Movies

Bubba Smith's final movie role was a spoof of the character he made famous during his run of "Police Academy" flicks ... but TMZ has learned it may never be released to the public.

Back in 2009, Smith finished shooting a movie called, "Daze: Vol. Too" -- described as a "post-modern avant-garde dramedy musical non-musical" starring Gary Busey.

TMZ spoke with Executive Producer Miller Uwanawich who tells us Smith's character dons a police outfit and participates in a musical number that spoofs the "Police Academy" series.

The film is complete -- but has yet to go public because producers haven't locked in a distributor. However, Uwanawich tells us he's had some recent meetings with potential buyers and seems fairly optimistic.

Uwanawich says producers plan to add an in memorium tribute to Bubba at the end of the flick ... and will also pay tribute to the late Andrew Koenig, who also had a role in the movie.

Former NFL great Charles "Bubba" Smith -- who later starred in the "Police Academy" movies -- was found dead today in his Los Angeles home. He was 66 years old.

Law enforcement officials tell TMZ ... LAPD received a 911 call at 12:54PM today -- and officers responded to his home in the Baldwin Hills area. The fire department also responded and we're told Smith was dead when authorities arrived.

The L.A. County Coroner is on the scene investigating. We're told, at this point, authorities think he died of natural causes.

According to the L.A. Times, Bubba's caretaker discovered the body and called police. His autopsy will be performed later this week.

Bubba -- a towering 6'7" -- spent 9 seasons as a defensive end in the NFL, playing for the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Houston Oilers.

He won Super Bowl V with the Colts -- but is most famous for his role as the giant and lovable Moses Hightower in 6 of the "Police Academy" movies.

It's basically knockin' on death's door ... but TMZ has learned there's still HOPE for the heavily damaged Ohio oak tree featured in the movie "The Shawshank Redemption."

The tree was essentially split in half when a strong wind storm ripped through north-central Ohio last week -- and officials in Mansfield were pretty pessimistic about its fate.

But now, a rep for the Mansfield Convention and Visitors Bureau tells us area leaders are scrambling to figure out a plan to "somehow preserve it" ... because the tree has become a MAJOR tourist attraction in the area since the movie and NO ONE wants to see it die.

Still, the rep adds, "We highly encourage folks who want to see the tree in its natural location to visit now, while part of it remains standing."

Mark it AWESOME, dude -- because the main cast from "The Big Lebowski" is REUNITING in New York this month during the annual Lebowski Fest!!!!

Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Julianne Moore are all scheduled to appear at the fest on August 16 ... where they are all set for a Q&A session with fans before watching a screening of the flick.

If you haven't been to a Lebowski Fest -- it's kind of like a Trekkie convention ... with way more pot.

Finally, a wedding album worth flipping through -- thanks to a cameo from the cast of "The Dark Knight Rises." Now, who's gonna tie those annoying cans to the Batmobile?

The iconic Ohio oak tree where Andy Dufresne buried a secret stash for his prison pal Red at the end of "The Shawshank Redemption" ... is ON DEATH'S DOOR -- after a brutal windstorm last week.

You remember the tree -- it was at the end of the trail ... and there was a rock that had no earthly business being in a hayfield ... and Red picked up said rock, opened the box and realized that Andy was in Zihuatanejo. Great flick.

Anyway, the damn thing nearly split in half Friday during a crazy windstorm. According to MansfieldNewsJournal.com, the owners of the property have not announced if they plan to remove the tree.

But remember ... "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies."

Looking tough with his shaved head, Jake Gyllenhaal brought out the big guns to portray a cop on the set of his new flick "End of Watch" in L.A. the other day.

A riot broke out in the center of Hollywood last night ... but instead of looting, the "rioters" were planking, instead of guns there were glow sticks.

The disturbance erupted during the premiere of the "Electric Daisy Carnival Experience" at the Grauman's Chinese Theater. DJ Kaskade drew a crowd by tweeting "Today@6pm in Hollywood @Mann's Chinese Theatre. ME+BIG SPEAKERS+MUSIC=BLOCK PARTY!!!"

Hundreds of people descended on Grauman's, only to be told by cops the event was canceled, triggering the "riot."

Some of the fans jumped on police cruisers ... the cops in riot gear responded by shooting bean bags to break up the crowd.

It was the funnest riot ever, complete with tourists, kids, people all glittered up, women dressed as geishas adorned with electric lights ... even an overweight dude in pasties.

Finally, Renee Zellweger and Rene Russo in an all out battle for the ages -- whose movies would you rather be forced to watch?! We know ... mud wrestling would've been way cooler.

Joe Pesci is suing the producers of "Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father," claiming his deal was so iron-clad, he gained 30 pounds for his role, only to be told he wasn't wanted anymore.

In the lawsuit, Pesci claims reps from Fiore Films offered him the critical role of Angelo Ruggiero, Gotti's close friend and enforcer. Pesci says he made a deal for $3 million.

But Pesci says after he was lured into making public statements about how happy he was to appear in the movie -- which stars John Travolta as John Gotti, Jr. -- the producers pulled the deal, claiming Pesci breached the deal by trying to back out.

Pesci claims he was offered a lesser role -- playing Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso -- for the lesser fee of $1 mil.

But this is the best part. Pesci's lawyer claims his client relied on the contract by assuming the character of Ruggiero in every respect: "[Pesci] has since ended his very strict and healthy diet, and has so far gained approximately 30 pounds in anticipation of playing Ruggiero, who was well known for his heavy and stocky build."

Pesci is suing for $3 million minimum, as well as punitive damages.

The boys let off a little steam at the Clermont Lounge in Atlanta where Biggs nearly lost his pants while dancing on top of the bar.

The only time we want to see Jason Biggs with his pants off ... is when there are baked goods involved.

The tiger -- named Schicka -- was a featured guest at Supperclub in L.A. earlier this month during a birthday party for nightclub promoter Tomik Mansoori.

Sources connected to the tiger tell us ... party promoters shelled out $3,000 to rent the Schicka for the night ... and some guests were even allowed to feed her.

There was a buzz on the Internet Lee was taken ill, but Lee just told Harvey it's all B.S. He's all over the convention.