Celebrity Health

Garry Shandling has been dead for nearly 48 hours, but his death certificate has not been signed, because we've learned his doctor refuses to do so.

Our sources say Garry's primary physician has repeatedly refused to sign because he has no idea how or why his patient died. The doctor says he hadn't seen Shandling in more than a year and as far as he knew Garry was in good heath.

The doctor's refusal to sign triggered an official death investigation by the L.A. County Coroner, who will now officially determine cause of death.

We're told the coroner's investigators have already taken blood work from the ER where Shandling was pronounced dead. The investigators have also subpoenaed records from the doctor.

Garry Shandling was feeling bad the night before he died, and he was making plans to go to the ER Thursday afternoon.

Sources connected with the comedian tell TMZ ... he spoke with a doctor friend of his Wednesday late afternoon, complaining he was not feeling well. The doctor was concerned enough that he came to Shandling's home and checked him out.

Garry complained he was achy and short of breath. He did not complain of chest pains. The doctor told Garry if he was not feeling well the next day he should go to the ER to check it out. Garry said if he wasn't feeling better he'd probably go sometime Thursday afternoon.

In a recent appearance on Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," Shandling cracked a joke about having hyperparathyroidism ... which, according to the Mayo Clinic, can lead to cardiovascular disease.

TMZ broke the story, Garry called 911 Thursday at around 10:30 AM and fell unconscious during the call. Paramedics responded, broke his door down and found him unresponsive. We're told he had a weak pulse at the house. He was pronounced dead at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica.

Ellen Barkin had a medical emergency on the set of her TV show Tuesday after choking on her lunch.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us, Ellen had taken a break on the set of her new TNT show, "Animal Kingdom," when food apparently went down the wrong pipe. Ellen showed signs of distress and began to panic. It got worse ... so bad she actually passed out.

We're told the 61-year-old actress was rushed to an L.A. hospital where doctors performed a variety of tests. It's unclear how the food was dislodged.

We're told she's ok and was released Tuesday night. The trooper she is ... Ellen showed up for work Wednesday morning.

"Gold Rush" star John Schnabel, one of the great Alaskan gold miners on the Discovery show died Friday morning. He was 96.

Schnabel's family broke the news he passed away peacefully in his sleep, saying ... "He was a true legend."

Schnabel was a military vet who got into gold mining later in life when doctors suggested he keep active after a triple bypass. He became an anchor on Discovery's hit gold mining show -- which focuses heavily on his grandson, Parker Schnabel.

Parker took over responsibilities at the Big Nugget Mine when John's health declined.

#RIP

Tony Bennett (the singer) is clearing up some Tony Bennett confusion -- clarifying it was OTHER Tony Bennett (the coach) who collapsed at the NCAA tourney Thursday ... and he (the singer) is just fine.

Tony Bennett (the coach) collapsed on the sideline as his Virginia team was taking on Hampton in the 1st round of March Madness. The good news ... doctors say he was just dehydrated and will be fine.

But when word of Bennett's (the coach) medical scare made its way across social media, many people confused him for the singer ... so Tony (the singer) decided to clear things up once and for all.

"I wanted to let all my fans know that Im ok," Tony write ... "Glad to hear UVA coach Tony Bennett is fine after his fall. Congrats @UVAMensHoops on the win!"

ATL Falcons owner Arthur Blank has taken a page from Leah Still and Bret Hart -- and says he's CANCER FREE!!!

The 73-year-old had announced last month that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer -- but vowed to fight like hell and scheduled a surgery to remove it.

Now, good news ... Blank was speaking at the 2016 Georgia Technology Summit Thursday and announced that the cancer is gone!

Sting's wrestling career is over ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Long story short ... the wrestling legend messed up his neck real bad at his "WWE Night of Champions" match against Seth Rollins back in September -- and was never able to recover.

Sources connected to Sting tell us he was evaluated by several doctors who all agree -- it's just too risky for the wrestler to get back in the squared circle ... so, he's decided to hang up his singlet.

We're told the 56-year-old was formally diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis -- a condition affecting the nerves that can result in extreme pain and discomfort.

In fact, it's the same condition that forced fellow WWE superstar Edge to retire in 2011.

Our sources tell us Sting may make his official announcement next month at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in Texas ... but we're told it's a done deal.

As far as Sting's future -- it's up in the air. We're told Sting is open to a non-physical role with the company ... but we're told no formal offer has been made.

Sting was a legend in the ring ... rising to superstardom in the late '80s before becoming the face of the WCW and a huge fan favorite in the WWE.

#Respect

Ex-'Biggest Loser' doctor Robert Huizenga has a big problem with his ex-wife ... who says she's cash strapped and fighting illness, while he's off living the life with his 34-year-old P.Y.T.

Wanda Huizenga says she and the Dr. were happily married for 33 years -- plus 3 not-so-happy years -- and during that time she quit working and became a full-time mother and housewife. They split up in 2012, but since then ... Wanda says she's fallen on hard times. She's battling COPD and has a brain tumor.

On the other hand ... Wanda says Robert, who is currently Charlie Sheen's physician, is having the time of his life. In legal docs she describes his health as, "Excellent. Runs 8 miles a day. Young 34-year-old to keep him happy."

Dr. H. is currently paying her $10k per month, but Wanda says that's not cutting it ... especially with her medical bills. She says her ex is not "being fair or generous" and she's hurt beyond belief.

Lil Boosie is doing a victory lap in Hawaii after beating cancer ... and it involves a whole lot of ass.

Boosie hit the surf with a bunch of women and did his best Rihanna impression. Tide was low but Boosie's spirit was definitely high.

As we previously reported ... doctors removed half of his kidney in December after they found cancer.

Appears his close brush with death has made him appreciate life ... and ass more.

Mama June's going under the knife to find a safer weight loss solution ... after falling unconscious multiple times.

We're told June is set to go in for gastric sleeve surgery later this month, and hopes to lose at least 80 more pounds. She's been on a crusade to slim down so she'd be healthy enough for the surgery. She's already dropped 90 lbs.

We're told "sleeve specialist" Dr. Michael Feiz in Beverly Hills will perform the operation.

TMZ broke the story ... June was hospitalized two weeks ago after collapsing. Although doctors couldn't pin down the problem, we're told they suspect she was pushing her dieting too far.

2 P.M. PST -- We're told Eric will be discharged from the hospital within the next couple of hours ... docs say it was a case of too much stress being put on his body after the workout and therapy. 

Howard Stern "Wack Pack" member High Pitch Erik is in a NYC hospital after suffering symptoms of a possible heart attack.

Joey Boots, Erik's friend and fellow 'Stern Show' veteran, tells TMZ ... Erik worked out with a trainer Thursday morning and later saw his physical therapist. During his session, Erik began to experience numbness in his legs, tightness in his chest and tingling in his left arm.

We're told Erik's therapist immediately called an ambulance and he was taken to a local hospital.

Erik's currently undergoing tests but is stable.

"Deadliest Catch" star Captain Sig Hansen is calling it quits after suffering a heart attack -- that's right, no more cigarettes ... or at least, fewer of them.

The famous crabber came on "TMZ Live" to talk about his recovery from that heart attack he suffered last week while at sea. Sig says it was a huge wake up call and he's seriously trying to quit his smoking habit.

Cameras were rolling when Sig fell unconscious and we're told it will be part of the show's 12th season which starts later this month on Discovery.

L.A. Rams WR Stedman Bailey is back in NFL training mode -- busting his ass in a Miami gym in the hopes of returning to the league despite being shot in the head ... and TMZ Sports has the video.

Bailey was struck by two bullets on November 24th ... leaving him in critical condition at a Miami hospital ... where he remained for a month.

S.B. vowed to make a gridiron comeback ... despite the odds being so incredibly stacked against him.

Now, we've learned the former 3rd round pick has been hitting the weights hard at the Xtreme Fitness gym in Miami ... and according to the owner Gary Sanchez, he's making tremendous progress.

"He's been training with me for 2 and a half months," Sanchez says ... who's been working with Bailey on weight training, balancing, hand-eye coordination and explosion movement drills.

"My biggest fear was, 'Is he mentally going to be ready and has he lost any type of functions?' But he didn’t. He was ready to go the minute he walked in the gym."

As far as his NFL future goes ... Bailey's trainer says, "He is physically and mentally ready, definitely ready to go right now."

Mama June is still laying in a Georgia hospital because doctors can't figure out what caused her fainting spells ... TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, Mama June will remain in the hospital an extra night after she was rushed there Wednesday night after she collapsed in her home.

We're told all of her tests have come back normal and doctors are unable to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with her.

Our sources say Mama June did have one theory ... she told doctors she has been extra stressed lately since "Marriage Boot Camp" began airing ... and she and Sugar Bear have been fighting about it constantly.

We're told docs plan on keeping Mama June in the hospital until they figure out what's wrong.

Lee Reherman -- aka Hawk -- had a strange, metallic taste in his mouth just hours before his death, sources close to the former "American Gladiators" actor tell TMZ.

We're told Lee's girlfriend urged him to go to the ER late Monday night when he began complaining about the metal-y taste.

A rep for Lee confirms he declined to seek medical attention, hoping to sleep it off. His girlfriend left the room to take a shower later that night and when she came back into the room, Lee had passed.

The actor's death seemed to come from out of the blue. We're told he'd been feeling great after his recent hip surgery and even began hitting the gym again.

Bret Hart kicked his cancer right in the face -- and has essentially defeated the illness ... so says Bret's good friend and fellow wrestling legend Jim Ross.

Ross appeared on "The Gunz Show" on Idobi / 77 WABC Radio and said he was recently texting with Hart -- who announced last month that he had been battling prostate cancer.

"They removed the cancer by removing his prostate," Ross said ... "His cancer is a non-issue now, thank god."

Ross added, "All issues are resolved and addressed ... so that's the good news about Bret Hart."