RIP

The family of TapouT co-founder Charles "Mask" Lewis -- who was killed by a drunk driver back in 2009 -- gathered at the crash site this week to mourn the 4-year anniversary of Mask's death.

Lewis' sister Carla and Ms. TapouT Jennifer Swift held a candlelight vigil at the wreckage site for close friends and family on March 11 (the day of Mask's death)... where mourners left posters, flowers, candles and signs that read "Don't drink and drive."

We're told Carla has come to the site every year -- staying from morning until night -- not only to honor her brother ... but to warn others about the dangers of drunk driving.

As TMZ previously reported ... Lewis was killed on March 11, 2009 after a drunk driver slammed into his Ferrari at breakneck speeds ... and sent the $300k car careening off an Orange County road, straight into a light pole. The other driver was later convicted of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Honoring Macho Man Randy Savage's death with a national holiday is NOT a ludicrous idea -- just ask his brother -- who tells TMZ he is 100% on board with a new White House petition trying to make that happen.

If you didn't know, the folks over at Mandatory.com petitioned the government (thanks to their handy online forum) to make May 20 -- the day Macho died in 2011 -- an official "Day of Remembrance."

The petition reads, "Macho Man Randy Savage was a national treasure loved by everyone ... no matter if you knew him from Slim Jim commercials or his wrestling career, you felt a deep connection with Savage ... keep his legacy alive for future generations to appreciate and enjoy."

Macho's brother, Lanny Poffo, tells TMZ that he couldn't be happier the fans want to honor his bro that way AND he's all for it, adding, "The fans will never let Randy Die. He made it cool to love wrestling."

FYI: The group needs 100,000 by April 4 in order to get Obama & Co. to review it -- so far it's only got 2,425 and one really supportive brother.

Wrestling legend Paul Bearer will be laid to rest tomorrow following his funeral in his home state of Alabama.

The funeral services will be taking place at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Mobile, AL at 10AM. Paul -- real name Bill Moody -- will be buried after in neighboring Serenity Memorial Gardens.

As we reported, Paul passed away Tuesday evening after suffering a blood clot. He was 58.

Paul is survived by his parents, children, and grandchildren.

Ultra-conservative freedom-loving Republican rock star Ted Nugent has three words for the dead former President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez -- "ADIOS MO FO."

Nugent -- a staunch anti-Communist -- tells TMZ, "All dictators, tyrants, slave-drivers and despots should die ASAP. Let freedom ring."

Chavez died yesterday following a battle with cancer.

It makes total sense Nugent would hate the guy -- Chavez was an outspoken anti-American who has long criticized America's foreign policy. During his political career, Chavez also allied with the Communist government of Cuba and the Socialist governments of other Latin American countries.

In sum, Chavez pretty much embodied everything Nugent hates about extremist left-wing politics.

'MURICA.

Paul Bearer -- the spooky WWE manager who helped introduce The Undertaker -- died Tuesday evening at the age of 58 ... this according to the WWE.

Bearer -- real name "Bill" Moody -- joined the WWE in 1990 ... playing the role of a creepy funeral director who managed various wrestling stars ... including Undertaker, Kane, Rick Rude, Vader and Mankind.

The details surrounding Bearer's death are unclear -- but he reportedly suffered from serious health problems over the past decade ... including morbid obesity and gallbladder issues.

R.I.P.

The WWE released a statement saying ... "WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of William Moody, aka Paul Bearer."

"Moody made his WWE debut in 1991 as the manager of The Undertaker and went on to become a memorable part of WWE over the course of the next 20 years. Our deepest condolences go out to Moody’s family, friends and fans."

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has died ... this according to Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro -- who was fighting back tears during the announcement -- said Chavez died today at 4:25 PM.

Chavez had been in Cuba for months, where he was receiving treatment for a mystery illness that turned out to be cancer.

Chavez hated America ... and blamed all of the world's problems on the United States.

To paraphrase Ben Affleck ... Hugo f**k yourself.

He was 58.

Shell casings lined the street in front of French Montana's tour bus early this morning -- and new photos of the crime scene obtained by TMZ show just how close the shootings took place to the rap star.

As TMZ previously reported, Montana's bus had pulled up outside a Holiday Inn Express in Philadelphia last night when shots were fired from a moving car at the crowd of fans that had gathered. One man was killed and another was hospitalized after being shot in the shoulder.

Philly cops said they recovered seven shell casings ... which are clearly marked by police in the photos.

Bonnie Franklin -- who starred as Ann Romano on the classic TV show "One Day at a Time" -- died today due to complications from pancreatic cancer. She was 69.

Franklin had announced she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2012.

Franklin had a long career, but was best known for playing the mother to Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips on "One Day at a Time" from 1975-1984.

She was married to playwright Ronald Sossi from 1967 to 1970 and to film producer Marvin Minoff from 1980 until his death in November 2009. She had no children.

The jet ski operator who allegedly ran over Usher's stepson in a Georgia lake last summer -- killing the 11-year-old boy -- was arrested this morning ... TMZ has learned.

Jeffrey Simon Hubbard was indicted on Thursday by a Grand Jury in Hall County, Georgia.

The District Attorney tells TMZ Hubbard was indicted for Homicide by Vessel, Serious Injury by Vessel, as well as Reckless Operation of a Vessel.

TMZ broke the story ... Tameka Raymond's son, Kile Glover, suffered severe brain injuries on July 6th when police believe Hubbard's jet ski collided with him. Kile was on an inflatable raft at the time of the accident. Kile was vacationing with his father, Ryan Glover, at the time of the incident.

Kile was hospitalized, and never regained consciousness. He died on July 21.

Hubbard is currently being held without bail.

A man was gunned down in Philadelphia Thursday night ... right next to the tour bus of rapper French Montana.

Montana -- who's done songs with Drake, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross -- was in his tour bus after the performance ... when it pulled up to a Holiday Inn Express with a bunch of fans following closely behind. Cops say that's when a car drove by and opened fire on the crowd.

Two men were hit, including a 27-year-old who was pronounced dead a short time later. A 29-year-old was shot in the shoulder, but he should be okay.

Police say it doesn’t look like Montana or any of his people were the targets ... it seems to have been a beef between two groups of warring fans.

An award-winning TV and film director was killed in a gruesome shark attack off the coast of New Zealand today ... as authorities grabbed guns and opened fire on the animals.

46-year-old Adam Strange -- who's directed a whole bunch of international commercials for companies like Pepsi and Firestone -- was swimming at a popular NZ beach when a Great White pulled him underwater. According to local reports, at least 3 other sharks were drawn to the attack.

Local police jumped in a small boat and raced over to the scene ... joined by a helicopter. The cops fired at least 20 shots at the sharks, but it was too late.

One shark was reportedly killed in the gunfire ... and its body -- measuring 14-feet long -- washed up on shore a short time later.

As for Strange -- authorities were able to recover his body after the attack.

DC Comics is making a huge mistake by killing off Batman's iconic sidekick Robin in the newest issue ... so says the most famous Robin ever, who tells TMZ, the future of the Batman franchise DEPENDS on the Boy Wonder.

DC is slated to kill off Robin in the next issue of the "Batman Incorporated" series -- but Burt Ward (who played Robin in the 60s TV show) has one thing to say ... "Holy self-inflicted wound! Not good for corporate profits!”

Ward tells us, "It’s a terrible choice to kill off Robin. Why bite the hand that feeds you? ... Robin should only die in people's imaginations! Or in a state of primal ecstasy!"

FYI -- It's not the first time Robin's been killed off in the comics ... DC previously did him in back in 1988 when fans voted to off the character.

Nevertheless, Burt adds, "Every youngster realizes that he or she is too young to drive and they are not big like Batman. So, they all yearn to be Robin who gets to RIDE WITH BATMAN AND FIGHT WITH BATMAN!"

He's got a point.

Oscar Pistorius is planning a private memorial service to honor his girlfriend, whom he shot and killed on Valentine's Day.

The memorial for 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp is scheduled to take place tonight at the home of Oscar's uncle, where the Olympic sprinter has been staying since he was released on bail last week.

Oscar's rep released a statement, saying, "Oscar specifically requested the memorial service as he continues to grieve and remains in deep mourning for the loss of his partner Reeva."

The rep adds, "Since it is such a sensitive issue, Oscar has asked for a private service with people who share his loss, including his family members who knew and loved Reeva as one of their own."

Oscar -- who stands accused of murdering Steenkamp -- claims he shot her by accident, thinking she was an intruder.

Late L.A. Lakers owner Jerry Buss suffered from prostate cancer before ultimately succumbing to kidney failure ... this according to his death certificate.

According to the doc, Buss suffered from metastatic sarcomatoid prostate cancer in the 15 months leading to his death on February 18th. The cancer is listed as the second underlying cause of death.

It was widely reported that Dr. Buss was battling cancer before his death, but the cancer was never specified.

The immediate cause of death is listed as renal (kidney) failure, and the first underlying cause of death is listed as respiratory failure.

Buss was 80. He's survived by his 6 children.

The family of "Selena" star Lupe Ontiveros is incredibly upset she was left out of last night's "In Memoriam" presentation at the Oscars ... despite appearing in dozens of major films over the past 30 years.

Ontiveros -- who passed away in July 2012 -- had roles in "Real Women Have Curves", "As Good as it Gets", and "The Goonies" ... but is best known for her role as Yolanda Saldívar, the woman who murdered Selena.

Ontiveros' son Elias tells TMZ ... the whole family gathered to watch the awards show -- and was "disappointed" Lupe wasn't given her proper due -- especially considering some lesser-known people were honored over his mom.

You'll recall, George Clooney did warn some artists might be left out when introducing the tribute, saying, "For for those friends who are on this list tonight, and many others who aren't, we thank you for the memories."

Other celebs snubbed along with Ontiveros -- Andy Griffith, director Gore Vidal, Sherman Hemsley, athlete-turned-actor Alex Karras, and Sylvia Kristel.

Tareq Salahi is finally moving on ... dog-wise, at least. Dog sources tell TMZ ... the famed White House crasher has replaced his beloved Doberman Pinscher with ... another Dobie.

You'll recall ... Tareq formerly shared a Doberman named Rio with ex-wife Michaele ... that is, before she turned into a Journey-banging groupie and left him. Rio got super depressed soon after ... and later died of a broken heart ... at least that's Tareq's story.

And get this -- we're told the first thing the 1-year-old doggie replacement did was run over to Rio's grave and pay tribute to the fallen pooch.

As for a name ... it's between either Bruno or Bravo.