Celebrity Death

Clarence Carter -- the legendary blind soul singer behind countless R&B classics -- has died at 90.

Rodney Hall, president of FAME Studios in Alabama, confirmed the news to Rolling Stone ... after Hall spoke with the family of singer Candi Staton, Carter's ex-wife, who said the icon passed away Thursday.

Carter had recently been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer and was also battling pneumonia and sepsis.

There's a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit about Aaron Carter ... TMZ has learned.

Aaron's ex-fiancée Melanie Martin filed a lawsuit on behalf of their son, Princeton Lyric Carter, back in October 2023 ... claiming Aaron's drowning death was set in motion by doctors, dentists, mental health clinics, and pharmacies that prescribed him various medications.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, one psychiatrist and one mental health clinic named in the lawsuit reached a confidential financial settlement in April.

Erik Fleming has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for his role in the death of Matthew Perry.

A judge handed down the sentence Wednesday morning at a United States District Court for the Central District of California Courthouse.

The sentencing comes after Fleming pleaded for mercy in a letter obtained by TMZ ... saying he’ll spend the rest of his life trying to make up for contributing to Perry’s death.

Donald Gibb battled throat cancer and suffered a heart attack in the weeks leading up to his death last night ... TMZ has learned.

Donald's son, Travis, tells TMZ ... his dad -- best known for playing the lovable brute "Ogre" in the "Revenge of the Nerds" franchise -- was fighting throat cancer at the time of his passing. He says Donald also suffered a heart attack a couple of weeks ago, but ultimately, it was the cancer that took his life.

We're told Donald was a fighter who battled the disease relentlessly, never losing his toughness even as his health declined.

10:08 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Paris Jackson tells TMZ ... "Paris has always been focused on what's best for her family and this ruling is a massive win for them. After years of delay, the Jackson family will finally get the transparency and accountability measures Paris has fought for."

Paris Jackson scored a major win in her battle over money spent by the executors running her late father Michael Jackson's estate -- while the executors also received praise for their work ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, a Los Angeles judge ruled that $625K in bonuses -- paid by executors John Branca and John McClain to third-party law firms -- will have to be returned to the estate.

As TMZ first reported ... last year, Paris raised concerns about certain bonuses paid out to third-party law firms that worked on the estate in 2018. Paris claimed the bonuses were excessive and not approved.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is devastated by the death of his close friend, Brandon Clarke ... releasing a heartbreaking statement on the tragedy on Wednesday -- admitting he can't wrap his head around his "twin" being gone.

JJJ and Clarke were inseparable -- even after the 26-year-old was traded to the Utah Jazz this season, they continued to maintain a solid brotherhood.

Jackson Jr. went to social media to pour his heart out over the loss ... saying, "i couldn’t imagine a world where this was even a possibility. i love you forever brother, this is absolutely devastating. i just wish i could talk to you."

Donald Gibb -- best known for playing the lovable brute "Ogre" in the "Revenge of the Nerds" franchise -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Gibbs' son, Travis, tells TMZ ... Donald passed Tuesday evening due to health complications. He says he died at his home in Texas, where he was surrounded by family, including his kids, who loved him deeply.

We're told his death was not sudden, as Donald had been battling ongoing health issues.

Travis and his family tells us ... Donald loved the Lord and his family, friends and fans with all his heart, and they ask for prayers and privacy during this difficult time. They add that their father will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Memphis Grizzlies' star Brandon Clarke was supposed to face an Arkansas judge -- set for just days after his sudden death yesterday ... and court records show the late NBA player had been staring down a series of serious criminal charges.

According to court documents, obtained by TMZ, Clarke had been charged with felony trafficking a controlled substance ... after authorities say they discovered illegal narcotics -- including popular painkiller Kratom -- during a traffic stop in April.

Prosecutors also hit Clarke with a felony count of fleeing in a vehicle or conveyance exceeding the posted speed limit ... with authorities saying he attempted to evade cops during the alleged incident.

Brandon Clarke's body has officially been cleared to be released to his family ... but the mystery surrounding his sudden death remains unclear.

According to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's website, the ME has declared the NBA star's body ready for release, however his cause and manner of death is currently deferred ... pending additional testing as authorities investigate.

As we previously reported, Clarke’s death came just days before he was due in court to face multiple criminal charges, including trafficking a controlled substance and felony fleeing.

The Los Angeles Fire Department PIO confirmed to TMZ Sports they responded to a medical emergency call around 5 PM on Monday ... and when paramedics got to the scene, the 29-year-old male was declared deceased.

TMZ Sports confirmed his death is being investigated as a possible overdose ... with officials finding drug paraphernalia inside the home the Memphis Grizzlies player was staying at.

Jason Collins -- the NBA's first openly gay player -- has died at 47 years old after a battle with brain cancer, the league announced.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement on the loss ... saying, "Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations."

"He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador," he added. "Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others."

Brandon Clarke -- power forward for the Memphis Grizzlies -- died on Monday, TMZ Sports has learned. He was only 29 years old.

His passing is being investigated as a possible overdose.

Clarke was the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder, and immediately traded to Memphis.

Brandon Clarke's death is being investigated as a possible overdose ... with officials finding drug paraphernalia inside the home the Memphis Grizzlies player was staying at on Monday, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical emergency call around 5 PM on Monday ... and when paramedics got to the scene, Clarke was declared deceased, first reported by NBC4.

An autopsy will determine the cause and manner of death.

The NBA is devastated by Brandon Clarke's death ... with the Memphis Grizzlies player's teammates over the years sharing heartfelt tributes on social media.

Kyle Anderson, who had two stints with the Grizzlies, said he was "so f***in hurt" by the loss ... adding, "I love u so much brother i wish i coulda been there for u im so f***in hurt man."

Ja Morant published a picture of them together with a caption that read, "love you broski. gone way too soon. it's bigger than basketball."

"still our goat BC15."

It's been three months since the untimely death of James Van Der Beek ... and his family is still reeling from the unimaginable loss.

His wife Kimberly posted a lengthy IG post Tuesday with snaps of James and his kids ... and it really pulls on the heartstrings.

The beloved actor's widow wrote in part ... "To say I'm heartbroken is a severe understatement. Words just don't capture what grief is. The comforts of shock have worn off. The reality is settling in... and I miss him. We all miss him."

Brandon Clarke was seemingly happy and healthy in the days leading up to his tragic death at just 29 years old, his barber tells TMZ Sports.

Clarke, who passed away Monday night in the Los Angeles area, had been staying in the city with one of his friends from college ... and Brandon seemed to be enjoying the offseason.

In fact, we talked to the guy who cut Brandon's hair on Friday, and he says the hooper seemed perfectly content during the appointment.

The barber says the guys even watched the NBA Playoffs during the haircut, tuning in to the Spurs vs. Timberwolves game.

TMZ Sports broke the story on Tuesday ... Clarke passed away early Monday evening, leaving the sports world stunned.

Everyone from Brandon's teammates to the Grizzlies, and even the NBA expressed condolences over the horrible news.

“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke. As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit," commish Adam Silver said.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with Brandon’s family, friends and the Grizzlies organization.”

Renowned film critic Rex Reed has died at the age of 87, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Reed died at home in New York City, a friend told the outlet Tuesday morning.

His final review was published in the New York Observer in November, for the film "Truth & Treason."

Reed was 87.