Celebrity Death

Esta TerBlanche left behind a bunch of animals -- including some very unique pets -- when she died last week, and they had to be collected by a third party ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops got called to the "All My Children" star's home last week when her assistant went to her house to check on her because she hadn't heard from Esta ... who had just returned to the States from a trip overseas.

Our sources say the assistant found Esta Friday on the ground in her bathroom, called 911 and first responders pronounced her dead on the scene.

Sandy Posey -- who hit it big time in the '60s with her music career -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

The late pop singer's husband, Wade Cummins, tells us his wife passed away Saturday morning at her home in Tennessee -- this following complications from dementia, we're told.

Wade tells us Sandy had been battling dementia for a while now, with a slow decline over the past seven years. Aside from that, he says she was in relatively good health ... with no issues like high blood pressure or problems with any other organs.

Duke Fakir, the last surviving original member of the beloved Motown group the Four Tops, is dead.

The singer died Monday at his home in Detroit as a result of heart failure ... according to his family.

Duke's family tells his hometown newspaper, the Detroit Free Press ... "Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a trailblazer, icon and music legend who, through his 70-year music career, touched the lives of so many."

"16 And Pregnant" star Sean Garinger's official cause of death is blunt force injury to the head ... according to the M.E.'s office.

TMZ obtained the docs from the Raleigh, NC Medical Examiner's office, and the report on his February death says his skull was fractured in multiple places -- after his horrific freak accident involving an ATV in the driveway of his home.

As we previously reported ... Sean was driving his ATV when the ground gave way, flipping the off-road vehicle and pinning him underneath. The accident crushed his skull, tragically ending his life before help could arrive.

Esta TerBlanche -- a star on the iconic soap "All My Children" -- has died at 51, her family tells TMZ.

Barbie Ashley, her goddaughter, tells TMZ ... Esta died unexpectedly on Thursday in her North Hollywood home ... medical personnel believe the South African actress had been dead for about a day before she was found.

The cause of her death is under investigation, her rep, Lisa Rodrigo tells us ... adding there is no other information at this time.

Richard Simmons' team's keeping his legacy alive ... sharing a post the late star approved before he passed -- including what looks like a recent pic of the fitness guru.

The people behind Simmons' X account shared a post they say Richard worked on tirelessly that was supposed to go up last Sunday -- the day after he passed away.

In the post, the account managers explain how RS would go over posts multiple times ... holding off on posting until he'd written them exactly how he wanted.

Whitney Rydbeck -- an actor known for his appearance in a 'Friday the 13th' film and several major sitcoms -- has died ... according to his longtime friend.

The actor passed away early last week according to his friend, director Tommy McLoughlin, who just posted the news a couple days ago ... saying the world lost a truly funny comedian and kind-hearted friend.

The Hollywood Reporter spoke with McCloughlin as well ... who told them he died from prostate cancer complications while in hospice care in Chatsworth, California.

Richard Simmons' death certificate sheds no further light on the mystery surrounding his death ... but does provide some interesting details on his final resting place.

In the document obtained by TMZ ... Richard's manner of death is not listed -- instead, it notes the manner of death is still pending an investigation. This explains why there is still no cause of death to report.

However, it appears the fitness guru -- who is actually referred to as a "Health Motivator" on the cert -- has already been laid to rest a week after his death. Per the doc, Richard was buried here in L.A. at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary.

Bob Newhart -- an absolutely iconic figure in stand-up comedy, TV and film -- has died.

Bob passed away Thursday at his Los Angeles home after a series of brief illnesses, according to his longtime rep.

He's perhaps best known for his deadpan delivery, and his 2 successful sitcoms -- "The Bob Newhart Show" came first from 1972 to 1978, and costarred Suzanne Pleshette, Marcia Wallace and Peter Bonerz.

Pop Smoke's mother Audrey Jackson isn't entertained by her son's killer making the rounds on the interview circuit and just may pursue legal action to prevent it from happening again!!!

TMZ Hip Hop got Ms. Jackson in NYC and the anti-gun violence advocate was all fired up for this weekend's celebration to commemorate Pop's 25th birthday ... food, games, a basketball event and a full-blown parade will cap off the week's festivities.

We broke the story in 2020 ... the platinum-selling "Dior" rapper was shot and killed at a Hollywood Hills residence once owned by "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Teddi Mellencamp ... and posthumously became a hip hop legend with his music earning rave reviews in death.

Shannen Doherty was determined to finalize her divorce before she died, but she didn't quite make it ... nevertheless, a family law judge gave her a unique, posthumous assist.

As you know, Shannen died Saturday after a multi-year struggle with cancer. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ, those closest to her knew she would not make it past the weekend.

Shannen, we're told, wanted an official divorce from Kurt Iswarienko before she passed. They were married in 2011 and the split was bitter.

Shannen Doherty appeared to make peace with longtime frenemy Alyssa Milano before her death ... as she doled out surprising praise for the actress in her final days.

The actress recorded an episode for the "House of Halliwell" podcast with "Charmed" costar Holly Marie Combs, which was released July 14, the day after Shannen died. During the episode, Shannen reflected on actress Lori Rom originally playing Phoebe Halliwell in an unaired "Charmed" pilot -- with the role later going to Alyssa.

Despite their decades-long feud, Shannen praised Alyssa for bringing some much-needed levity to the supernatural drama.

The man convicted of killing rapper Slim 400 was just sentenced to several decades behind bars.

On Wednesday, L.A. native Michael Terry was sentenced to 32 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter for Slim's December 2021 shooting death.

Terry previously admitted to pulling up to a residence in Inglewood where Terry gunned down Slim in his own front yard.

The horrifying moments surrounding Donald Trump's attempted assassination and the shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, Richard Simmons' death, and Jerry Rice's threat to reporters ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

On "TMZ Live" Harvey and Charles detail the timeline of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and break down all the known facts about the 20-year-old shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks.

Shannen Doherty settled her divorce with one ex-husband of hers -- but another is now weighing in on her untimely passing ... and he's heaping praise on her as a partner.

Ashley Hamilton -- who was married to SD from '93 to '94 -- tells TMZ he's heartbroken by his ex-wife's death ... and despite the fact they were only man and wife for about a year, he remembers her fondly as someone who was in his corner during a difficult chapter.

AH says, "Shannen was not only my wife, she was my guardian angel. Even though things don’t always work out the way we hope they will, she stood by my side during some of my darkest times. My love and admiration for her lasted far longer than our short-lived marriage."

Shannen Doherty was in the middle of an ugly divorce with her husband before she died -- but it looks like it was a chapter they were able to close together, on the same page.

New legal docs, obtained by TMZ, show that the late actress and her estranged spouse, Kurt Iswarienko, reached an agreement on a number of issues in their divorce case ... which was very much so active before Shannen passed away this weekend.

In the paperwork, it notes both parties had come to terms on property and other issues ... and that the case would not proceed as uncontested. As part of their settlement, they also served docs with final disclosures that usually cover finances and such.