Celebrity Death

Sarah Michelle Gellar is paying tribute to her late costar Nicholas Brendon in an emotional tribute ... saying "I know you are at peace."

The "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star took to Instagram early Saturday morning to honor Brendon, sharing a throwback photo of the two and a quote that Brendon's character famously said on the hit show ... "They’ll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn’t chosen. To live so near to the spotlight, and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody’s watching me"

SMG ends her tribute with "I saw you Nicky. I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky."

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Nicholas Brendon has died.

Per a family statement to The Hollywood Reporter ... "We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes. Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years."

The statement continues ... "In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was. While it’s no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing. Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.”

Chuck Norris has died, but his legacy lives through the memes he loved so much. He even had a few favorites of his own.

In a 2023 blog post, he wrote about the viral internet jokes -- affectionately called "Chuck Norris facts" -- saying he was "flattered and truly humbled" to have been turned into a "somewhat mythical superhero" through them.

Chuck Norris had a great sense of humor, and all the memes about him tickled his funny bone ... this according to his longtime bodyguard and sparring partner.

Tom Jones -- a decorated Muay Thai champion -- joined us on "TMZ Live" to discuss the legacy of his late friend a few hours after a statement confirming Chuck's passing was publicly announced.

Jones says he owes a lot to Norris -- who he met years ago while still in the Marines -- explaining the A-lister taught him lessons about life he still carries around with him.

Chuck Norris -- the famed martial artist and actor in films like "The Delta Force" and "Missing in Action" -- is dead ... TMZ has learned.

He died Thursday morning in Hawaii, according to the family, who said, "It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday [Thursday] morning. While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace."

The post reads ... "He lived life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved."

TMZ broke the story ... Chuck was hospitalized either Wednesday or Thursday, and it seemed sudden, because a source who had spoken with Chuck Wednesday said he had been working out and was in an upbeat, jovial mood.

Norris is best remembered for his martial arts and action movie roles in the 1980s ... and for portraying Texas Ranger Cordell Walker in the CBS TV show "Walker, Texas Ranger" in the 1990s.

Iconic actor and martial artist Chuck Norris has died, and heartfelt messages from celebs and actors alike have been flooding social media.

Costars Dolph Lundgren and Sylvester Stallone weren't the only ones to weigh in ... Chuck touched the hearts of big names beyond Hollywood.

Rapper Freddie Gibbs, NFL alum Chad Ochocinco, and even Texas Governor Greg Abbott have sounded off on social media to pay their respects to the late legend.

TMZ broke the story ... Chuck was hospitalized either Wednesday or Thursday ... and it seemed sudden, because a source who had spoken with Chuck on Wednesday said he had very recently been in good health and spirits.

The legend was 86.

RIP

Chuck Norris' death is breaking hearts not just in Hollywood, but across the sports world ... with athletes and even the WWE paying tribute to the "culture icon."

Norris died on Thursday morning in Hawaii at the age of 86, after TMZ shared the news that the actor/martial artist was hospitalized.

Fans have flooded social media to pay their respects ... including former NFL star Chad Ochocinco, who shared the news on his X page with a broken-heart emoji.

Chuck Norris has died, and fans are devastated ... but they have one more film to be excited about from the Hollywood legend.

Shaked Berenson, producer of “Zombie Plane,” tells TMZ … Chuck plays the head of a spy agency made up of celebs in the tongue-in-cheek action flick. There are a ton of cameos, and it's meant to poke fun at their personas.

Chuck's part was shot a year and a half ago at his Texas ranch .... Shaked told us they needed a ranch for the scene, and Chuck had one -- so it worked out perfectly.

The death of Chuck Norris sent a shockwave of sadness to his fans around the globe ... and his family is still processing the tremendous loss.

Chuck's son, Dakota, was the first to break his silence Friday morning about the legend's passing with a lengthy, heartfelt Instagram post in which he said CN was the ultimate father.

Along with a series of snaps showing father and son ... Dakota wrote ... "You were the greatest father God could have ever given me and the finest man I’ve ever known. No matter what I was going through, you were always there."

The legendary martial arts film star Chuck Norris has died ... and tributes have begun to pour in from fellow Hollywood badasses.

Dolph Lundgren -- who worked with Chuck on "The Expendables 2" -- posted a tribute on Instagram, including a heartfelt caption about what the late actor meant to him ... and Sylvester Stallone, another 'Expendables' costar and contemporary action star, also honored Chuck in a post.

Along with a BTS picture of the action duo, Dolph wrote ... "Chuck Norris is the champ. Ever since I was a young martial artist and later getting into movies, I always looked up to him as a role model. Someone who had the respect, humility and strength it takes to be a man. We will miss you, my friend. ✨"

Stallone wrote ... "I had a great time working with Chuck. He was All American in every way. Great man and my condolences to his wonderful family."

Joshua Allen -- the winner of "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 4 -- was struck and killed by a train in Texas last year ... and we now know that the medical examiner determined he intentionally ended his own life.

According to records obtained by TMZ ... Allen died of blunt force injuries ... and his death was ruled a suicide by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office.

Following his death, family and friends told TMZ that Allen was a wonderful person ... and they shared some insight into their final conversations ... "One of the last things he said was to keep God first at all times. You have to be real with yourself before you can be real with anybody else."

The body of missing college student James "Jimmy" Gracey has been found in the ocean off the beaches of Barcelona, Spanish police confirmed.

La Vanguardia reported his father -- who flew to the city to join the search -- has been notified ... and no foul play is suspected in the University of Alabama student's death. Jimmy's body was found "at a depth of four meters in the waters" of Barcelona's Port Olímpic, a marina, this afternoon.

WLS-TV in Chicago reports Gracey's family -- he grew up in the Chicagoland area -- released a statement thanking the public for their concern and asking for privacy. As we reported ...

Legendary director David Lynch left behind a massive estate to his four children and substantial gifts for his close friends, TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Sabrina Sutherland -- the trustee of David's family trust -- says David drafted his will and trust in 1994 and last amended it on May 25, 2023. The director died on January 16, 2025 from cardiac arrest, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as an underlying condition.

David’s assets include his membership in Twin Peaks productions, stock in A2K, and all the copyrights David owned for his various projects ... but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Jordan Wright -- who starred in the British reality TV show "The Only Way Is Essex" -- was found dead in Thailand on March 14.

According to Daily Mail, Wright's body was recovered from a drainage canal where he was found face-down in the stagnant water of a drainage canal.

The publication reports Wright was wearing black pants and a gray T-shirt, but was barefoot. And he'd already made plans to leave soon.

TikToker Rachel Tussey has died after undergoing surgery for a "mommy makeover" ... and things took a turn for the worse.

Rachel's family tells TMZ ... "It is with deep regret and sadness that we share the news of Rachel’s passing. We would like to thank everyone, around the world, who faithfully prayed for Rachel and our entire family throughout this extraordinarily difficult time in our family’s life. The outpouring of support, from our community and beyond, has provided us with so much comfort at a time when it was dearly needed. We ask that our family be given time and space to grieve our unimaginable loss."

Rachel's husband, Jeremy, updated her GoFundMe page, writing ... "We are deeply grateful for the love, prayers, and generous support shown to our family during this incredibly difficult time. Last night, my wife Rachel lost her battle while in hospice care." He added some beautiful words about what she meant to their family ...

Legendary singer Neil Sedaka's cause of death was "atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease," according to his death certificate.

According to the American Heart Association, the condition is caused when plaque builds up in artery walls ... and it's linked to heart attacks and strokes.

The death certificate -- first obtained by the California Post -- also cited kidney failure as a factor in Sedaka's passing last month.