Celebrity Death

Horrifying new video shows the precise moment a plane carrying NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family crashed and exploded in flames Thursday, killing everyone on board.

Security footage captured the corporate jet turning into a ball of fire as it crash-landed near a runway at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. The aircraft was scheduled to fly to Florida, but not long after takeoff, it turned back to the airport before crashing.

As you can see from the clip, the plane was reduced to what looks like a burning oil slick with black smoke rising into the sky. All seven people on the plane died, including Biffle, his wife, Cristina and two children -- Emma, 14, and Ryder, 5.

2:06 PM PT -- Greg Biffle and wife Cristina Biffle died, along with Greg's daughter Emma -- who he had with his ex-wife Nicole Lunders -- and Greg and Cristina's 2-year-old son Ryder. Dennis Dutton, his son Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth were also killed.

Their families released a joint statement, reading in part ...

"We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words," the statement said. "Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives."

The statement continued ... "We ask for privacy, compassion and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss. We are grateful for the kindness and support that has been extended to our families during this incredibly difficult time."

Legendary NASCAR driver Greg Biffle is among the dead after a fiery plane crash in North Carolina ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

The Cessna C550, a light private jet registered to a company owned by the star driver, crash landed near a runway at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning, 26 minutes after the aircraft took off from the same air strip, killing the 55-year-old and others onboard.

The plane was originally scheduled to travel to Florida, but the Cessna seemed to turn back towards the airport just minutes into the flight.

Garrett Mitchell, aka YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, says Biffle and his family were traveling to spend the day with him, but tragically never made it.

Late "Pulp Fiction" villain Peter Greene had injuries on his body when he was found dead in his New York City apartment last week ... and authorities are still trying to figure out what caused the injuries, and what led to his death.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the actor's body was found with "some injuries but it's undetermined what caused the injuries."

We're told the medical examiner is still trying to determine a cause and manner of death ... and at this point it remains unclear if Peter's death is the result of homicide, suicide, drugs, or something else.

Nick Reiner did NOT get booted from his parents' house the night before Rob and Michele Reiner were murdered in the Brentwood home where they lived with their son ... TMZ has learned.

There has been speculation online Rob kicked Nick out of the house Saturday night after returning from Conan O'Brien's Christmas party.

A source with direct knowledge tells TMZ, Nick left on his own accord. We do not know the circumstances under which Nick decided to leave. TMZ broke the story he and Rob got into a heated argument at Conan's party ... but it’s unclear if the exchange continued back at the Reiner residence.

Our sources confirm … Nick was not mentally sound in the period of time leading up to the murders. A source with direct knowledge tells TMZ … Nick's mental instability went beyond consuming illegal substances. We're told prescription drugs "messed with his head."

The heartbreak over Rob Reiner and his wife Michele's tragic deaths is felt far and wide, as is the appreciation for his impact on the entertainment industry ... and Tisha Campbell tells us Rob played a huge role in helping push her career forward.

We caught up with Tisha in NYC Wednesday, and she told us Rob helped kick off her career, as the first person to cast her in a comedy.

The "My Wife & Kids" alum added he was one of the nicest people she's ever met ... emphasizing just how kind he was.

Nick Reiner appeared noticeably different in the days leading up to the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner -- coming off as "drained" and "abnormal" ... according to gas station employees who say they’ve known him for years.

TMZ spoke with multiple employees at a Sinclair gas station in Brentwood, a spot they say the Reiner family frequented regularly.

One employee tells us they last saw Nick about two weeks ago, recalling he looked tired and was unusually standoffish.

At the time, Nick purchased a pack of Marlboro Lights, which employees say was routine for him. They add that he did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The son and daughter of Rob and Michele Reiner have broken their silence ... days after their sibling Nick allegedly killed their beloved, iconic Hollywood parents in their Brentwood home.

Jake and Romy Reiner say in a statement first obtained by TMZ ... "Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day. The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren't just our parents; they were our best friends."

"We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life."

"We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave."

TMZ has obtained concerning video of influencer Mary Magdalene weeks before she died ... showing her being carted away by law enforcement officers in Thailand as she yelled out in confusion.

You can see in the clip, Mary -- whose real name was Denise Jarvis -- seems unable to walk on her own and is lifted by Thai officers and loaded into a cart on November 21 near the popular Krabi walking street. She exclaims she doesn't know what's happening as multiple men push the cart. The video then shows her being walked through a building and finally, into what appears to be a hotel room so she can rest in bed. She also appears to be claiming she's "drugged."

A second video shows her explaining she had been left on the street all by herself ... and says this is the price she pays for being "popular." She says she loves "the idea of being popular," but being left all alone and unable to help herself is not worth it, and "traumatizing." She even suggests people get pets for companionship instead and "isolate yourself from society."

Tragic story out of Macclesfield F.C. -- forward Ethan McLeod was killed in a car accident on his way home following the team's National League North game. He was only 21.

Northamptonshire police said the Tuesday crash happened at 10:40 PM near Junction 15, where McLeod crashed his Mercedes into a metal barrier.

No other vehicles were involved, and police are investigating the cause of the crash.

"Despite the efforts of members of the public and officers from Northamptonshire Police, the driver - a man in his 20s from the West Midlands – was pronounced dead at the scene," police said.

Gil Gerard, the star of the hit 1980s sci-fi series "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," has died.

His wife, Janet Gerard, announced the sad news Tuesday, sharing on her Facebook page he succumbed to "a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer" early that morning, She added he died just days after they knew "something was wrong."

She later posted a message written by the actor himself on his Facebook page ... "My life has been an amazing journey. The opportunities I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the love I have given and received have made my 82 years on the planet deeply satisfying."

Hollywood and the world are reeling after the shocking deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner, and now some of their closest friends -- Billy Crystal, Larry David, Martin Short, Albert Brooks, and more -- are honoring the couple in an emotional personal joint statement.

The comedy icons, who shared decades of friendship and creative history with the Reiner’s, spoke to The Associated Press, praising Rob’s extraordinary career and the artistic lineage he carried forward.

“Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master story teller. There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary he was always at the top of his game. He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films,” the group said in their statement.

Nick Reiner was acting out of place at Conan O'Brien's Christmas party hours before his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, were found stabbed to death in the couple's home ... and now there's a report of a strange interaction that concerned partygoers.

According to NBC News, Nick allegedly interrupted comedian Bill Hader mid-conversation during the holiday gathering Saturday night in L.A. The outlet reports Hader told Nick the conversation was private ... and Nick then slipped into a thousand-yard stare, before "storming off."

As we reported ... Nick also got into a loud shouting match with his father at the same event. In recent months, Rob and Michele were struggling with how to deal with Nick as he continued to battle mental health issues and alleged substance abuse. Rob reportedly brought Nick to the party to keep an eye on him.

The second of 2 doctors who pleaded guilty in connection with Matthew Perry's death was sentenced Tuesday ... and the judge gave Dr. Mark Chavez a pretty light sentence.

United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced Chavez to eight months' home confinement and ordered him to complete 300 hours of community service.

In October 2024, Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He quickly cut a deal with the feds after a slew of arrests were made in connection with Perry's death. Chavez admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, which was then sold to Perry weeks before the actor's fatal overdose.

Prosecutors said Chavez obtained the ketamine fraudulently by submitting a prescription in the name of a patient without the patient's knowledge or consent.

Earlier this month, Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to 4 counts of distributing ketamine.

As Nick Reiner prepares to make his first court appearance ... TMZ has learned Rob and Michele had been dead for some time before their daughter made the grisly discovery Sunday.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... When police arrived on the scene Sunday afternoon around 3:40 PM, rigor mortis appeared to have set in Rob and Michele’s bodies -- meaning they had been deceased for hours before their daughter Romy arrived.

Romy arrived at the house and found the bodies ... then called police, before calling longtime family friend Billy Crystal.

Police interviewed Romy at the scene, who by then was joined by a female friend ... and we hear she told officers her brother Nick was "dangerous." We're told she also said that Nick was living at the house -- but he was not there when she arrived, insinuating he fled the scene.

Sources tell us ... the scene was something out of a nightmare -- with the bodies butchered … the devastation was described as the actions of a "mad man."

Rob and Michele Reiner died from "multiple sharp force injuries" ... according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

The ME also notes the manner of death for both Rob and Michele was homicide.

As you know ... Rob and Michele were found dead Sunday afternoon in their Brentwood home.

Rob and Michele's bodies were found by their daughter, Romy, and she told police her brother, Nick, lived with their parents and was "dangerous" and should be considered a suspect.

Nick Reiner -- the son of Rob and Michele Reiner, who's been arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents -- stuck out like a sore thumb at Conan O'Brien's Christmas party ... and he was acting out of place.

Sources at the party, which went down Saturday night at Conan's, tell TMZ ... Nick seemed out of place based on how he was dressed and how he was carrying himself.

We're told Nick showed up to the very formal party in a hoodie, while everyone else was wearing nice suits and dresses.

Our sources say Nick roamed around in his sweatshirt, didn't interact with people, kept to himself, and was very reserved ... all of which made some folks feel his behavior was odd.