"Two and a Half Men" Charlie Harper's Death -- "MEAT Explosion"
TMZ has done more recon and has gotten the real lowdown on HOW Charlie Harper died -- and it isn't pretty.
Sources at Friday night's taping tell us ... Harper married Rose -- the neighbor/stalker he flew to Paris with last season -- but things went downhill quickly when she found him in the shower with another woman.
In the episode, we're told Rose speaks at the funeral and recounts what happened to Charlie ... saying the day after the shower incident she and Charlie were waiting for a Paris subway when Charlie "slipped" and the subway literally blew him apart in a "meat explosion."
The strong inclination was that Rose pushed him and got away with it.
It seems Chuck Lorre couldn't take his aggressions out on Charlie Sheen, but he did the next best thing by taking it out on Charlie Harper.
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Cha Cha from 'Grease' DEAD AT 63
Annette Charles -- who played Cha Cha in the 1978 movie "Grease" -- died last night in her Los Angeles home ... her rep tells TMZ.
Her rep tells us, she passed away due to complications from cancer.
The family is planning to release a full statement within the next 24 hours. Annette was 63.
A family member tells us, "Annette had recently started having difficulty breathing ... and when she went to the doctor she learned that she had a cancerous tumor in one of her lungs."
We're told doctors only learned about her condition a few months ago.
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Steve Guttenberg "Bubba Smith Was My Friend"
Steve Guttenberg just released a statement to TMZ about the passing of his good friend and "Police Academy" co-star Bubba Smith.
"Bubba was my friend. His generosity was far larger than his physical stature."
He adds, "Only his gift for caring about his friends and family could compare with his achievements on the football field, film and television. He also laughed like no other."
Smith was found dead in his L.A. home yesterday -- he was 66 years old.
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BUBBA SMITH "POLICE ACADEMY" STAR DEAD AT 66
Former NFL great Charles "Bubba" Smith -- who later starred in the "Police Academy" movies -- was found dead today in his Los Angeles home. He was 66 years old.
Law enforcement officials tell TMZ ... LAPD received a 911 call at 12:54PM today -- and officers responded to his home in the Baldwin Hills area. The fire department also responded and we're told Smith was dead when authorities arrived.
The L.A. County Coroner is on the scene investigating. We're told, at this point, authorities think he died of natural causes.
According to the L.A. Times, Bubba's caretaker discovered the body and called police. His autopsy will be performed later this week.
Bubba -- a towering 6'7" -- spent 9 seasons as a defensive end in the NFL, playing for the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Houston Oilers.
He won Super Bowl V with the Colts -- but is most famous for his role as the giant and lovable Moses Hightower in 6 of the "Police Academy" movies.
Recently Deceased Stars
U.S. Skier's Heartbreaking 911 "I'm Gonna Kill Myself"
U.S. Olympic skier Jeret "Speedy" Peterson called 911 moments before he committed suicide Monday ... and while fighting back tears, the 29-year-old told the operator, "I'm going to kill myself."
Peterson then gave his location to the operator and said, "I want police to come get the body." He then hung up the phone.
Cops in Summit County, Utah responded to the spot where Peterson said he would be ... and found the skier's body "obviously deceased from what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head."
According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Peterson left a suicide note ... but cops are not releasing it to the public.
Peterson was one of the best freestyle skiers in the world. He competed in 3 Olympics for the U.S. ... winning a silver medal in Vancouver in 2010.
Recent 911 Calls
Ex-Yankees Pitcher HIDEKI IRABU SUICIDE BY HANGING SUSPECTED
Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead yesterday in his California home -- and law enforcement sources tell TMZ, it appears he committed suicide by hanging himself. We're told a friend found him.
L.A. County Coroner is still trying to locate next of kin.
Hideki played for the Yankees, Expos, and Rangers -- last pitching in the big leagues in 2002. He won World Series rings with the Yanks in 1998 and 1999.
Irabu was 42.
Story developing ...
The Yankee to Happiness
'America' Singer Dan Peek -- Dead at 60
Dan Peek -- famous for his high harmony vocals on "A Horse with No Name" with the 1970's band "America" -- died in his Missouri home on Sunday ... this according to the singer's father.
Peek was found dead in his bed by his wife. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death.
"America's" most famous songs include "Tin Man", "Sister Golden Hair", "Daisy Jane", and "Lonely People".
Peek left the band in 1977 and became a Contemporary Christian Music artist.
He was 60.
UPDATE: The St. Francis County Coroner says Peek died from severe heart disease and an enlarged heart.
R.I.P.
U.S. Olympic Skier Commits Suicide In Utah
Jeret "Speedy" Peterson -- who won a silver medal for freestyle skiing for the U.S. in 2010 -- has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Utah ... officials have confirmed.
Salt Lake County Unified Police told KTVB ... Peterson called cops to tell them where he was before he shot himself. His body was discovered late Monday night.
Peterson was arrested last week in Idaho for speeding and DUI.
Jeret was a 3-time Olympian -- competing in 2002, 2006 and 2010 in Vancouver.
He was 29-years old.
Jeret was famous for his sick signature move called "the Hurricane" -- 3 somersaults and 5 twists.
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Amy's Dad: 'Goodnight My Angel ... Sleep Tight'
Amy Winehouse's father gave a touching speech at her funeral moments ago ... telling stories from her childhood ... playing music ... and telling his daughter to "sleep tight."
The 45-minute ceremony was led by a Rabbi and included prayers in English and Hebrew.
During Mitch Winehouse's eulogy, he said, "Goodnight my angel ... Sleep tight. Mommy and Daddy love you ever so much."
The ceremony ended with a rendition of the Carole King song, "So Far Away" ... while Mitch encouraged mourners to sing along.
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Amy Winehouse Funeral Ronson, Osbourne Attend
Amy Winehouse's funeral is underway at a cemetery in North London -- and, Mark Ronson -- who produced most of her "Back to Black" album -- and Kelly Osbourne have arrived to pay their respects.
As a tribute to Amy .... Osbourne showed up to the Edgwarebury Cemetery wearing the singer's signature beehive style hairdo.
As for who's NOT showing up, sources tell TMZ her ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil -- who's currently serving 32 months in prison for burglary and possession of an imitation firearm -- was denied release to attend the funeral.
Amy was found dead on Saturday at her home in London -- the cause of death has not been determined.
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Amy Winehouse Funeral Set for Tomorrow
Amy Winehouse's funeral will take place in England tomorrow ... a family spokesperson has announced.
The spokesperson tells TMZ, "The funeral will take place on Tuesday and will be a family and close friends affair."
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Amy Winehouse Autopsy Underway
The autopsy on Amy Winehouse has just begun ... TMZ has learned.
So far, police have said her death was "not suspicious" and that there were no signs of foul play.
UPDATE: The autopsy is now complete. According to police, no cause of death was established ... toxicology test results are still pending and will take 2 to 4 weeks.
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Amy Winehouse Died in Bed
Amy Winehouse was found dead in her bed by a security guard who had been appointed to look after her ... this according a rep for Winehouse.
Chris Goodman, a friend and rep for Winehouse, explained, "She was in her bedroom after saying she wanted to sleep and when he went to wake her he found she wasn't breathing."
Goodman continued, "He called the emergency services straight away. He was very shocked. At this stage no one knows how she died. She died alone in bed."
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Amy Winehouse -- No Signs of Foul Play
There were no signs of foul play in the death of Amy Winehouse ... Scotland Yard tells TMZ.
The singer was found dead in her London apartment this afternoon.
We're told an autopsy has been scheduled for tomorrow.
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Amy Winehouse Found Dead
Amy Winehouse was found dead in her apartment in London today ... TMZ has confirmed.
A press release from the Metropolitan Police, which doesn't specifically name Winehouse, says:
"Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square NW1 shortly before 16.05hrs today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased.
On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained. "Winehouse famously battled addiction to drugs and alcohol and was in and out of rehab several times throughout the years.
Last month, Winehouse canceled her European tour after a performance in Serbia where she seemed completely out of it.
She was 27.
Father of 'Barbie' -- Dead at 95
Elliot Handler -- a co-founder of the Mattel toy company -- the guy who NAMED the "Barbie Doll" -- has died ... TMZ has learned.
Handler's caretaker tells TMZ ... Elliot had a medical emergency last night ... and eventually died from heart failure.
Elliot's wife CREATED the Barbie Doll back in the '50s ... and Handler named the doll after their daughter Barbara.
Handler was 95-years old.