RIP

John Hughes has died of a heart attack.

Hughes suffered the heart attack while taking a morning walk during a trip to NYC to visit family.

He directed such '80s hit films as "The Breakfast Club," Weird Science," "Sixteen Candles" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

He was 59.

The 25-year-old, known as "Glitter Girl" auditioned for "Idol" in January 2008 and returned for a second time in 2009 but never received a golden ticket.

Legendary CBS broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite has died.

Cronkite was known as "the most trusted man in America" -- legendary for delivering the news of President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963 and the lunar landing in 1969.

Three weeks ago Cronkite's family revealed he had been suffering for years with cerebrovascular disease and was not expected to recuperate.

Cronkite was the anchor of the CBS network news from 1962 to 1981. He was known for signing off by saying, "And that's the way it is."

Cronkite died at home in New York at 7:42 PM -- he was 92.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter just went inside Dr. Klein's office. As we first reported, law enforcement is saying privately Dr. Klein has not cooperated in turning over files they requested.

Winter confirmed with TMZ just moments ago before walking in -- Dr. Klein is under investigation. We're told law enforcement is investigating Dr. Klein's prescription practices as they relate to Jackson -- including prescribing meds using aliases.

Sources say Winter is there to retrieve more patient records of Michael Jackson.

A rep for Oscar Mayer told us Mr. Mayer -- the grandson of the original Oscar Mayer -- requested the Wienermobile not make an appearance because "it would be too much of a spectacle." Mayer's wishes were for a small private funeral.

Oscar died Monday -- he was 95.

Steve McNair -- an NFL QB with the Tennesse Titans and Baltimore Ravens -- was found dead Saturday in Nashville, Tenn., according to Nashville police.

McNair suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in downtown Nashville. A female victim was also found dead. Police have not released the name of the female, only to say it is not McNair's wife, Mechelle.

The call to police came in at 1:35 PM. The circumstances surrounding the shooting deaths remain under active investigation.

There were no signs of forced entry at the crime scene. No suspects have been taken into custody.

Don Aaron, a spokesman for the Nashville Metro PD, told News Channel 5 in Tennessee, "When police officers arrived in response to that call, they found two individuals who had been shot to death inside the residence: one female, one male. We now know that the male deceased is Steve McNair. The female deceased has been tentatively identified. We're working to confirm that and then notify her next of kin."

McNair was a three-time Pro Bowler and was the NFL MVP in 2003. He retired in 2007.

Titans owner K.S. "Bud" Adams Jr. released this statement: "We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair's passing today. He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with his untimely passing."

Mays died on Sunday morning in his sleep -- an autopsy suggested he died from complications due to heart disease.

TMZ has confirmed TV pitchman Billy Mays was found dead today in his home in Tampa, Florida early this morning.

According to the Tampa PD, the 50-year-old TV pitchman was found unresponsive by his wife Deborah at 7:45 AM.

TMZ has learned Mays' body has already been removed from his home.

Mays had just returned from Philadelphia, where he shot a new OxiClean commercial. He was a passenger aboard a plane that suffered a blown front tire upon landing. He told a local TV station, "All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

We're told Mays was at his home around 6:00 PM last night, and according to a source Mays was "acting fine and normal ... he was talking business with his father-in-law."

According to cops, there are no signs of forced entry to the residence and no foul play is suspected. Billy's wife Deborah told investigators Billy wasn't feeling well last night.

The Medical Examiner's office is expected to complete the autopsy by tomorrow afternoon. Billy was due to have his third hip replacement surgery on Monday.

UPDATE: Deborah just released the following statement: "Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."

We've just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50.

Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.

A source tells us Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived. A cardiologist at UCLA tells TMZ Jackson died of cardiac arrest.

Once at the hospital, the staff tried to resuscitate him but he was completely unresponsive.

A source inside the hospital told us there was "absolute chaos" after Jackson arrived. People who were with the singer were screaming, "You've got to save him! You've got to save him!"

We're told one of the staff members at Jackson's home called 911.

La Toya ran in the hospital sobbing after Jackson was pronounced dead.

Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.

We've learned Farrah Fawcett died at 9:28 AM today. Ryan O'Neal and Alana Stewart were at her bedside. She was 62.

She died at St. John's hospital in Santa Monica in the ICU. Also present -- Farrah's longtime friend and hairdresser, Mila Murphy, and Dr. Piero, who has been caring for her.

Farrah's only child, Redmond, was not present. He's currently in jail. A petition will have to be filed for Redmond to be able to attend the funeral -- as of now, this hasn't happened.

The "Charlie's Angels" star was diagnosed with anal cancer back in 2006.

UPDATE: We've learned Ryan and Farrah did not marry during her final days. Alana Stewart, who has known Farrah for 30 years, said "she will always be there as that angel on the shoulder of everyone who loved her."

Ryan O'Neal just released the following: "After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away. Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world."

Ed McMahon has passed away at 86.

He died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in California this morning. McMahon was fighting a multitude of health problems, including cancer.

Someone connected with the family told us, "Ed was at peace because he got his business taken care of. He settled his lawsuit with Cedars and with the settlement he was able to take care of his family."

He is best known as Johnny Carson's sidekick on "The Tonight Show" and for his infamous catchphrase, "Heeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!"

McMahon also hosted "Star Search" and "TV Bloopers And Practical Jokes" with Dick Clark.

He was a colonel in the United States Marines and a fighter pilot and served during the late 1940s and 1950s.

Ed was one of the good guys and a true American hero!

Story developing ...

For the second time this year Martha Stewart is burying one of her beloved animals.

Martha just posted the following message on her Twitter page:

"Mozart the cat just died -- he was nineteen and did indeed have a beautiful life. we just buried him next to pawpaw -- he was a lynx himalayan."

Stewart's dog, Ghengis Kahn, died in a freak explosion at a kennel back in March. Her 13-year-old pooch PawPaw passed away in April of '08.

We just spoke to a rep for David Carradine, who claims the actor's death was not a suicide.

The rep said David's death was "accidental." And there's this ... the BBC is now reporting that David's body was found hanging with a rope around his neck and "other parts of his body."

Carradine's body was found nude, hanging in a closet.

UPDATE: We just spoke with the director of the film David finished last week. Jim Wynorski told us as recently as a week ago Sunday, David was "jovial, full of life and kept everyone laughing on the set." Wynorski said he constantly talked about his family -- the apparent suicide "just doesn't at all seem like him."

UPDATE: TMZ has learned that the day before he died, David Carradine was in good spirits while shooting scenes for a movie at a local eatery -- the Witch's Oyster Bar & Restaurant.

We're told Carradine's crew was posted up on the second floor -- but David would occasionally stroll down to the restaurant level to enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage. Sources inside the restaurant tell us "he didn't look sad ... he looked fine."

UPDATE: The BBC claims Thai police told them a hotel maid found David Carradine this morning sitting in a wardrobe room with a rope around his neck and body.

There are conflicting reports about the rope. A Thai newspaper is citing cops who say the cord used in the hanging was from curtains in the hotel room. A Thai wire service says the rope did not come from the hotel.

TMZ has not been able to confirm any of these reports independently.

The 72-year-old's agent claims the actor had been in great spirits during the trip to Thailand.

Story developing ...

Legendary actor David Carradine was found dead in a hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand this morning.

According to Carradine's agent, the 72-year-old "Kung Fu" and "Kill Bill" star was in Thailand for a movie.

David's agent told WABC that he believes the actor died of natural causes.

TMZ last encountered Carradine back in March, when the guy -- who was always in a playful mood when we ran into him -- jokingly told our camera guy, "I could take you f"**kin' out man!"

R.I.P. Grasshopper.

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