RIP

Adorable "Toddlers and Tiaras" star Paisley Dickey suffered a devastating loss when her little pet bunny died -- and now the little fur ball's getting STUFFED for posterity.

It's pretty sad ... 4-year-old Paisley -- who first made headlines for wearing the Julia Roberts​' "Pretty Woman" hooker outfit -- only had little "Bun Bun" for two weeks ... when he died of a heart attack.

Paisley's mom Wendy tells TMZ they tried to bury Bun Bun, but when Paisley refused to say goodbye ... they decided to take the taxidermy route -- and videotape the whole thing.

In the video ... Paisley and her parents hit up their local animal stuffer in Georgia, so Paisley can choose Bun Bun's eternal resting position -- inside one of her pink-jeweled tiaras.

In case you're wondering ... Wendy says Bun Bun suffered the cardiac arrest when a balloon-popped. She says they didn't realize pet bunnies commonly die that way.

Tom Hanks gave a GREAT speech at Michael Clarke Duncan's funeral ... retelling a story M.C.D. had told him about why the enormous actor joined (and then unjoined) a Chicago street gang when he was a kid.

Hanks -- who co-starred with Duncan in "The Green Mile" -- had the crowd roaring with laughter ... a touching tribute to his old friend.

Michael Clarke Duncan died from respiratory failure, weeks after going into cardiac arrest ... this according to the actor's death certificate.

According to the doc, obtained by TMZ, respiratory failure is listed as the immediate cause of death.

One of the underlying causes of Michael's death was anoxic encephalopathy (severe lack of oxygen to the brain). As we first reported, MCD's organs were severely damaged during the minutes following his initial cardiac episode on July 13th, when the actor went without oxygen for five whole minutes.

Other underlying causes include ventricular fibrillation (irregular quivering heartbeat), and acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Organ nodules (sarcoidosis) were a contributing factor to MCD's death.

Two weeks after he went into cardiac arrest, MCD also received a tracheotomy, presumably to aid in breathing.

Michael Clarke Duncan was finally laid to rest this afternoon ... surrounded by family, friends and colleagues ... including his "Green Mile" co-star Tom Hanks.

Among the army of celebs who comforted Duncan's fiancee Omarosa Manigault at the Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood this afternoon -- Jay Leno, Kimberly Elise, Holly Robinson Peete, Bill Duke, Diane Ladd and Vivica A. Fox.

As we previously reported, Duncan passed away last week from complications stemming from a heart attack he suffered back in July. Duncan was 54-years-old.

Michael Clarke Duncan was honored at a public memorial yesterday ... as fans and friends gathered at the Hall of Liberty in Forest Lawn for a viewing of the actor's body ... followed by a screening of his performance in "The Green Mile."

As we previously reported, a private invitation-only ceremony for the 54-year-old actor will be held today ... led by famed preacher Bishop Charles Blake. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks will be doing the eulogy.

Duncan passed away on Sept. 3 after suffering a myocardial infarction in July.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong will be buried as far away from outer space as possible ... at the bottom of the ocean -- this according to his family.

The family wouldn't specify when or where the burial at sea will take place.

In case you didn't know, Neil was a Navy fighter pilot before he joined the space program in 1962 -- and burials at sea are common for Navy veterans.

A public memorial for Neil will be held at the Washington National Cathedral next Thursday. A private service has already been held in Ohio, Neil's home state.

As we reported, Neil died on August 25th. He was 82.

NFL legend Art Modell -- who owned the Cleveland Browns, which became the Baltimore Ravens -- died this morning ... this according to a rep for the Ravens.

Modell -- who was 87-years-old -- had been admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland on Wednesday ... but it's unclear why.

Modell was a key figure in negotiating the NFL's huge contracts with the TV networks over the years ... and played a major role in the creation and success of Monday Night Football.

Modell owned the Browns from 1961 to 1995 ... and then moved the organization to Baltimore, where they became the Ravens ... and helped put together the Super Bowl team of 2000.

A private invitation-only memorial for Michael Clarke Duncan has been scheduled for next week, the actor's rep tells TMZ.

According to the rep, the memorial will take place on Monday led by famed preacher Bishop Charles Blake. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks will be doing the eulogy.

So far, no word on who'll be attending.

A public viewing of MCD's casket is scheduled for Sunday at the Hall of Liberty in Forest Lawn in L.A. between 9AM and 2PM.

As we reported, Duncan passed away Monday after suffering a myocardial infarction in July. He was 54.

Martin Lawrence has issued a statement on the death of his friend Michael Clarke Duncan ... telling TMZ he had the privilege of working with the big man WAY before MCD became an actor.

Lawrence tells us, "From the days of him doing security on the 'Martin' show, to us working together on 'Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,' I enjoyed working with him. He will be missed."

Martin adds, "My condolences go out to his family and loved ones."

Robin Roberts says she arrived to her mother's bedside in the nick of time after leaving "Good Morning America" on Thursday ... and got to "hold her sweet hand when she took her last breath."

Roberts -- who was recently diagnosed with a rare blood disorder -- had decided to go on medical leave one day early after her mother's health took a turn for the worse.

Robin's mother died Thursday night ... but Robin went to Facebook to tell her fans she DID get to see her mom before she passed away.

"My family tells me momma gave me one final gift as her last act. She waited for me to get home on Thursday to say goodbye."

Roberts adds, "She was there when I took my first breath and what a privilege to hold her sweet hand when she took her last breath."

"Momma knew she wasn't physically able to be with me for my bone marrow transplant. My siblings say mom wanted to spare me the agony it would have been if she had passed and I couldn't be there. That thought was weighing heavily on me."

Michael Clarke Duncan, star of such movies as "The Green Mile" and "The Whole Nine Yards," passed away this morning. He was 54.

According to our sources, his passing came very suddenly. We're told his fiancee, Omarosa Manigault, had been with him in his hospital room in Los Angeles and left for an engagement. Shortly after she left, he died.

Our sources say Omarosa's mother was with him when he passed.

Duncan's rep tells TMZ the actor never fully recovered from the myocardial infarction he suffered on July 13. As TMZ first reported, Omarosa found Duncan in cardiac arrest and performed CPR and was able to resuscitate him before calling 911.

The rep tells us, "[Omarosa] Manigault is grateful for all of your prayers and asks for privacy at this time. Celebrations of his life, both private and public, will be announced at a later date."

Duncan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of John Coffey in "The Green Mile." He worked as a bodyguard for celebrities like Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and Notorious B.I.G. before he got his break.

Mark Abrahamian, a guitarist for the band Starship, passed away following a concert last night in Nebraska ... TMZ has learned.

The band tweeted, "We are shocked and saddened at the sudden loss of our guitar player Mark Abrahamian. We will miss you, brother. Rest in peace, Mark."

They added via Facebook, "Mark was a kind, thoughtful and innovative soul. He was also a friend and family member. Mark also happened to be one hell of a guitar player. We are devastated by the loss of our brother and just dealing with it the best we can."

Abrahamian has been on tour with Starship starring Mickey Thomas since 2000. He has also played with the likes of Survivor, Toto, Loverboy and ACDC.

Although it seems pretty obvious... authorities are hesitant to call Tony Scott's death a "suicide" ... at least while they wait for toxicology and other test results -- this according to the "Top Gun" director's death certificate.

The document -- obtained by TMZ -- lists the director's immediate cause of death as "deferred." The manner of death is listed as "pending investigation." The doc also states that an autopsy has been performed.

As for the location of death, the certificate states, "Under Vincent Thomas Bridge."

The cert describes Scott as a film director who has worked in the movie industry for 43 years.

It's almost too much for anyone to bear ... Now we know why "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts left a day before her scheduled medical leave -- her mother died Thursday.

Roberts -- who will be taking several months off to undergo treatment -- including a bone marrow transplant -- for a rare blood disorder -- flew to Mississippi Thursday to see her 88-year-old mother, Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts, before she passed away.

Sylvester Stallone's son, Sage Stallone, died from a heart attack ... and no drugs were found in his system ... TMZ has learned.

The L.A. County Coroner has determined Sage died from natural causes. As for why he had a heart attack, we're told there was evidence of heart disease.

A source connected with the Coroner tells TMZ ... it was "unusual" for a person Sage's age -- 36 -- to have such advanced coronary problems, but that's what killed him.

Hip hop mogul Chris Lighty -- the longtime manager of 50 Cent, Diddy, Ja Rule, and Mariah Carey -- was found dead this morning in NYC from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

According to law enforcement, 44-year-old Lighty's body was found by police around 11:30 AM in the backyard of his Bronx apartment. Lighty was pronounced dead on the scene, where a semi-automatic firearm was recovered.

The death is being investigated as a possible suicide.

According to sources close to Lighty, the hip hop mogul had been in an argument with his ex-wife and shot himself in the head.