RIP

The pastor who died Saturday from a snake bite violated Kentucky law by displaying and handling the deadly reptile during his church service ... TMZ has learned.

Jamie Coots was bitten by a rattlesnake while preaching to his congregation. He refused medical treatment and died a short time later.

We did some digging ... and found a Kentucky law which says, "Any person who displays, handles or uses any kind of reptile in connection with any religious service or gathering shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100."

Kentucky Game Warden Ray Lawson tells TMZ ... Coots had proper permits to transport, hold and sell copperhead and timber rattlesnakes, but he acknowledges the state law prohibiting the use of snakes in religious ceremonies.

Lawson says his dept. has no authority to enforce the state law. He says that's the job of the cops, but they don't enforce it.

Bode Miller says he's NOT upset with reporter Christin Cooper ... after she pushed him so hard about the skier's dead brother during a post-race interview yesterday, he broke down in tears.

Instead, it appears Bode is placing the blame on Christin's bosses at NBC.

The interview took place moments after Bode placed 3rd in the Men's Alpine Super G event in Sochi -- when Cooper kept asking questions about Bode's bro Chilly, who passed away recently from a seizure.

Bode broke down and cried -- ending the interview ... and almost instantly, the cyber-backlash began against Cooper.

But last night, Bode went to Twitter and wrote, "I appreciate everyone sticking up for me. Please be gentle w christin cooper, it was crazy emotional and not all her fault. #heatofthemoment."

He continued, "My emotions were very raw, she asked the questions that every interviewer would have, pushing is part of it, she wasn't trying to cause pain."

Here's where it gets interesting ... 'cause a short time later, he re-posted a tweet from a fan who wrote, "Bode. It wasn't her fault. It was the fault of @NBCOlympics producers. She was being told what to ask."

Subtle, but clearly he signs off on the fan's opinion.

The actor who played Brad Majors in the original stage production of "The Rocky Horror Show" has died ... TMZ has learned.

Christopher Malcolm died Saturday at age 67 ... his death was first confirmed by his daughter on Twitter.

Malcolm originated the role of Brad in 1973 in the London production of RHS ... playing the newlywed groom who takes refuge with his wife Janet in the home of sweet transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

The stage show was turned into a film in 1975 -- but without Malcolm -- the role of Brad was played by Barry Bostwick.

Malcolm was an accomplished Shakespearean actor who also appeared as starfighter pilot Zev Senesca in "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" ... and had numerous directing and producing credits.

Cause of death is unknown.

The accused drug dealer who allegedly sold heroin to Philip Seymour Hoffman was like the grim reaper ... befriending at least 3 major celebs who all died from ODs.

Robert Vineberg was a well-known musician who surrounded himself with other artists ... and counted Hoffman, Amy Winehouse and famed NYC artist Jean-Michel Basquiat among his friends.

We're told ... Basquiat and Vineberg used A LOT of heroin during the 80s in Vineberg's apartment -- the same place Hoffman visited years later to allegedly score smack. We're told Basquiat injected the heroin with a needle. He died of a heroin OD in '88 ... after sinking into a deep depression over the death of his close friend Andy Warhol.

Vineberg was close friends with Winehouse ... but there's no proof they did drugs together. Winehouse died of acute alcohol poisoning in 2011 after years of abusing drugs.

The pastor on Nat. Geo's "Snake Salvation" died Saturday night ... after one of the snakes to which he prays bit him.

Pentecostal pastor Jamie Coots suffered the fatal attack while preaching to his Kentucky congregation.

Emergency units raced to the church ... but the reality star had already left and gone home.

The show's website explains the Pastor and his followers believe the Bible says a poisonous snakebite will not harm them as long as they are anointed by God’s power.

EMTs went to Coots' home but he sent them away ... refusing care ... an hour later he was dead.

It's unclear if they were filming during the sermon.

A rep for the show says the "Snake Salvation" finished filming last year ... and they never intended to film a second season.

Drake has no business attacking Rolling Stone or Philip Seymour Hoffman because the magazine gave him advance notice it was dropping him from the cover in favor of PSH.

Sources close to Drake tell TMZ the rapper feels like he was "tricked" because ... "He only did the interview if he was going to be on the cover."

But we've learned Drake was interviewed on January 28, and the photo shoot was also completed before PSH died on Feb. 2.

A rep for RS says this happens all the time when musicians and actors die -- most recently when Lou Reed and Whitney Houston passed away.

Further, sources tell us Drake's camp was told last Friday he wouldn't be on the cover when the mag was released Wednesday. The RS rep would not say if they offered Drake a future cover.

Drake just spit on Philip Seymour Hoffman's grave ... throwing a bitch fit over losing the Rolling Stone cover to the dead actor.

Drake's hissy sesh started with a complaint about being misquoted in the latest issue regarding Kanye West's album -- but then he quickly lashes out at the mag for making a switch.

Minutes later, Drake went back to Twitter and said, "RIP to Philip Seymour Hoffman. All respect due. But the press is evil."

TV host Huell Howser famously exposed California with bug-eyed wonder, but kept one little piece of it to himself -- his desert hideway ... which just hit the market one year after his death.

Real estates sources tell us ... Howser's bachelor pad in Twentynine Palms just went on the market ... for $395K.

Huell died from cancer in Jan. 2013 ... and his Estate stands to make some good cash off the sale of the 2 BR, 2.5 BA ranch home. We're told he bought it in 1997 for $160K ... then completely renovated the pad.

The "California's Gold" host called it his "dream home." Check out the pics ... "You are in for a treat."

Comedian Sid Caesar -- one of the kings of television comedy in the 1950s -- has died at the age of 91.

Caesar came out of the Catskills comedy circuit ... hitting the big time in the early days of TV with his variety program, "Your Show of Shows" ... and later, "Caesar's Hour."

He often starred alongside comedienne Imogene Coca ... and many of his writers -- Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Neil Simon and Woody Allen -- went on to become huge stars in their own right.

No word on a cause of death ... but Caesar died at home.

He had three children. His wife died in 2010.

Shirley Temple Black -- arguably the most famous child star ever -- has died.

Black passed away at her home in Woodside, California from natural causes.

She was an enormous star in her heyday. She began her acting career at 3 and her singing and dancing was irresistible. Her most famous song, "On the Good Ship Lollipop" riveted audiences.

Her movies were must-sees in the 30s -- especially "Bright Eyes," "Stand Up and Cheer" and "Curly
Top."

She was so popular a drink was named after her, and kids copied her curly haircut the way people copied Farrah Fawcett's decades later.

In 1934, she was given a miniature Oscar for her work.

Black hung up the acting towel at 21 -- back in 1950 -- and after a break she returned to the public eye by throwing her hat in the political arena ... running for Congress as a Republican.

She became a U.S. diplomat ... serving as U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.

She married her first husband at 17, but it didn't last. Her second marriage to Charles Black endured.

Black's family and caregivers were with her when she died.

The family said, "We salute her for a life of remarkable achievements as an actor, as a diplomat, and most importantly as our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and adored wife for 55 years of the late and much missed Charles Alden Black."

The guy accused of selling Philip Seymour Hoffman the heroin that killed him SWEARS he didn't do it -- but he wouldn't deny selling heroin to Hoffman in the past.

Robert Vineberg -- who did an interview with the NY Post from inside jail over the weekend -- says he hadn't seen Hoffman since last year ... long before the actor passed away.

If he had known Hoffman was in town the weekend he died, Vineberg says he would have tried to "save him" because he knew the actor had a serious heroin problem.

Which sounds like BS ... because when Vineberg was asked if he had ever dealt heroin to Hoffman in the months before the actor's death, Vineberg declined to comment. Nevertheless, Vineberg insists the heroin Hoffman injected immediately before his death was NOT from him.

As for Hoffman's drug use, Vineberg seemed to know a lot about it, claiming he's convinced Hoffman was using 10 bags of heroin a day.

A group of friends who were in treatment with Philip Seymour Hoffman are vowing to stay sober FOR GOOD following his death ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ spoke with a woman in rehab with PSH -- we kept her name confidential for obvious reasons -- and she says a bunch of people in rehab and Narcotics Anonymous with Hoffman made a pact after he died to not only stay sober from now on for themselves ... but also for Philip.

We're told his death was a "pivotal moment in their recovery" ... because they realized no one is invincible ... even rich celebrities.

Ashley Benson may THINK she's heroin chic ... but we're guessing the prevailing view is that she's heroin creep ... wearing this the day after Phillip Seymour Hoffman was buried.

The "Spring Breakers" star roamed around West Hollywood Saturday in a black T with the words "DJ Heroin" emblazoned on it.

It's especially startling ... because just a few days before she tweeted a pic of Hoffman with the warning, "Don't do drugs."

The 46-year-old actor has been outspoken about the shooting, and his campaign marches on ... Fox will be speaking at a remembrance dinner tonight -- just days after what would have been Martin's 19th birthday.

We're guessing he's happy the Zimmerman fight was 86'd.

Sad day in New York City Friday -- Philip Seymour Hoffman's longtime girlfriend Mimi O'Donnell and their 3 children just exited the Manhattan church where the actor's funeral just ended ... and it was emotional.

Mimi -- flanked by 10-year-old son Cooper, 7-year-old daughter Tallulah and 5-year-old daughter Willa -- exited the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola together moments ago.

Other famous attendees also found it difficult to contain their feelings -- Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams left together, both wearing dark sunglasses. Michelle held her hand over her mouth.

It's tragic ... Gyllenhaal was set to star in Hoffman's upcoming directorial effort "Ezekiel Moss" -- in fact, his involvement in the film was announced just days before Hoffman's death.

Williams starred with Hoffman in "Synecdoche, New York" in 2008 -- the same year her ex Heath Ledger also OD'd on drugs.

Philip Seymour Hoffman's funeral has just begun -- and the church is jam-packed with the late actor's famous friends ... including Cate Blanchett, Spike Lee, Louis C.K., Ethan Hawke, and Ellen Burstyn.

The private funeral service for family and friends is now underway at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in NYC -- the same church where Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Aaliyah's funerals were held.

All told, roughly 400 people were expected to attend the ceremony.

As we reported, 46-year-old Hoffman was found dead Sunday from an apparent heroin overdose. He is survived by his longtime partner Mimi O'Donnell and 3 young children.

A larger memorial service is in the works for later this month.