says Robert was surrounded by the people he loved in the place he loved. His cause of death has not been revealed.

The iconic filmmaker spent decades as a leading actor in Hollywood, with some of his most notable projects being 1969's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," 1973's "The Sting," 1975's "Three Days of the Condor," 1976's "All the President’s Men," and 1984's "The Natural."

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's mother, Pamela Warner, is opening up about her son's drowning death in Costa Rica.

Check out her interview with ABC's Robin Roberts -- she recalls the moment she learned the horrible news and how she let out a shriek of "indescribable pain" as neighbors ran over.

She also shed light on why "The Cosby Show" actor was in Costa Rica in the first place -- apparently, his 8-year-old daughter was on a trip for an immersive homeschooling experience. His wife and daughter had been there for 3 weeks before it was his time to join for the "fun" part of the trip.

Robert Redford has died ... and celebrities are reacting to the sudden loss of the legendary actor and director.

The tributes poured in Tuesday morning, with Hillary Clinton saying she "always admired" the "true American icon." She applauded him for the causes he supported, writing ... "He championed progressive values like protecting the environment and access to the arts while creating opportunities for new generations of activists and filmmakers."

Meryl Streep said in a statement to TMZ ... “One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend.”

Jane Fonda said in a statement to Deadline, “It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.”

Grammy-winning producer Sidney “Omen” Brown -- who worked with Drake, Beyoncé, Lil Wayne and more -- has died, according to his family.

Sidney's mom, Martha Brown, tells TMZ ... his body was found by a relative inside his Harlem, New York, apartment on September 13 after concerned staff at his work contacted his family when he did not show up for his shift.

The NYC medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine his cause and manner of death.

Bobby Hart, one half of the powerhouse songwriting duo Boyce and Hart who helped catapult the Monkees to pop culture domination in the ‘60s, has died.

Hart passed away at his Los Angeles home, his friend and co-author Glenn Ballantyne confirmed Sunday, adding the music legend had been in declining health since breaking his hip last year.

Alongside songwriting partner Tommy Boyce, Hart crafted some of the Monkees’ most enduring hits, including their theme song with the instantly recognizable line, "Here we come, walkin' down the street" as well as the chart-topping "Last Train to Clarksville" and the rock staple "(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone."

Ricky Hatton -- "The Hitman" -- has died just weeks after announcing a surprise return to the ring.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed the legendary fighter was found dead at his home in England early Sunday morning, adding his death is not being treated as suspicious.

Tributes flooded in for Hatton, one of Britain's most beloved boxing icons. Former champ Amir Khan wrote, "Today we lost not only one of Britain's greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior."

Chris Martin's encouraging people to love others they might not even get along with ... including Charlie Kirk's family after his tragic death this week.

The singer-songwriter took the stage at London's Wembley Stadium Friday night ... and, he had all the fans raise their hands up and send love to someone in the world.

Martin says it can be anyone in the world in the clip ... friends, family or strangers experiencing tragedies -- like the Kirks.

Charlie Kirk's fans are expected to come out in the thousands to remember his life and legacy ... with a memorial event scheduled in about a week's time.

Turning Point USA announced an event titled "Building A Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk" will take place on Sunday, September 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The Arizona Cardinals play in the stadium -- they play on the road in San Francisco next week -- and, the official capacity of State Farm Stadium is 63,400.

The UFC will honor the late Charlie Kirk on Saturday at "Noche UFC" ... days after the beloved activist was assassinated on a college campus in Utah.

TMZ Sports has learned the fight promotion will pay tribute to Kirk near the top of the main event at 6 PM ET ... going down in front of a packed crowd at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.

The specifics of the tribute aren't known.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's widow, Tenisha Warner, has confirmed her identity for the first time as she breaks her silence on his death.

Tenisha took to Instagram Friday -- a day before their wedding anniversary -- to share a stunning photo from their nuptials in 2017 and thank everyone for their love and support during such a difficult time.

She remembered her late husband and their bond fondly in her post, writing ... "I can still hear my husband’s laugh, still feel the way he made room for every part of me — every tear, every dream."

Sharon Osbourne is speaking out in an unexpected way following the death of her husband, Ozzy Osbourne ... penning a note to fans while showcasing her recent trip to the local falconry!

Check out Sharon's touching post -- she tells fans she's "having trouble finding the words to express how grateful" she is for their support over the last several weeks, adding ... "Your comments, posts, and tributes have brought me more comfort than you know. None of it has gone unnoticed, in fact, it’s carried me through many nights."

She then shifts focus to the stunning video of her and Kelly Osbourne mingling with several owls at the Cornwall Falconry in England.