RIP

A family spokesman for Bea Arthur says the actress has died.

Spokesman Dan Watt says Arthur had cancer, but did not offer any further details. Arthur passed away at home early this morning.

Arthur is most well-known for her roles in "The Golden Girls" and "Maude."

Rue McClanahan who played Blanche Devereaux on "The Golden Girls" issued the following statement about Bea's passing to TMZ: "37 years ago she showed me how to be very brave in playing comedy. I'll miss that courage and I'll miss that voice."

Courtney, 20, a student at Cal State Fullerton was also a member of Alpha Chi Omega. We spoke to a member of her sorority, who was inconsolable.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the family of Nick Adenhart just released a joint statement on the tragic death of the 22-year-old starting pitcher:

Angels Baseball this morning announced the passing of right-hander Nick Adenhart, the victim of a fatal automobile accident in Fullerton, CA. Two other individuals were also killed in the incident.

Adenhart, 22, was a passenger in a silver Mitsubishi along with three others. Fullerton Police reported the Mitsubishi proceeded through an intersection, when a van ran a red light and broadsided the vehicle. A female driver and male passenger in the Mitsubishi were dead when police and fire department personnel arrived. Adenhart died as the result of his injuries at UCI Medical Center earlier this morning. No other members of the Angels organization were involved.

Adenhart pitched a masterful six innings in last night's game against Oakland (6 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO), leaving with a 4-0 lead before a late-inning rally resulted in a 6-4 Angels defeat.

Cops say someone driving a minivan blew through a red light, causing the Mitsubishi that Adenhart and three others were riding in to hit a light pole. Three of the four people in the Mitsubishi were killed in the crash -- Nick, another man and a woman -- while the fourth person remains in the hospital.

Cops say the person driving the van fled the scene -- but was later caught and charged with felony hit-and-run. The suspect is also being treated for injuries in a local hospital.

We're told one of the other men killed in the crash was also affiliated with the Angels organization.

Nick was 22 years old.

Liam Neeson and his family have just released the following statement about the passing of Natasha Richardson:

"Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."

Tampa Police have confirmed to TMZ that former WWE wrestling star Andrew "Test" Martin has been found dead last night in his Harbour Island, FL apartment.

Police responded to a call on their welfare hotline from a concerned neighbor who had seen Martin motionless and was, "concerned for his well being," after peering through Martin's apartment window.

Martin, 33, last worked for the WWE in 2007 and once had a relationship with former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Stacy Keibler.

The cause of death has not been revealed, but police say no foul play has been indicated.

TMZ has learned Charles Lewis Jr. -- aka "Mask" -- was driving his Ferrari Modena in Orange County, Calif. around 1:00 AM this morning when cops say it "left the roadway, hit the curb, took out a light pole."

"Mask" was declared dead at the scene. A female passenger -- who was ejected from the crash -- was taken to a local hospital, but we're told she's in bad shape.

Cops believe "Mask" was racing a guy in a Porsche at the time of the crash, and authorities have since arrested the guy they believe was driving the other car. That man -- Jeffrey David Kirby -- is being held on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter.

It's dangerous work being one of Martha Stewart's dogs, because her latest pup just perished in a deadly propane explosion at a Pennsylvania kennel.

Ghenghis Kahn -- the second of Martha's dogs to die in the last year -- was one of 17 dogs killed in a tragic propane explosion at a Carbon County kennel on Friday.

The blast occurred during a propane delivery to the kennel. The delivery man -- who remains in the hospital with severe burns -- is being called a hero because he was able to throw a few dogs to safety before he was injured.

Martha has put up a memorial to her dearly deceased on her blog.

RIP Loki.

Loki Rourke
1991 - 2009

Two members of Chuck Mangione's band were among those who died in the plane crash in Buffalo last night.

A publicist for the famous jazz musician identified the band members as Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett. Through a rep, Mangione said, "I'm in shock over the horrible, heartbreaking tragedy."

A man was killed on Justin Timberlake's golf course yesterday in a freak accident involving a tree.

It all went down in Justin's home town of Millington, Tenn., where JT rescued the Big Creek golf course from developers back in November.

The construction worker was involved in a renovation project clearing trees with a track hoe, when a tree fell and crushed him.

Shelby County Fire Dept. told WREG in Memphis: "We think at this point that the ground can be so unstable. It's very wet and very muddy that the bottom of the tree just gave way."

Calls to Timberlake's people have not been returned.

Billy Powell -- the former Lynyrd Skynyrd roadie-turned-keyboardist -- died early Wednesday morning in Jacksonville, Florida.

Powell was 56.

The band posted the following note on their website:

A Great Loss -- Beloved Pianist for the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band, Billy Powell, passed away last night. We will post more info shortly. The family and band request your respect and understanding during this difficult time. Thank you.

We just obtained a copy of Michael Crichton's will and ... let's put it this way ... you wish you were a relative.

The author of "Jurassic Park" and "ER" exec producer had a prenup with his wife, according to the doc.

As for everything else Crichton had when he died last November, it remains in the John Michael Crichton Living Trust, which he created before he died.

Now, the beneficiaries of that trust ... we won't mention their names, but they're his brother, sister-in-law, sister, brother-in-law, niece, niece, friend, friend, friend, niece, nephew-in-law, grand-nephew, grand-nephew, friend, friend, friend, friend, friend, friend and John's foundation.

The late Gene Roddenberry -- who created "Star Trek" -- and wife Majel (who passed away last year) are about to explore the final frontier together. Their remains are going to be shot into space.

Majel "The First Lady of Star Trek" Roddenberry's dream before she died last December was for a portion of her and Gene's ashes to be sent into space together -- and a company called Celetis is granting that wish.

Celestis -- which has its own rocket -- just announced the Roddenberrys' ashes will be launched into deep space on a mission aptly name Voyager.

Trekkies are invited to go to the Celestis website, where they can post tributes to the Roddenberrys, which will all be digitized and sent into space with them.

Celestis is the same company that shot a lipstick-sized container of Gene's ashes into space back in '97.

The mother of NBA star Eddy Curry's son was fatally shot in her Chicago apartment last night along with her infant daughter -- and Eddy's infant son was there when it all went down.

Curry's three-year-old son was found unharmed in the apartment and is the only known possible witness to the double murder, according to The Chicago Tribune.

The victims, Nova Henry, 24, and her daughter Eva were discovered by Henry's mother at approximately 6 PM.

A man claiming to be Henry's uncle says Nova had been having problems with an apparent boyfriend – but police aren't elaborating as they continue their search for an unnamed "acquaintance."