RIP

The staff at Liz's FAVORITE West Hollywood gay bar -- The Abbey -- erected a candle-lit memorial to the actress yesterday in the V.I.P. room where Liz would often hang out ... but that's only the beginning.

We're told the bar's offering a special drink in Liz's memory this weekend ... and they're donating ALL the proceeds to Elizabeth's AIDS foundation.

It's called the "Blue Velvet Martini" -- which they picked in honor of her role in the 1944 hit "National Velvet" -- and if you wanna try out their recipe ... it's made with Blue Angel vodka and blueberry schnapps.

The crypt -- close to Marilyn Monroe's -- is next to those of her parents, Francis and Sara.

The cemetery is filled with stars, including Natalie Wood, Roy Orbison, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin, Merv Griffin and Truman Capote.

Margie Phelps -- daughter of WBC Pastor Fred Phelps -- took to Twitter today to announce the church is going to picket non-lesbian Liz's funeral ... all because Liz was apparently some sort of gay "enabler" and (God forbid) an AIDS activist.

Liz will likely be buried in Los Angeles -- where there are positively no gay people.

Elizabeth Taylor died at 1:28 AM at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles ... where she had been hospitalized for the past couple of weeks. A private funeral will be held later this week.

Taylor's publicist says she was "surrounded by her children -- Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton."

Taylor's rep says the actress died "peacefully" from congestive heart failure, "a condition with which she had struggled with for many years." The rep adds, "Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Sadly, this was not to be."

Someone at the hospital Tuesday night tells TMZ ... doctors knew at around 6 PM that Taylor was dying.

Taylor was considered one of the greatest actresses of all-time -- starring in classics like "Cleopatra" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." She won an Academy Award for best actress twice for her roles in "BUtterfield 8" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".

Taylor, who was married 8 times -- twice to Richard Burton -- is survived by 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Taylor's son, Michael, says, "My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love." Michael goes on to tout his mom's "brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS ... We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it."

Elton John says, "We have just lost a Hollywood giant; more importantly, we have lost an incredible human being."

Dr. Arnold Klein, Taylor's longtime friend and doctor, tells TMZ, "She's the greatest human being I've ever known. She used her celebrity not just for fame but to change the world. Elizabeth gave AIDS a face and that's when people started accepting it as a disease."

We've learned Taylor has a plot next to her parents at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in L.A. Among those who are buried or interred there -- Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Truman Capote, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin and Walter Matthau.

The family asks in lieu of flowers that contributions be made to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation -- elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org.

According to her manager Ron Richardson, the Chicago-born singer was battling a brief illness when she died of heart failure yesterday.

Boy George expressed his love for Holloway on his Twitter this morning, saying, “God rest your soul Loleatta Holloway, you were the greatest voice and I loved you! R.I.P.”

Knut became famous after he was rejected by his mother at birth and raised by zookeepers at the Berlin Zoo.

According to one report, he was found floating in the water in the zoo's polar bear enclosure on Saturday. Bear keeper Heiner Kloes was quoted as saying, "He was by himself in his compound, he was in the water, and then he was dead ... He was not sick, we don't know why he died."

A cause of death is not known, but tests are expected to be performed Monday.

Gough has one hell of a resume dating back to the '40s ... including "Out of Africa" and "The Boys from Brazil."

McGrew tells TMZ ... Nate's death was unexpected ... since he was making significant progress in his recovery from the most recent stroke he suffered in 2008.

According to McGrew ... Nate was "95% recovered from the first stroke in 2007" ... when the second stroke occurred in 2008 ... leaving Nate partially paralyzed and causing partial memory loss.

But McGrew says Nate had "cognitively fully recovered" -- meaning he got his memory back and was fully alert and aware all the way up to his final days.

McGrew just released a statement on behalf of himself and Nate's family ... saying, "We appreciate the enormous outpouring of response from all over the world. We greatly appreciate that and thank everyone for their prayers and support."

The statement continues, "We know that Nate will be hanging out with his good friends 2Pac and Biggie."

Snoop went to Twitter hours after Nate was pronounced dead last night ... and dropped the following messages:

"We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met."

"I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan."

Snoop added, "I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit."

Nate Dogg -- real name Nathaniel D. Hale -- had survived strokes in 2007 and 2008 ... and was famous for his smooth vocal collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Warren G. and Dr. Dre to name a few.

The Press Telegram in Nate's hometown of Long Beach, CA first reported his death late Tuesday night.

No word yet on what tests still need to be done ... but Mike's family ain't waiting around -- we're told they're holding a memorial without Mike's body this Sunday in Seattle for friends and family ... to give them a chance to pay their respects early.

Once Mike's body is back in the family's possession, sources tell us, they plan to hold TWO funeral services -- one for fans, and one for family.

Starr appeared on the third season of "Celebrity Rehab" back in 2009 -- and was arrested last month for felony possession of a controlled substance. Salt Lake City cops say he had 6 Xanax pills and 6 Opana (painkiller) pills when he was busted.

Starr was 44 years old.

Mike's dad tells TMZ, "It's a terrible shock and tragedy."

UPDATE: Police tell us Starr's body was found in a Salt Lake City home today. Cops say they were called to the house at 1:42PM.

DeStefano was a former heroin addict who had been clean for 11 years. According to the NBC website, he frequently performed at prisons and rehab centers for free.

According to reports, DeStefano died after suffering a massive heart attack last night.

His rep released a statement saying, "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of a dear friend, a true gentleman, a great comic, and a fierce warrior, Mike DeStefano."

The statement continues ...

Russell also played Calamity Jane in 1948 alongside Bob Hope in "The Paleface" -- and subsequently starred with Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 musical "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

Law enforcement officials in Homer, AK tell us they got a call at 12:52 PM yesterday reporting a deceased male at the Best Western Bidarka Inn. Upon arrival they found 33-year-old Tennison lying on a bed unresponsive.

We're told a search of the room -- which was registered to Justin -- turned up a small amount of marijuana, as well as several bottles of alcohol in the refrigerator. Cops tell us they believe there had been a party in the room the night before.

It's unknown if the booze and drugs played a role in Justin's death -- his body was transported to the State Medical Examiner ... and an autopsy is scheduled for later today.

The actor reportedly died in his sleep this morning in Burbank, and according to his daughter Michelle, "It was very peaceful."