Last Days Podcast

10:48 AM PT -- Kato Kaelin -- who was a key witness during the O.J. Simpson trial -- just posted a video responding to the news ... and he sends thoughts and prayers to O.J.'s children, as well as the families of the victims, including Nicole Brown Simpson.

He doesn't say much else about O.J. himself.

Ron Goldman's father says he's not focusing on O.J. Simpson today -- instead, he says he's remembering his son, and using today to think about how long he's been gone.

Fred Goldman spoke with People Thursday, hours after news of Simpson's death broke, and he told the outlet he's only thinking about how Ron died nearly 30 years ago ... and, not about how the man acquitted of his murder has finally died.

Goldman says he's focused on all of the pain he's dealt with over the years since his son died ... and, added the only important thing is remembering Ron and Nicole Brown Simpson today.

El padre de Ron Goldman dice que no se está pensando en O.J. Simpson hoy, en su lugar, está recordando a su hijo y todo el tiempo que ha estado ausente.

Fred Goldman habló con People el jueves, horas después de que se diera a conocer la noticia de su muerte y les dijo que solo está pensando en la partida de Ron hace casi 30 años y no en la muerte del hombre que resultó absuelto de su asesinato.

Goldman dice que se está centrado en el dolor con el que ha lidiado desde que su hijo murió y añadió que lo único importante es recordar a Ron y a Nicole Brown Simpson hoy.

O.J. Simpson's death might have shocked the world ... but, it didn't come as a surprise to his close friends -- who TMZ has learned came to Las Vegas to say their final farewells.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... those who remained in O.J.'s inner circle flew into Vegas over the last week to see him before he passed. Unclear exactly how many friends, or who showed up, but we're told a handful of people came to Sin City and got to see O.J.

We're told Simpson was communicating just fine and was able to talk with his pals ... but, our sources say they all knew the end was coming, and that this would be their last chance to get some face time.

It's been exactly 30 years since we lost Kurt Cobain -- and even all this time later, there are some photos of the late rocker you haven't seen ... including these ones with Courtney Love.

To mark 3 decades since his death, a husband and wife named Constance Hansen and Russell Peacock -- who form the photog duo known as Guzman -- have released a new set of images capturing the Nirvana legend in the simple joys of everyday life with his then-wife.

The images are from their iconic 1992 "Family Values" photoshoot for Spin! magazine, where only 5 images -- including some with their 5-week-old daughter Frances Bean -- were used out of the 100 taken. Now, we're getting a look at all the rest ... and they're fascinating.

Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a Supporting Actor Oscar, has died.

The actor's nephew said Gossett passed away Thursday night in Santa Monica. No cause of death has been revealed.

Gossett had a celebrated career, most noticeably earning his groundbreaking Academy Award for 1982's "An Officer and a Gentleman" ... which he said was a huge affirmation of his position as a Black actor in his 2010 memoir, "An Actor and a Gentleman."

Keith Morrison says his stepson Matthew Perry thought he was overcoming his addiction before his sudden death ... but in reality, says he knew he really wasn't.

In his first interview since Matthew's passing in October, the "Dateline" correspondent -- who's married to Matt's mother, Suzanne -- recently revealed on Hoda Kotb's podcast that the beloved actor felt he was beating his addiction and in a good place ... happy, even.

Keith also acknowledged that Matt had a particularly tough struggle with alcohol and drugs -- something we all knew. He described Matthew's addiction battle as "virulent" ... noting the disease went after him relentlessly over the years.

With this in mind, Keith says he wasn't totally surprised by Matt's untimely ending. Still, he added ... "He didn't get to have his third act, and that's not fair." It's a somber conversation.

As we reported ... Mathew's autopsy noted he'd been clean for 19 months ... but his death was ruled an accident having been caused by the acute effects of ketamine.

MP had been using ketamine infusion therapy to treat his depression and anxiety -- and his last treatment came a week before his death, which TMZ broke at the time.

Matthew was found unresponsive in his jacuzzi ... drowning and coronary artery disease were later highlighted as additional factors on his official cause of death.

Keith admitted that he's still struggling with grief over Matthew's death ... but confessed his wife/Matt's mom is having a harder time with it all, even all these months later.  According to Keith, Matthew and Suzanne were closer than ever just before the actor's passing.

3:41 PM PT -- Two of Carl's former costars have expressed condolences for the late actor.

Arnold Schwarzenegger posted a photo of them from the set of 'Predator,' and wrote ... "Carl Weathers will always be a legend. An extraordinary athlete, a fantastic actor, and a great person. We couldn’t have made Predator without him. And we certainly wouldn’t have had such a wonderful time making it."

Dolph Lundgren of 'Rocky' fame also posted a tribute, writing ... "I was saddened to hear the news this morning. Along with the world, I will miss Carl. He was a great actor, a terrific athlete and a good friend. I cherish many special memories of Carl, both professionally and personally. Like Apollo Creed, he had that special charm that always brought a smile to your face"

Carl Weathers -- famous from a number of movies, but most prominently as Sylvester Stallone's early nemesis in the 'Rocky' movies -- has sadly died ... TMZ has confirmed.

The beloved actor passed away peacefully Thursday while surrounded by loved ones -- this according to a statement from his family. They say, "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers."

They add, "He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024. … Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend."

Unclear what ailments, if any, Carl may have been battling lately ... he'd been actively acting in recent years -- and on the surface, there didn't seem to be much wrong with him.

In any case ... it's an absolute blow to showbiz -- Carl was a titan in the movie industry, with acting credits dating back to the early 1970s when he was guest starring on shows like "Good " 'Kung Fu," "S.W.A.T.," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Cannon" "McCloud" and more.

His true big break came courtesy of Sly ... Carl was cast as the brash and bold heavyweight champ of the world, Apollo, and he was pitted against Rocky in the ring for two films.

His character stuck around for another two 'Rocky' films ... in the third one, he actually brought the Italian Stallion out of a slump and back to glory with a new type of training he'd never experienced ... making for some iconic, memorable scenes as part of a montage.

The shot of them slow-mo running on the beach, and Sly eventually pulling ahead, goes down in movie history as one of the most awesome and inspiring things caught on camera.

Apollo was killed off in "Rocky IV" -- in dramatic fashion, no less -- but his imprint in that movie franchise lives on even today ... Michael B. Jordan plays his fictional son in the 'Creed' flicks, which are still going strong -- and which continue to be cranked out in Hollywood.

Even outside of 'Rocky,' Carl's presence left an impression in just about every cult classic flick he's been a part of. Just to name a few right off the bat -- "Predator," "Happy Gilmore," "Action Jackson," "The Defiant Ones," "Braker," "Death Hunt," "Hurricane Smith," and others.

His TV credits are also quite impressive ... CW was on shows like "Fortune Dane," "Tour of Duty," "Street Justice," "In the Heat of the Night," "Brothers," "The Shield," "Arrested Development," "Chicago Justice," ... and more recently, in Star Wars' "The Mandalorian."

He'd appeared in episodes of the latter as recently as 2023. In all, he has 80 acting credits.

Outside of Hollywood, Carl was involved in noble charitable efforts -- including Lupus L.A., The L.A. Police Memorial Foundation, The PEACE Fund and The Tower Cancer Research Foundation.

Prior to his acting career, Weathers played for the Oakland Raiders from 1970-1971 ... and the team addressed the tragic loss in a statement Friday afternoon.

"Always a proud Raider, Weathers will be missed dearly by his Raiders Family and his many fans worldwide," the team said. "Our deepest condolences are with the Weathers family at this time."

He's survived by his two sons. Carl was 76.

RIP

Allison Holker has officially bid adieu to the Encino home she shared with her late husband Stephen "tWitch" Boss ... selling it after purchasing an ultra-modern farmhouse in L.A. last month for $5 mil.

11 months after the passing of Stephen -- the late DJ from Ellen DeGeneres' talk show -- Allison was understandably seeking a fresh start. According to real estate records, just a month after listing the pad for $3,795,000, she's sold it for $3,525,000.

With Allison's chapter closed on the 6-bedroom and 7-bathroom 4,600-square-foot property where she made unforgettable memories filming dance videos with Stephen, the new owner is in for a treat.

Built in 2018, it has some defining features such as a wine display, a fully functioning butler's pantry in a pro-chef's kitchen, and a pool house ... with its own private bathroom.

But, after a challenging year, it's only onward and upward for Allison, who has reportedly purchased herself a larger 5,800 square feet home .... newly built this year with 6 bathrooms, a movie theatre, designer lighting, and glass doors for the perfect indoor-outdoor Cali living experience.

Clearly, the move marks a much-needed fresh start for Allison and her children -- Weslie, 15, Maddox, 7, and Zaia, 3.

Speaking to Hoda Kotb in May, heartbroken Allison said the conversations she had with her kids following Stephen's passing were something she didn't wish on anybody.

TMZ broke the story ... Stephen died by suicide back in December 2022 ... leaving a suicide note referencing past challenges.

Matthew Perry was out and about the day before he died -- doing lunch with a woman, and looked to be in good spirits ... true to what people close to him have told us about his final weeks.

TMZ obtained these photos of the "Friends" star dining out Friday afternoon at the Hotel Bel-Air ... where he shared a table with a mystery brunette.

Folks there say Matthew and his guest were seated at the table for over an hour and left together.

In the photos, Matthew is chatting her up and we're told the actor was so engaged in conversation with her, he barely touched his drink or food.

The photos were snapped Oct. 27 around 2:30 PM ... and, sadly, by the following afternoon, Matthew was dead. As we first reported, his assistant called 911 around 4 PM after finding the actor unresponsive in his hot tub.

As we first reported ... LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division is investigating the death, not because foul play is suspected, but because it's such a high-profile case.

People close to Matthew have told us "he was never happier" than he'd been recently -- full of energy, and ready to jump back into work ... having committed to act in a movie, and developing TV series ideas.

No word on who the woman in the photos is, but she might very well have been the last person to break bread with Matthew.

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, a 2x World Series champion, has died at the age of 57 ... just days after former teammate Curt Schilling revealed the longtime starting pitcher was battling brain cancer.

The Boston Red Sox, Wakefield's team for all but two of his 19 MLB seasons (he spent his early days with the Pirates), announced the devastating news on social media.

"Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield," the BoSox wrote on X.

"Wake embodied true goodness; a devoted husband, father, and teammate, beloved broadcaster, and the ultimate community leader. He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation."

"Our deepest love and thoughts are with Stacy, Trevor, Brianna, and the Wakefield family."

On the mound, Wakefield could be nearly unhittable … thanks to his knuckleball. TW won 200 games and retired with a 4.41 ERA. Tim struck out over 2,100 batters and earned a trip to the All-Star Game in 2009.

He won two World Series in 2004 and 2007.

Wakefield retired in 2011 ... and was later inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame.

Of course, it wasn't publicly known that the former All-Star was sick until Schilling, on his podcast last week, revealed Tim was battling cancer and fighting for his life, seemingly against the Wakefield family's wishes.

Curt even acknowledged "I don't even know if he wants it shared," but explained he was Christian and remarked ... "I've seen prayer work and so I'm going to talk about it."

Schilling categorized the illness as "a very serious, very aggressive form of brain cancer."

Many were outraged by Schilling's actions ... Jason Varitek's wife, Catherine, blasted the World Series MVP-winning pitcher. The Red Sox also condemned Curt, saying, "Health is a deeply personal matter they intended to keep private as they navigate treatment and work to tackle this disease."

The MLB team added that the Wakefields were asking for "privacy at this time."

Sadly, just three days later, the legendary knuckleballer and father of two, passed away.

Many from the baseball community have begun reacting to the terrible news, with Tim's former teammate, Kevin Youkilis, summing Wakefield up perfectly.

"He was a great teammate and just a great friend."

En honor al Día Internacional del Podcast, estos podcasters famosos que se han conectado a las plataformas y se han sumado a la moda de hablar por micrófono, merecen un aplauso. Estos presentadores de Hollywood no solo acumulan audiencia y seguidores, ¡sino que además se ríen hasta la saciedad!

Empezamos con algunos de los legendarios. Joe Rogan lanzó su podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience", en 2009, "Call Her Daddy" de Alex Cooper ha estado generando mucho movimiento y un top-pod en Spotify desde 2018, y "The Joe Budden Podcast" de Joe Budden se convirtió en un éxito tal, que se retiró del rap.

Los famosos Dax Shepard y Bethenny Frankel se unieron a sus respectivos dispositivos y han encontrado la forma de conectarse con sus espectadores y fans desde la comodidad de un estudio cercano, ¡O incluso desde sus casas!

Oprah y Martha Stewart también se han subido al podcast. ¡Así que el podcasting tiene que estar de moda!

Ya has escuchado a estos famosos hablar a su estilo, pero profundiza también en los temas más candentes de Hollywood y únete a la conversación con nuestros podcasts de TMZ ...

Acompañando al contenido vanguardista y exclusivo de TMZ, "The TMZ Podcast" te informará de todo lo que rodea a las mayores historias de la cultura pop. Únete a Charlie Cotton y compañía para conocer lo último sobre las historias de las que todos hablan.

"TMZ Verified" cubre las historias más comentadas de Internet. Desde las tendencias virales al drama de los influencers, VERIFIED es tu única parada para todo lo que está de moda. Cada semana, Wyld Young y Steph Williams desglosan las noticias más importantes de las redes sociales con algunos de los influencers más populares de Internet.

Explora los últimos momentos de algunos de los mayores iconos del deporte y el entretenimiento con "Last Days", donde los abogados de TMZ desglosan con precisión lo que llevó al fallecimiento de figuras que eran más grandes que la vida misma, pero que de alguna manera se hicieron aún más grande después de la muerte.

In honor of International Podcast Day these famous podcasters -- who've plugged into platforms and tapped into the talking trend -- deserve a shout-out! Not only are these Hollywood hosts racking in ratings and follows, but they're laughing all the way to the bank!

Kicking things off with some OG's ... Joe Rogan launched his podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience", back in 2009, Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" has been making big waves as a top-pod on Spotify since 2018, and Joe Budden's "The Joe Budden Podcast" became such a hit, he retired from rapping.

Celebs-turned-podcasters Dax Shepard and Bethenny Frankel joined in with their respective pods and have found the convenience of connecting to viewers and fans from the comfort of a nearby studio ... or even their homes!

Also up on the pod are icons Oprah and Martha Stewart ... so podcasting MUST be where it's at!

You've listened to these celebs spill the tea and drop some mics, but take an even deeper dive into Hollywood's hottest topics and join the conversation with our TMZ podcasts ...

Accompanying TMZ's edgy and exclusive content, "The TMZ Podcast" will inform you on everything surrounding the biggest stories in pop culture. Join Charlie Cotton and company as they deliver the latest on the stories everyone is talking about!

"TMZ Verified" covers the internet's most talked about stories. From viral trends to influencer drama, VERIFIED is your one-stop shop for all things trending. Each week, Wyld Young and Steph Williams breakdown the biggest social media stories, with some of the most popular internet influencers.

Explore the final moments of some of the biggest icons in sports and entertainment with "Last Days"... where the TMZ lawyers break down precisely what led to the passing of figures who were larger than life but somehow even bigger in death.

Pour out a margarita for Jimmy Buffett, the legendary musician is dead.

The "Margaritaville" singer died Saturday surrounded by his friends, family, music and dogs, according to an announcement posted on his website.

The statement read ... "He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many."

We're told Jimmy had been sick for a while, and he was recently receiving hospice care.

As we reported ... Jimmy was forced to cancel a May show in South Carolina after being hospitalized at the last minute for an issue requiring "immediate attention."

The idol of all parrot heads everywhere, Jimmy was also forced to cancel a ton of gigs in 2022 because of health issues and a different hospital stay. He played Jazz Fest in New Orleans in May 2022 but had not been on stage a lot since.

In addition to "Margaritaville," Jimmy's been cranking out hits since the 1970s with classic tunes like "Come Monday," "Cheeseburger in Paradise," "Volcano," "A Pirate Looks at Forty," "Fins," "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" and "Why Don't We Get Drunk" ... just to name a few.

JB also collaborated with Alan Jackson for another huge hit folks love listening to when they pour a drink ... "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere."

Jimmy's brand reached way beyond music and his huge concert following ... he was also the face of the hotel and restaurant chain Margaritaville, and he even turned the experience into a cruise line.

Jimmy was 76.

RIP

Paul Reubens -- the comedic actor best known for playing Pee-wee Herman -- is dead after a private battle with cancer.

Paul died Sunday night, according to a statement posted Monday on his Instagram account ... a statement that revealed, for the first time, the medical crisis with which he'd be dealing -- "Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit."

We're told he had a brain tumor 6 years ago, but doctors were able to surgically remove it ... and it was considered a successful procedure. It's unclear what kind of cancer he'd been diagnosed with most recently.

The comedic icon will forever be remembered for his Pee-wee Herman character, which Paul created in 1978 during an improv exercise with The Groundlings. Paul worked with another comedy legend, the late Phil Hartman, to develop the character.

That led to the eventual launch of the "Pee-wee's Playhouse" TV show in 1986 ... and although it was Saturday morning programming, it became a huge hit with kids and adults.

He also brought the character to the big screen with the film, "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," which was a huge commercial success.

The movie featured a scene with Pee-wee dancing to the 1958 hit song, "Tequila" by The Champs. The character, and that dance, were so beloved ... you can't hear that song without thinking of Pee-wee.

While Pee-wee is his most iconic role, Paul had been doing live comedy routines long before that. In addition to his time in The Groundlings, he made 14 appearances on "The Gong Show" back in the '70s.

He's also done a ton of acting unrelated to Pee-wee -- having roles in movies, like "Blow," "Batman Returns," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Doctor Dolittle" ... as well as hit TV shows like "Murphy Brown," "Ally McBeal" and "Everybody Loves Raymond."

As for his cancer battle -- Paul addressed it in a note he'd written, saying ... "Please accept my apology for not going public with what I've been facing the last six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you."

Paul was 70 years old.

RIP