RIP

Deacon Jones ... one of the greatest football players in the history of the game -- is dead.

Jones -- a member of the L.A. Rams Fearsome Foursome from 1961 to 1971 -- died at his home in So. Cal. at age 74.

Deacon revolutionized the way defensive ends played the game -- not only creating his famous "head slap" technique, but he's also responsible for the term "sack" because of the way he destroyed quarterbacks.

Jones was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Deacon also dabbled in TV and movies. He had guest-starring roles on "The Brady Bunch" and "Bewitched." He was also in the movie, "Heaven Can Wait."

Jones died of natural causes.

Tim Samaras -- one of the stars of the Discovery Channel show "Storm Chasers" -- was one of the nine people who died Friday in the tragic tornados that hit Oklahoma.

Samaras' son Paul, and colleague Carl Young, died with Samaras while chasing a tornado, relatives told CNN.

Samaras' brother Jim posted on his Facebook page, "Thank you to everyone for the condolences. It truly is sad that we lost my great brother Tim and his great son, Paul. Our hearts also go out to the Carl Young family as well as they are feeling the same feelings we are today. They all unfortunately passed away but doing what they loved."

Bernadette Hernandez -- mother of Bruno Mars -- died unexpectedly Saturday at the age of 55.

Hernandez suffered a brain aneurysm. She passed away at the Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hernandez was a hula dancer and singer who immigrated from the Philippines and nurtured Mars' musical talents from a very young age.

Jean Stapleton -- who played the iconic role of Edith Bunker on "All in the Family" died Friday in New York City. She was 90.

According to her family, Stapleton passed away of natural causes.

Stapleton won three Emmys from her work on "All in the Family" opposite Carroll O’Connor’s equally iconic character, Archie Bunker.

Stapleton's last major role was in the 1998 film "You've Got Mail." She played a co-worker of Meg Ryan's character.

Her husband of 26 years, William Putch, passed away in 1983. She is survived by her two children, John and Pamela.

The legal battle has raged for more than a decade ... but Anna Nicole Smith's estate may finally see a piece of the Playboy legend's millionaire dead husband ... possibly as much as $49 MILLION.

The Supreme Court ruled years ago that Anna's estate was NOT entitled to any of J. Howard Marshall's fortune -- estimated between $500 million and $1 billion -- but yesterday, a California judge said Anna's 6-year-old daughter Dannielynn is entitled to sanctions against Marshall's family.

The judge hasn't specified the amount of the sanctions yet ... but previously suggested they could run as high as $49 million.

The judge awarded the sanctions based on allegations that attorneys for Marshall's estate used unsavory tactics throughout litigation ... such as concealing crucial legal docs from Anna's estate lawyers.

Lil Eazy -- son of Eazy-E -- is so ecstatic about his dad's hologram debuting on stage with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, he's planning a massive party to celebrate it ... and to mark a milestone.

Lil Eazy tells TMZ he will definitely be there when hologram Eazy-E hits the stage at the Rock the Bells festival on September 7 -- because that would have been his father's 50th birthday.

LE says, "I am happy my father gets to get honored ... it's exciting" -- and he's going to keep it rolling after the concert by putting together an over-the-top afterparty.

As for whether Lil E will be on stage with BT&H and Holo Eazy-E -- nothing's been announced yet ... but they've collaborated several times ... including the 2008 "This Ain't a Game" video.

***Warning: Explicit lyrics***

The drama in Larry Hagman's life lives on ... months after his death, because the actor's estate now claims Larry's granddaughter has committed familial treason by holding ridiculously valuable jewelry hostage.

The lawyer for Hagman's Estate has filed legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- which claim Noel Hagman is in possession of a Raj necklace and matching earring set with encrusted diamonds and emeralds. The Estate claims the jewels were once owned by Larry's mom, actress Mary Martin, and given to Larry.

The Estate lawyer says somehow Noel got her hands on the jewels and won't give them back. The legal docs say Noel claims someone in the Hagman family gave her the necklace and earrings, but according to the Estate no one in the family cops to it.

The Estate wants the jewels back, and if she refuses, they want her to pay double the value -- the law provides double the value if someone wrongfully holds on to property. The legal docs don't place a specific value on the items.

Some racist jerk has desecrated Michael Clark Duncan's grave ... this according to a Duncan family rep, who tells TMZ a vandalism report has already been filed with the police.

We're told ... a family friend stopped by Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills to deliver flowers to the spot where MCD was interred in Sept. 2012 ... when she noticed a figure of a cartoonish black face had been attached to the center of MCD's tomb.

The friend believes the black face is an image of "Sambo" -- a character that has long been considered an offensive and racist depiction of a black person.

MCD's friends and family were shocked by the discovery -- wondering what kind of lowlife would desecrate Michael's final resting spot.

We're told the family contacted the LAPD -- and were told the incident could be considered a hate crime. Cops are currently investigating the situation.

The family tells us ... Forest Lawn immediately removed the "Sambo" from MCD's tomb -- but they won't be satisfied until they find out who violated the tomb.

Every single penny from Heavy D's estate will go to the late rapper's 13-year-old daughter ... this according to Heavy's mom.

We broke the story ... Heavy's brother Floyd has filed court docs seeking control of Heavy's estate -- via an old will that earmarks nothing for D's 13-year-old daughter, parents or other siblings.

But Heavy's mom Eulahlee Myers tells TMZ ... the entire family SUPPORTS Floyd ... because they believe he will protect Heavy's fortune for his daughter -- until she's an adult.

"Heavy’s Estate needs to be managed," Myers tells us ... adding, "It cannot be self-managed or self-administered and it has to be Court approved. Open bills, unfinished business, taxes and day-to-day decisions including future plans for his daughter all need to be done. This management needs someone who is capable, smart, honest and close to this family."

"The family all wanted Floyd as that person to represent Dwight’s estate."

Myers explains, "All of Heavy’s assets are going to his 13-year-old Daughter Xea -- including his Social Security, Pension, and future Royalties. All of Heavy’s personal belongings are in storage for his Daughter until she gets a bit older."

She adds, "The Myers family is a close-knit family and always will be. Just the way Heavy liked it."

HD died in November 2011 from a pulmonary embolism. He was 44.

"The Doors" co-founder Ray Manzarek traveled across the world to seek out special world class treatment for his rare form of cancer ... which is why he was in Germany when he died, TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Ray's most recent band -- The Manzarek-Rogers Band -- tell us, Ray did tons of research on the best places to get treatment for his bile duct cancer ... and his search led him to the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany.

As we reported, Ray eventually passed away at RoMed yesterday.

According to sources, Ray broke news of his cancer to the band in March ... and traveled to Germany shortly after.

Up until Ray told his band about the cancer, we're told they had no idea he was sick. Ray had repeatedly just told them he was "tired," so the news was a shock.

Manzarek's next appearance was scheduled for August at the Orange County Fair ... but that's obviously been canceled.

It's the kind of memorial rock stars dream of ... famed Sunset Strip nightclub Whisky a Go Go -- where The Doors got their start back in the 60s -- will be honoring Ray Manzarek on its marquee for the rest of the week, TMZ has learned.

A rep for the famed rock club tells us, the marquee memorial will stay up tonight through Saturday -- and every show in the meantime will be dedicated in Manzarek's honor.

The rep says the club will also be briefly "going dark" tonight at 8pm in remembrance.

As we reported, Manzarek -- one of the founding members of the iconic rock band -- passed away today following a long battle with bile duct cancer. He was 74.

The Doors were playing as the house band at the Whisky -- opening for acts like Van Morrison -- when a record exec discovered them and gave the band their first big record deal.

3:55 PM PT -- The Roxy -- another famous Sunset Strip rock club -- has beat the Whisky to the punch ... already erecting its own marquee in Manzarek's honor.

Ray Manzarek -- who co-founded "The Doors" with Jim Morrison in 1965 and played keyboard -- has died, this according to the band's official Facebook page.

Manzarek was 74.

According to the website, Manzarek passed away today at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany after a lengthy battle with bile duct cancer.

At the time of his death, Ray was surrounded by his wife Dorothy and his brothers Rick and James.

Along with Jim ... Ray and The Doors churned out some of the most iconic rock songs in history -- including, "L.A. Woman," "Break On Through to the Other Side," "The End," "Hello, I Love You," and "Light My Fire."

Doors' guitarist Robby Krieger released a statement saying, "I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek."

He added, "I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him."

According to the band's official Facebook page ... Ray's family has asked that in lieu of flowers, fans should make an in memoriam donation in Ray's name to Standup2cancer.org.

R.I.P.

Today on TMZ Live, Harvey reminisced about the time he met Ray 15 years ago -- and completely embarrassed himself in the process. Really funny story.

Heavy D's brother is seeking control of the late rapper's estate -- what's left of it -- via an old will that earmarks nothing for D's 13-year-old daughter, parents or other siblings ... according to documents obtained by TMZ.

Floyd Myers, D's brother and former business manager, filed docs in L.A. County Superior Court last week ... claiming Heavy wrote a will in '99 and lost it years ago ... but insists D gave him a copy.

Interestingly, the will Floyd wants the court to honor specifies that all of Heavy's assets should go to Floyd (keep in mind, Heavy apparently signed off on that will BEFORE his daughter was born).

So what's left of Heavy's estate? The rapper only had $320,000 in listed assets (but there could be more $$$ in future royalties and other bank accounts that haven't been discovered yet).

But Floyd's lawyer tells TMZ ... it's all good with D's extended family ... the filing is a formality to clear title on a condo the brothers co-owned so Floyd can sell it. We reached out to several immediate family members ... no one's gotten back.

HD died in November 2011 from a pulmonary embolism at age 44 ... as TMZ first reported.

The Wisconsin racetrack where Dick Trickle forged his legacy -- winning TONS of races en route to becoming a NASCAR star -- is honoring the driver with a special pre-race ceremony when stock car season kicks off later this month, TMZ has learned.

It's all happening at the Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI (just south of Green Bay) -- where Trickle won so many races during his pre-NASCAR career, track officials named a building in Turn 2 the "Dick Trickle Pavilion."

We've learned ... officials at the W.I.R. have greenlit plans to commemorate their local hero with a memorial lap in Dick's honor on May 30 ... with the pace car carrying a black flag.

A rep for the company says Trickle was "a true champion, good friend and will be missed by all."

As we previously reported, officials say Dick died Thursday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in North Carolina.

Dick Trickle suffered from excruciating pain under his left breast in the days before he killed himself ... and was "very down" about his health situation in his final days, this according to Trickle's brother.

Chuck Trickle opened up to both TMZ and the Las Vegas Review Journal ... saying Dick's death from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound is "a shock to me ... it's real hard to think about."

Chuck says he spoke with Dick just last week ... and the former NASCAR driver was complaining about a severe pain under his left breast that seemed to be getting worse.

"He was having a lot of issues w some pain ... he had sharp pain by his left breast and constant hard pain," Chuck told TMZ.

Chuck says Dick went to the doctor twice a day in an effort to remedy the issue -- and underwent numerous MRIs and CAT scans -- but doctors were never able to determine the cause of the pain.

“He was very down,” Trickle said ... adding, “He more or less said he didn’t know how much longer he could take the pain.”

As TMZ first reported, Trickle left a suicide note at the North Carolina cemetery where he died -- it's unclear if the note explains why Trickle decided to take his own life.

Dick Trickle sounded extremely calm for a man planning to kill himself when he called 911 yesterday and told the operator, "There's going to be dead body ... suicide."

TMZ has obtained the 911 call made by the NASCAR driver moments before he shot himself. In the call, Trickle gave the dispatcher very detailed instructions about where to find the body at Forest Lawn Cemetery in North Carolina.

When the dispatcher asked Trickle if he was calling about someone else, Trickle replied, "No, I'm the one."

The operator begged Trickle to wait for help ... but her pleas went unanswered.

When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, Trickle's body was discovered right where he said it would be.

Officials say Trickle died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.