Movies

Actor Samuel Monroe Jr. -- best known for his role in "Menace II Society" -- is dead after a battle with meningitis, according to his family.

Sam's mom, Joyce Patton, told TMZ ... the actor died around 10:24 PM PT on Wednesday at a hospital. She also announced his death on Facebook, saying "today God called him home" and asking everyone to pray for his family, especially his 3 kids. 

In April, Sam was hospitalized with a severe case of meningitis and MRSA pneumonia -- a serious lung infection -- as well as other medical issues.

The thing is ... TMZ reached out to the hospital Thursday morning, and a rep told us that Sam had been discharged alive.

9/2/2026 1:01 PM PT -- Peter Cullen's cause of death has been revealed.

Peter Cullen, famous for voicing Optimus Prime in the 'Transformers' franchise, is dead.

The legendary voice actor's agent tells TMZ ... Peter died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home.

The cause of death is unclear.

Peter's family tells TMZ ... "Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family - and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember 'be strong enough to be gentle.'"

Tim Curry is being remembered by the very production that made him famous ... with Broadway's 'Rocky Horror Show' cast giving him major kudos, including the actor who now plays Tim's iconic role.

During Wednesday's Broadway revival of the film, the cast turned serious as they paid homage to Tim, with Paul Soileau leading the tribute.

Paul told the crowd, "If you trace it all back, 53 years ago there's one home and one vessel; one mothership that Frank-N-Furter can actually call home. And it's Tim Curry." The audience burst out in applause, chanting "Tim! Tim! Tim!"

We broke the story ... Tim died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles amid several health issues. The actor was best known for playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 cult classic movie, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." 

9/2/2026 12:24 PM PT -- Tim Curry's cause of death has just been revealed.

Tim Curry -- the legendary film and TV actor best known for playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell TMZ the actor -- who had been plagued with serious health issues for more than a decade -- passed away late Tuesday night at his Los Angeles home.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police responded to his house at 11:23 PM Tuesday night. We're told there is no foul play suspected in the case.

Dispatch audio obtained by TMZ reveals police responded to a death investigation at his home. The Los Angeles Fire Department says they were called earlier in the night over a medical emergency ... and the subject was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman were looking magical for the London premiere of "Practical Magic 2."

The actresses stunned on the carpet ... each sporting sexy slits that went up thigh-high.

Sandra was lookin' gorgeous in Givenchy, rocking a strapless, leopard-print gown with a corset that showed off her killer curves.

Chris Hansen is kicking his feud with A24 up a notch ... purchasing ad space before every showing of the Robert Pattinson flick about his Dateline sex predator show ... all to promote his new pedo-hunting project.

Chris will use the ads to direct audiences to TruBlu ... his streaming network devoted to the child predator investigations that made him a pop culture staple, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It seems Chris was toying with the idea of capping each ad with a line about the movie being "a Hollywood fantasy version" of that time in his life ... but thought better of it when mulling potential legal action from A24, the studio behind the movie.

Tim Curry fans have at least one more movie to look forward to ... because TMZ has learned he finished filming his final role before he died.

It was reported in early June, Tim was set to star in "STREAM 2: Sudden Death" as the role of Lockwood in the upcoming project ... and we spoke to the film's director, Michael Leavy, who told us Tim finished all of his scenes.

Michael tells TMZ ... he's shocked and devastated that Tim is now gone -- adding he was a "true cultural icon" and an honor to work with. He says the whole team feels incredibly fortunate that Tim will forever be linked to the franchise.

Tim Curry didn't go out nearly as much in recent years after a massive stroke made it hard for him to get around ... but he did treat himself to a pub outing with some pals a few days after he turned 80.

Photogs captured Tim getting out of a red van with the help of a caregiver ... who wheeled him into a popular North Hollywood pub on April 23 ... 4 days after his 80th birthday.

We're told Tim met with some friends, shared a few laughs, then left the establishment.

This week's "Chix On Netflix" is clearly a star who ain't affraid of some shameless sexy pix!

Been on Netflix recently? You may've seen her film "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes."

Chris Hansen still has a bone to pick over the upcoming film based on his pedo-catching days ... and he shared a receipt to back up his claim that A24 was trying to do him dirty.

The former "To Catch a Predator" host sent TMZ a portion of an NDA he says the studio asked him to sign to attend a private screening of "Primetime" -- the new movie starring Robert Pattinson as him -- and he claimed the paperwork asked for him to sign away the rights to his life.

Clause 5 of Hansen's alleged NDA reads ... "Recipient hereby releases, Company and its parents, subsidy areas, affiliates, divisions, agents, representatives, employees, successor, and assigns, jointly and individual individually, from any and all claims and demands arising out of or in connection with the project, including recipients screening of the project."

Chris tells TMZ ... there was no way in hell he was going to sign that ... and he thinks A24 tried to pull a fast one on him.

Orlando Bloom dropped out of his recent movie at the last minute ... and the cast and crew who feel screwed over are especially pissed ... because without his star power to match Priyanka Chopra's ... the project might be toast.

Here's the deal ... Orlando was all set to star in and co-produce the upcoming indie survival thriller flick "Reset" alongside Priyanka -- and we hear he was onboard all through pre-production ... but peaced out just as cameras were about to roll.

Sources on "Reset" tell TMZ ... they feel it's a pretty f-d up situation ... Orlando is a bankable star, so the independent project got financed with him and Priyanka attached -- and it would've been way easier to secure an international distributor with him in the fold.

Are Jason Statham's looks over the years transporting some major eye-candy?!

Here is a 35-year-old version of the Hollywood hunk at "The Transporter" World Premiere back in 2002 (left). Playing Frank Martin propelled Jason to international stardom and secured him future roles like "The Italian Job" and "Crank" (left).

And, more than two decades later, this zaddy can still GET IT -- the hot dad of two spruced up for the premiere of his latest movie "Mutiny" 🔥 (right).

We know his baby mama, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, is down for some Statham, but the question here is: Good Genes or Good Docs?!

Actor Michael Wright, best known for his roles in "Sugar Hill" and "The Five Heartbeats," has died in California, according to his family.

His family issued a statement to TMZ ... saying that Wright died Wednesday in Los Angeles after he suffered heart failure coupled with complications of a rare degenerative neurological disease called Marchiafava-Bignami.

Born in NYC in 1956, Wright spent his life devoted to acting, with breakthrough roles in the 1979 movie, "The Wanderers," and the 1983 Robert Altman film, "Streamers." Wright also played Victor Duncan in the 1987 comedy flick, "The Principal," with Jim Belushi and Louis Gossett Jr.

Chris Hansen was turned away from a screening of the new movie that's all about him ... and while he says he didn't want to "sign away" his rights, he actually refused to sign a standard NDA.

Here's the deal ... the TV host went on Fox News to complain about getting turned away from a private screening of "Primetime" -- the new movie starring Robert Pattinson as him -- claiming he showed up ready to watch the flick ... only to be asked to sign a "very restrictive agreement."

Chris says, "The lawyers at A24 wanted me to sign away my rights to my name, image, and brand, essentially, as well as any potential legal rights that would come out of the movie. I couldn't sign that, so they didn't show me the film. I went all the way over there."

However, a studio source tells TMZ ... Chris' version of events are BS -- because he was simply given the standard NDA that everyone else was asked to sign to avoid spoilers. At no time was he asked to sign away his name, image or brand. And since he didn't want to play ball ... he didn't get to watch. Simple as that.

Hopefully, Margaret Qualley didn't put her foot in her mouth at "The Dog Stars" movie premiere ... but if she did, at least no clunky shoe would be in the way.

The actress showed up to the premiere of her new flick in London on Thursday wearing a gorgeous black dress and some controversial footwear ... a pair of Chanel shoes with no soles.

Margaret's shoes are very minimalist ... just a couple of block heels and some ankle straps.

Good thing Margaret had a fresh pedicure!!!

Will Forte is giving "Coyote vs. Acme" fans their flowers ... saying their refusal to let the movie die is the reason it's finally hitting theaters.

We got Will in New York City on Wednesday, and he told us he's pumped for people to finally see the film when it drops August 28 -- especially after he had pretty much given up on it ever seeing the light of day.

Will plays Wile E. Coyote's lawyer in the flick ... helping the Looney Tunes legend sue Acme over all those faulty contraptions that have blown up in his face over the years -- and John Cena plays the head of Acme's legal team.