Celebrity Death

Richard Dimitri, a comedian and actor who worked with the likes of Michael Keaton and Richard Dreyfuss in the 1970s and '80s, has died. He was 83.

His family announced Dimitri's death Wednesday in an online obituary ... he died December 18 in L.A. with his wife Christianne by his side. He had suffered from heart and lung illnesses for years.

Dimitri was born in Yonkers, New York, and started working Off-Broadway in the early 1960s. He taught acting at Queen's College City University in New York before moving to Los Angeles in 1975, according to his obit.

Chef Elle Simone Scott -- who appeared on PBS' "America's Test Kitchen" -- has died from ovarian cancer.

Her chef pal Carla Phall shared the sad news on social media Wednesday and remembered Scott as a "friend, a force, and a trailblazer" who used her diagnosis to "educate, advocate, and uplift even while fighting for her life."

Phall also applauded Scott's trailblazing spirit, noting she was one of the first Black women on 'Test Kitchen.' Phall raved ... "She didn’t just test recipes; she changed what representation looked like in food media."

Scott reportedly began her career as a social worker but launched her professional journey in the food industry as a line cook and then a garde manger chef for Norwegian Cruise Lines, according to her LinkedIn. She graduated the Culinary Academy of New York in 2010 and in 2013, she founded SheChef, a networking organization for women chefs of color. She also obtained her Master of Arts in the Entertainment Business from Full Sail University.

Veteran comedic actor Pat Finn -- who starred in sitcoms like "The Middle" and "The George Wendt Show" -- died from bladder cancer ... according to his death certificate.

The document, obtained by TMZ, says Pat had a cancerous tumor in his bladder for years ... and there were no other significant conditions contributing to his death.

As we reported ... Pat died from cancer Dec. 22 at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family.

It was unclear when Pat died what type of cancer he was fighting, but there had been reports he was diagnosed several years ago with bladder cancer ... and that turned out to be the case here.

Legendary actress Brigitte Bardot died after being diagnosed with cancer, according to a new report.

Paris Match interviewed Bardot's husband of 33 years, Bernard d'Ormale, who told the magazine Bardot underwent 2 cancer surgeries while experiencing serious back pain.  D'Ormale did not reveal the type of cancer Bardot had, or when she was first diagnosed with the disease.

Bardot passed away at her home in Saint-Tropez on December 28, 2025 -- and her funeral is being held Wednesday in the French Riviera coastal town.

In the interview, d'Ormale described the last final moments of Bardot's life, saying he never left her side and watched over her every day with the help of nurses. He said he served her favorite breakfast each morning, as well as her afternoon snack -- tea with milk and a croissant.

One of the sons of former actor and President of the United States Ronald Reagan, Michael Reagan, has died at the age of 80 ... the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute confirms to TMZ.

Michael died on Sunday, January 4, Newsmax reports … his cause of death was not released.

Michael Reagan, who was adopted, was Ronald's oldest son … his mother was actress Jane Wyman -- Ronald's first wife.

Michael was an author of multiple books -- including "Lessons My Father Taught Me" and "Twice Adopted" -- a radio host and a lecture speaker on conservative politics.

Michael is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter, and two half-siblings, Patti and Ron Jr., from Ronald's second marriage to Nancy Reagan.

Bela Tarr, a film director whose work was marked by long takes and oftentimes bleak imagery, has died at age 70.

The filmmaker's death was announced Tuesday by fellow filmmaker Bence Fliegauf -- who was speaking on behalf of Tarr's family -- on Hungary’s national news agency MTI, Deadline reports.

The European Film Academy wrote Tarr had died after battling "a long and serious illness."

Tarr was born in Pécs, Hungary, in 1955, and he later moved to Budapest. He began his career in film working at the Balázs Béla Stúdió, and he made his directorial debut at the age of 23 with the release of "Family Nest" in 1977.

He garnered further attention for his work on the 1988 feature "Damnation," and received international acclaim for directing the 1994 epic film "Sátántangó," which runs for nearly seven and a half hours.

Tarr's final feature film, "The Turin Horse," was released in 2011, and he subsequently established a film school in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

Despite the often bleak tone of the director's work, he personally saw comedy in his films, and he told The Guardian viewers could "laugh a lot" while watching his movies.

Tarr was 70.

12:07 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Jayne Trcka's friend called her several times days before her body was found, but no one picked up. The friend got worried and went to Jayne's home to check on her -- finding her unresponsive in the kitchen. After the friend called 911, first responders arrived on scene and pronounced Jayne dead.

Bodybuilder Jayne Trcka -- who played Miss Mann in "Scary Movie" -- has died, TMZ has learned.

Jayne's son tells TMZ ... Jayne passed away December 12 in San Diego.

The San Diego medical examiner also confirmed her death, telling us her cause of death is pending.

Tommy Lee Jones' daughter Victoria had a plea deal that demanded sobriety waiting to be signed ahead of her sudden death ... TMZ has learned.

As you know, she was found deceased at Fairmont San Francisco early Thursday morning, with the dispatch audio indicating it may be related to an overdose. We also told you she had multiple run-ins with the law over the years ... with a recent drug-related arrest in April.

And, according to court docs obtained by TMZ ... Victoria was offered a plea deal following the April incident, during which she was found to be in unlawful possession of cocaine -- and resisted arrest. The plea deal Napa County had offered would require her to plead guilty to resisting/obstructing arrest and possessing a controlled substance ... but would free her of the charge against her of being under the influence of a controlled substance. In return, she'd have to refrain from using drugs and submit to random testing.

TikTok's beloved Grandma Mary has passed away, her granddaughter announced Friday.

Grandma Mary died peacefully in her sleep on New Year's Eve, her granddaughter -- who goes by Pyxie online -- revealed to her 1.4 million followers. She added ... "How lucky we are to have experienced her and her love. She will always be with us."

Grandma Mary was adored by Pyxie's followers as she was heavily featured on her TikTok account doing day-to-day tasks and generally spreading joy with her upbeat persona and comforting smile.

A witness at Victoria Jones' death scene told first responders she'd been using cocaine in the lead-up to her passing ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... when authorities arrived at the Fairmont San Francisco hotel Thursday morning, they saw blue tinge on Victoria's lips and fingernails and immediately suspected she'd overdosed on drugs.

We're told a female witnesses told first responders Victoria had been doing cocaine that night.

Tommy Lee Jones' daughter Victoria had multiple run-ins with the law, which allegedly involved drugs before her death -- and she even admitted to police she used cocaine -- TMZ has learned.

Napa County Sheriff's spokesperson Henry Wofford tells TMZ ... police were called to a residence in Napa on April 26, 2025 ... where they claim they found Victoria with white residue on her tongue and dried blood coming from her right nostril.

According to the police report, cops say Victoria admitted to using cocaine on the day of the arrest ... and, they say she displayed rapid speech and was fighting with her body movements.

Tommy Lee Jones' daughter, Victoria, was found dead at a California hotel on New Year's Day ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us Victoria was discovered inside the swanky Fairmont San Francisco early Thursday morning.

A spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department tells TMZ ... SFFD units responded to the hotel for a reported medical emergency at 2:52 AM. Upon arrival, paramedics conducted an assessment and the individual was pronounced dead at the scene.

We're told the scene was turned over to the San Francisco Police Department and the Medical Examiner's Office for further investigation.

Jasen Kaplan -- a contestant on "Finding Prince Charming" and celebrity makeup artist -- has died ... TMZ has confirmed.

Kaplan passed away Wednesday in a New York City hospital, according to Page Six, who reports the NYPD is investigating the death of a 46-year-old man at Kaplan's apartment building.

The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

Kaplan’s passing marks the second major loss connected to the "Finding Prince Charming" family in less than a month.

As we reported ... Chad Spodick, who made it far during the show’s only season, died by suicide on December 3. TMZ obtained dispatch audio revealing Chad hung himself in a backyard.

Following President Donald Trump's abysmal ratings hosting the Kennedy Center Honors -- and the growing list of artists canceling performances at the venue due to DT's recent rebranding it with his name on top -- the president's retaliatory tantrum has begun.

Despite JFK's granddaughter, Tatiana Schlossberg, dying just hours earlier Tuesday, Trump took to Truth Social to flood his timeline with reposts of MAGA supporters mocking the Kennedy family.

One reads ... "The Kennedy Family have LONG neglected the Kennedy Center, btw. They don't raise money for it. They never show up. And the only Kennedy who has been there recently is a member of Trump's cabinet."

Another reads ... "The Trumps have always been supporters of the arts. The Kennedys are supporters of the Kennedys."

Two years after the tragic death of film and TV star Matthew Perry, his previously unmarked final resting place has a new plaque to commemorate the actor ... new pics show.

His unmarked private crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills had a bronze plaque recently added, honoring the late actor as a "Much Loved Friend." It includes his full name -- Matthew Langford Perry ... and his dates of birth and death -- August 19, 1969 - October 28, 2023.

The long wait is common practice as bronze plaques take some time to finish, and the family initially left the grave blank for privacy reasons.

Perry's crypt is situated in the secluded Sanctuary of Treasured Love section, near other stars like Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.

Sally Struthers was seen in public on Monday ... weeks after her "All in the Family" costar Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were brutally murdered in their Brentwood home.

Sally was snapped out and about in Los Angeles ... and her mood appeared to be glum ... understandable given the recent double killings that rocked Hollywood.

TMZ broke the news ... Rob and Michele were butchered in their home on Dec. 14 ... and their son Nick has since been arrested and charged with their murders.