RIP

Steve Jobs -- the mega-genius who co-founded Apple Inc. -- has died ... reps for the company have confirmed.

Jobs was 56.

Jobs suffered a number of serious health issues over the years. In 2004, he announced he had a rare -- but treatable -- form of pancreatic cancer ... and had a tumor successfully removed from his pancreas later that year.

TMZ posted a picture of Jobs two days after he resigned as Apple's CEO in August, clearly showing a deterioration in his health.

In 2009, Jobs received a liver transplant after announcing his "health-related issues were more complex than I thought."

Jobs is survived by his wife, Laurene, and 4 children.

4:50 PM: Apple has released a statement ... reading, "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.

Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

5:10 PM: Apple CEO Tim Cook sent an email to Apple staff, which reads:

Team,

I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve's death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.

Tim

• Steve Wozniak: Jobs Needs Some 'Steve Time'
• Apple Shaken to Core -- Steve Jobs Resigns

"King of Infomercials" Don Lapre died from a self-inflicted razor blade wound to the neck, law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We're told jail guards found piles of blood-soaked clothing lining Don's bed in his Arizona jail cell. Sources say ... officials believe Don used the clothing to conceal the bleeding in order to thwart efforts to save his life.

Lapre was found dead in his cell Sunday morning. The autopsy was completed yesterday.

Officials have determined Warrant singer Jani Lane died from alcohol poisoning ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We're told the L.A. Coroner's Office has finished its investigation -- and concluded Lane had suffered from "acute ethanol poisoning" when he died in an L.A. motel room on August 11.

As TMZ previously reported, investigators found a half-empty bottle of vodka and prescription medication in the motel room where Lane died.

The singer had battled substance abuse issues for years.

Don Lapre -- the self-proclaimed "King of Infomercials" -- was found dead in his Arizona jail cell early Sunday morning of an apparent suicide ... just days before he was set to go on trial for allegedly selling millions of dollars of bogus vitamins.

Lapre, who has been a fixture on early AM TV hocking various products, was facing 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and promotional money laundering for selling a product called, "The Greatest Vitamin in the World."

The FDA begged to differ, concluding that Lapre was making wild claims about the vitamin that were simply unsupported by the evidence.

It's unclear how Lapre killed himself, but a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service says officials are investigating the situation.

Lapre had been accused of screwing roughly 220,000 people out of nearly $52 million in a national vitamin scam.

The 47-year-old shot to stardom with a scheme involving classified ads in newspapers.

Jeff Conaway died from multiple causes, from Aortic valve problems to pneumonia ... this according to the L.A. County Coroner. And, the Coroner says, his death at 60 was an accident.

Among the causes

-- Septic Emboli ... an infected arterial blockage
-- Aortic Valve Endocarditis ... heart valve infection
-- Coronary Artery Disease
-- Pneumonia
-- Encephalopathy ... brain disorder resulting from drug overdoses

Sylvia Robinson -- who produced the first mainstream hip-hop hit "Rapper's Delight" -- died this morning of congestive heart failure.

Robinson is widely regarded as the "Mother of Hip-Hop" -- producing groundbreaking hits “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five ... and "Rapper's Delight" with the Sugar Hill Gang.

Robinson also had success as a recording artist -- singing the hits "Pillow Talk" and "Love is Strange".

Metal legend and horror maven Rob Zombie already knows exactly how he wants to croak -- and no surprise ... his ideal death involves dismemberment, a wild animal, and a whole lot of blood.

The SNACK GOD who invented DORITOS has passed away ... but TMZ has learned his funeral is nacho average ceremony ... 'cause the guy will be buried with 3 FLAVORS of his prized invention.

Arch West -- the 97-year-old ex-Frito-Lay legend -- died last week, and his daughter announced the family plans on "tossing Doritos chips in before they put the dirt over the urn" when he is buried.

TMZ spoke with West's son-in-law ... who tells us the family will use Original, Cool Ranch and Nacho flavored Doritos, since those were West's favorite. He was NOT a fan of the Cheeseburger flavor, so those will not be used.

According to his daughter, West came up with the idea for Doritos during a family vacation to San Diego ... when he discovered a snack shack selling fried tortilla chips in 1961.

The autopsy of R&B singer Vesta Williams has been completed today -- and sources tell TMZ the cause of death is undetermined pending toxicology results, which will take 4-6 weeks.

Williams was found dead in her hotel room on Thursday. Sources tell TMZ several prescription pill bottles were found at the scene and no foul play is suspected.

Former Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Orlando Brown has been found dead ... TMZ has confirmed.

Brown, an imposing figure in the NFL, was famously injured in 1999 when a ref threw a penalty marker that struck his eye. The injury was severe and some say it derailed his career.

Brown, who was 40, was found dead at his home in downtown Baltimore.

The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Multiple bottles of prescription pills were found in the El Segundo, CA hotel room where R&B singer Vesta Williams died ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We're told "several bottles" were discovered -- some empty.

Law enforcement sources tell us officials first received a call related to Vesta's death around 6PM Thursday night.

Sources tell us the death is being treated as either an accident or suicide, but not a homicide.

The coroner won't know if drugs played a part in her death until the toxicology reports are in -- and that could take 6 weeks.

R&B singer Vesta Williams -- best known for her 1989 hit "Congratulations" -- was found dead in an L.A. hotel room yesterday ... TMZ has confirmed.

Loads of Vesta's celebrity friends have posted messages on Twitter about the news -- including actress Jackeé Harry who wrote, "...just received truly devastating news: R&B great, and my friend of many yrs, Vesta Williams (@vesta4u), has passed away. #RIPVesta"

53-year-old Williams had a string of R&B hits in the 80s and 90s including "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and "You Make Me Want To (Love Again)."

Dolores Hope -- Bob Hope's widow -- has died. She was 102 years old.

Dolores married Bob Hope in 1934 and the couple was married for 69 years, until Bob died in 2003. Sources tell us Dolores died this morning.

Friends of Dolores tell TMZ, she was quite the character, frequently drinking bourbon and entertaining almost to the end of her life.

Dolores was a devout Catholic, who drove herself to mass everyday at 7 AM, and when she could no longer drive a chapel was constructed on her Toluca Lake estate so she could worship.

Dolores' rep, Harlan Boll, tells TMZ, she loved children and veterans and would do anything for her charities.

Bob and Dolores Hope met 78 years ago in a New York City nightclub -- and they've got one more date together.

Frances Bay -- famous for playing Adam Sandler's grandma in "Happy Gilmore" -- passed away Thursday at the age of 92 ... her agent confirms.

Bay spent most of her life as a housewife -- deciding to pursue a career as an actress in the 1970's -- when she was already in her mid-50's.

In addition to playing the grandma on "Happy Gilmore" -- she also guest-starred as the Fonz's grandma on "Happy Days".

It's been 15 years to the day since Tupac Shakur was shot to death -- but his mother is still coping with the rapper's untimely end ... claiming she feels the same pain now she felt back in 1996.

A rep for Afeni Shakur tells TMZ, she's spending the anniversary of Tupac's death with family and friends in Northern California -- mourning her son's passing.

According to the rep, Afeni feels like it was just yesterday that her son was shot dead -- and the pain hasn't subsided even a little.

R.I.P.