Celebrity Death

Gayle King says Hayden Panettiere wasn't at the top of her game when Gayle interviewed her a few months before her tragic death ... but she says it was clear Hayden was trying to get better.

We got the newscaster in New York City on Friday morning ... and our photog asked her if there were signs Hayden wasn't doing well back in May, when they had their last conversation.

Gayle, who laid into Hayden's mom earlier this week for her statement after her daughter died, says there weren't "signs" of anything wrong with Hayden ... but she admits the actress was "clearly still wobbly" and still working things out -- which is why Gayle's heart sank when she heard the news of Hayden's death.

Daveigh Chase's father wants a judge to deny her mother's request to be appointed as the administrator of her 6-figure estate ... TMZ has learned.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, John Schwallier opposes Cathy Chase's motion to be appointed the administrator of the 'Ring' star's estate.

Instead, the docs say Schwallier nominated a woman named Megan Boling -- who describes herself as a neutral licensed professional fiduciary -- to object to Cathy's petition and take on the job instead. If that's denied, the docs request the appointment of a public administrator.

The docs note Daveigh was emancipated from Cathy as a minor due to "allegations of financial irregularities" by Cathy ... and they were "separated" ever since.

The filing says Daveigh was actually "estranged" from both parents at the time of her death, which is why a neutral administrator should be in charge.

The UCLA psychiatric hospital where Robert Carradine attempted suicide failed to follow key safety rules designed to protect patients like him ... according to an investigative report from a federal government agency.

TMZ obtained the newly filed report from the Department of Health and Human Services, which found UCLA's Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital was not in compliance with federal requirements for patient rights and nursing services.

Investigators say the hospital failed to follow its policy of checking in on Robert every 15 minutes as required ... and found that staff also failed to keep contraband out of his room.

That included the belt Robert ultimately used in his suicide attempt ... along with a bedside table.

Rob Reiner's children, Jake and Romy Reiner, testified before the Los Angeles grand jury that would later indict their brother, Nick, on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with their parents' deaths.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office confirmed Jake and Romy went before the grand jury, according to PEOPLE.

As you know, Nick is accused of brutally murdering his filmmaker father and producer mother, Michele Singer Reiner, in December 2025 at their Los Angeles home.

The Notorious B.I.G.'s son, Christopher Wallace Jr., claims his grandmother's will was drastically changed weeks before her death ... he thinks something doesn't seem right about it, and is now bringing the matter to court ... TMZ has learned.

Christopher filed court docs saying his grandmother, Voletta Wallace, died in February 2025 and was survived by him and her granddaughter. Her son -- the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. -- was killed back in 1997.

He said his grandma executed a will in 2020 … which divided up her fur collection, jewelry, music awards given to Biggie, a Mercedes-Benz SUV, a property in Jamaica, and various other properties. He says most of the items were bequeathed to Christopher and his sister ... with a few items given to her brother.

Jonathan Jackson, who costarred with Hayden Panettiere on their hit TV show "Nashville," paid tribute to the late actress in an Instagram post, calling her a "bright light" and "amazingly gifted."

On Wednesday, Jackson uploaded a series of Instagram photos showing him and Hayden posing for smiling pics, including some from when they were working together on "Nashville."

In the show, Jackson played aspiring musician Avery Buckley who got married to Hayden's character, pop star Juliette Barnes. Off screen, the two were also close friends.

In addition to the photos, Jackson wrote an emotional message, kicking things off by saying he had "no words to express the loss of our beloved Hayden."

Hayden Panettiere's death is on the feds' radar ... TMZ has learned the DEA has joined the multi-agency investigation.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has agents assisting the parallel death investigations already underway ... according to our sources with direct knowledge of the probe. As we first reported, Greenville PD and the coroner's office are conducting parallel investigations ... and the DEA jumping on the case as well makes sense.

Remember, paramedics are heard telling a dispatcher Hayden had suffered a possible "overdose." Also, TMZ broke the story ... Narcan -- an over-the-counter OD treatment -- was found in the apartment where Hayden died.

Hayden Panettiere's mother says cops are taking a hard look at drug use in the police investigation into her death ... even bringing in a narcotics investigator to help.

Lesley Vogel told NBC News Wednesday that she's been informed cops are investigating the death ... adding she's even been told they brought in a narco detective.

She doesn't know where they're at in the investigation necessarily ... but Lesley adds the authorities seem to have quite a few questions regarding Hayden's death.

Sandra Bullock is finally opening up about her partner Bryan Randall's death ... explaining why she kept the details of his ALS diagnosis to herself.

The actress appeared on the "SmartLess" podcast this week ... telling Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett that she kept his medical issues a secret because he asked her to.

Sandra says she understands his reasoning ... but also admits the request left her isolated in the process.

Police are not satisfied Hayden Panettiere's death was a tragic overdose of prescribed meds, because they are trying to determine if there could be criminal conduct behind it.

Law enforcement sources involved in the case tell TMZ they are conducting a death investigation to see if some illegality is behind the 36-year-old's death.

As we reported, the Greenville PD showed up Wednesday morning at the family home of her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. It would appear police want information from Brian regarding any circumstances that might be connected to Hayden's death.

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend's family was visited by some of Greenville's finest early Wednesday morning ... with cops spotted knocking on their door.

Two uniformed officers were photographed Wednesday morning at the Hickerson home. One knocked on the front door while another walked up their driveway.

It's unclear why they paid the Hickersons a visit ... or if anyone ultimately let them in.

Hayden Panettiere's remains have been released from a South Carolina coroner's office -- and are now in the hands of her family, TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Greenville Coroner's Office tells TMZ ... the actress' body was transferred Tuesday night to a mortuary chosen by Hayden's family. The coroner's rep would not disclose the mortuary's name, leaving that up to the discretion of the family.

As we reported ... the family was notified Tuesday that Hayden's remains were ready for release after she had died from a possible drug overdose.  

Steven Tyler and Hayden Panettiere stayed close after working together on "Nashville" ... and the rocker is shocked by the loss.

A photog got the Aerosmith frontman while he was out on Tuesday ... and at first it seemed like he didn't want to talk -- but then Hayden was mentioned.

Check out the video ... the two clearly formed a bond while working together on the popular ABC series -- where Tyler did a few guest appearances as himself.

Frank Beard, the longtime drummer for legendary rock band ZZ Top, has died ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Fort Bend County Medical Examiner Frank passed away on August 17 at his Texas ranch with family by his side after a stay in hospice. A cause of death has not been disclosed at this time.

ZZ Top founder Billy F. Gibbons released a statement on his passing saying, “Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished.”

As TMZ previously reported ... Frank's health forced ZZ Top to cancel its August 5 concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

Police in South Carolina are trying to get their hands on surveillance footage that's said to show Hayden Panettiere entering and exiting the apartment complex where she died, TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained the Greenville Police Department's heavily redacted incident report, which reveals the complex's courtesy officer has CCTV footage of Hayden, her boyfriend Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach on the premises.

A responding officer wrote ... "I spoke with the courtesy officer of Judson Mills and he advised he has CCTV footage of all three individuals coming and going. He will be doing a supplemental report and uploading that footage."

"Remember the Titans" actor Ethan Suplee shared a dark moment in his addiction battle while paying tribute to his costar Hayden Panettiere ... recalling the time he smoked heroin at their big movie premiere.

Ethan revealed on Substack that he was high on heroin at the film's 2000 premiere at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, smoking drugs in a bathroom just moments after sharing a sweet moment with Hayden.

Ethan said Hayden -- who was just 10 at the time -- ran up to him and jumped into his arms.

He recalled ... "Holding her I was lighter, some of her energy and innocence washed over me, and for a moment my smile was genuine."