Celebrity Death

Molly Shannon shared a touching tribute for her close friend and collaborator, Jeff Baena just two days after the director was found dead in his Los Angeles home.

The actress posted a series of photos Saturday of the two of them with the caption marked simply by a 💔 emoji.

Molly starred in Baena's films "The Little Hours" and "Life After Beth," alongside his wife, Aubrey Plaza. Her post highlights the bond and close friendship the three built and shared through the years.

Filmmaker Jeff Baena -- best known for directing films like "Life After Beth" and "The Little Hours," and the husband of Aubrey Plaza, has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police and fire responded to a Los Angeles-area home Friday around 10:30 AM for a death investigation ... after an assistant discovered him dead.

Baena was pronounced dead at the scene ... law enforcement says he died by suicide.

Nicole Kidman got emotional during an acceptance speech at the Palm Springs International Film Awards ... and even started crying as she dedicated her award to her late mother.

The Oscar-winning actress was given the International Star Award for her latest movie, "Babygirl," by film legend Jamie Lee Curtis at Friday's festival in California.

Nicole stepped up to the mic onstage to say a few words -- and almost immediately began talking about the death of her mom, Janelle, in September.

The procession for former President Jimmy Carter has begun in Georgia ... his home state, which is where he died this week at the age of 100.

A motorcade with a flag-draped casket of the 39th president began the journey to Washington by going through his hometown of Plains on Saturday.

Former Secret Service agents who protected President Carter acted as pallbearers when the procession initially began at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in GA.

Singer Brenton Wood, best known for his 1967 hit "The Oogum Boogum Song," has died, TMZ has learned.

Wood's manager and assistant, Manny Gallegos, confirmed the news to TMZ, revealing he passed away today at his Moreno Valley, California home, surrounded by friends and family.

As of now, his cause of his death has not been revealed.

Swiss-born New York socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, often referred to in the media as 'Catwoman' due to her surgically enhanced cat-like features, has died at the age of 84.

Paris Match reports Wildenstein passed away in a Parisian palace on Tuesday in Paris from a pulmonary embolism.

Wildenstein -- famous for her dramatic feline-like cosmetic transformation -- married billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein in 1978, and their subsequent divorce in 1999 was widely publicized.

Liam Payne was advised by his psychiatrist just weeks before his death ... he needed a "higher level of care" than she could provide.

In a letter, filed with the court in Argentina and obtained by TMZ ... the One Direction star's psychiatrist informed the British singer in September she could no longer provide psychiatric care for him.

As the psychiatrist put it ... she decided to stop treating Liam "after careful consideration and assessment," but advised him to continue with a treatment plan -- which included taking medications only as prescribed, avoiding heavy drinking while on medication, weekly therapy, meeting with a primary care doctor, and further testing.

Angus MacInnes -- a prolific actor who appeared in the original "Star Wars" film -- has died ... according to a Facebook post by a family member.

In the statement, his family reveals MacInnes passed away peacefully on December 23, surrounded by loved ones. They did not list a cause of death.

Angus' family says he took great pride in appearing in some unforgettable projects during his career ... adding that fans of "Star Wars" held a special place in his heart.

Linda Lavin -- best known for her lead role in the 1970s TV sitcom "Alice" -- has died, TMZ has confirmed.

The actress passed away Sunday in Los Angeles from complications of lung cancer with which she was recently diagnosed, according to her reps.

Lavin began her career in the late '60s on Broadway before heading west in the '70s to Hollywood.

Several people connected to Liam Payne's death are facing formal charges in Argentina ... according to local reports in the Latin American country.

Infobae -- an Argentinian online newspaper -- revealed Saturday that sources with direct knowledge of the case confirmed five people have been charged by a judge.

Among them ... Liam's friend Roger Nores -- who says he left Liam at the CasaSur Palermo hotel about an hour before he fell to his death -- who authorities have charged with negligent homicide.

Jimmy Carter -- the 39th President of the United States, a renowned philanthropist and a Nobel Peace Prize winner -- has died.

The news of his death was confirmed by his son, Jimmy Carter III also known as Chip to the Washington Post on Sunday.

The Carter Center tells TMZ ... Jimmy passed away at home surrounded by family. He was the longest living former president in history when he passed away.

Donald Trump's showering praise on the late Jimmy Carter ... saying he did his best to improve the lives of his fellow Americans -- and, the country owes him a debt.

The president-elect posted to his social media platform, Truth Social, Sunday ... only about an hour after the Carter Center announced the former president had passed away at 100.

In his message, Trump writes that anyone who has been president knows it's a very exclusive club ... and, only members in its ranks can understand the responsibility of leading the country.

Charles Shyer, the writer-director best known for the "Father of the Bride" remake starring Steve Martin, has died.

Shyer died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a brief illness, his daughter told media outlets.

The Oscar-nominated writer and director teamed with then-wife Nancy Meyers for several classic '80s comedies ... including "Private Benjamin," "Irreconcilable Differences," and "Baby Boom."

Olivia Hussey, most well known for playing Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s classic 1968 drama “Romeo and Juliet," has died.

The actress passed away Friday at her home surrounded by family, according to a lengthy post on her Instagram page ... but her cause of death was not revealed.

The sad IG announcement read in part ... "Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her."

11:03 AM PT -- OG Maco's family has released a statement, summarizing the rapper's life and career as a "testament to resilience, creativity and boundless love."

OG Maco passed away last night surrounded by family in a Los Angeles hospital, TMZ Hip Hop has learned.

The "U Guessed It" rapper had been hospitalized since December 12 after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Sources close to the situation tell us Maco's coma took a turn and he went into critical condition, and he was unable to be revived.

Doctors had been struggling to get a proper brain scan in attempts to flush out all the toxins in Maco's system since he was admitted earlier in the month.

Sports broadcasting legend Greg Gumbel has died.

The longtime studio host's family said in a statement to CBS on Friday "he passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer."

They added, "Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity. He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten."