RIP

Don Cornelius -- who famously created "Soul Train" was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, CA home this morning ... and law enforcement sources tell us it appears he committed suicide.

We're told cops discovered the body at around 4 AM PT. Law enforcement sources tell us ... Cornelius died from a gunshot wound to the head and officials believe the wound was self-inflicted.

We're told Cornelius was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"Soul Train" changed the landscape of television when it debuted in 1971 and ran until 2006.

Officials have notified Don's family.

Cornelius was 75.

During Don's bitter divorce proceedings in 2009, he told an L.A. judge he was suffering from "significant health issues" and wanted to "finalize this divorce before I die."

Cornelius was arrested in 2008 for beating up his wife. He pled no contest to misdemeanor domestic violence and was placed on 3 years probation. His probation just terminated.

The divorce was granted in 2010.

Sources close to Don tell us ... the TV icon was plagued with health issues for years ... including a stroke and a condition that required brain surgery.

8:10 AM PST -- Shawn Holley -- Don's lawyer and good friend -- tells TMZ, "This is devastating news. Don was a kind, funny and brilliant man. Even though his many health battles had left him frail, he remained vibrant, courtly and always sharp as a tack."

"House of Carters" reality star Leslie Carter -- younger sister of Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter -- died yesterday in New York at the age of 25 ... the family confirms.

The Carters released a statement saying, "Our family is grieving right now and it’s a private matter. We are deeply saddened for the loss of our beloved sister, daughter, and granddaughter, Leslie Carter. We request the utmost privacy during this difficult time.”

The details surrounding Leslie's death are unclear.

Leslie was an aspiring singer, who gave birth to a daughter back in April.

A member of the condo board that Nick Santino said pressured him to euthanize his pit-bull -- a decision that drove him to suicide -- says the condo board is NOT responsible for his death.

Board member Marilyn Fireman says she is sorry that Santino is dead, but says it has nothing to do with the building's no-pet policy. She tells the NY Post, "You just assumed that [his suicide] was a result of a board’s decision."

Fireman did concede Santino routinely complained about the building’s anti-dog policies.

Santino's sister tells the paper the family is holding off on funeral arrangements until the dead dog's ashes are brought home ... saying, "They'll be buried together."

Rev. Al Sharpton gave the eulogy and Christina Aguilera sung her classic song "At Last" ... as 300 mourners gathered at Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena, CA for the funeral of legendary singer Etta James.

James passed away on January 20 at the age of 73.

Stevie Wonder was also in attendance. He performed "Shelter in the Rain" and sang The Lord's Prayer.

A soap actor killed himself this week on his 47th birthday ... hours after he was forced to put his beloved dog to sleep under pressure from his Manhattan condo.

According to the NY Post the building had a ban on pit-bulls, but Nick Santino's dog had been grandfathered in ... which didn't sit well with some of the neighbors. Some claimed the dog was loud and aggressive, but others said building management was just harassing Santino ... trying to force him to get rid of the dog.

Santino had Rocco put to sleep on Tuesday -- for some reason he felt that was his only option.

According to the paper, a tearful Santino brought dog treats to the doorman and said, "Give these to the other dogs. Rocco is no more."

Later that day Santino left a suicide note that read, "Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend ... Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn't deserve this."

Santino -- who has appeared on "All My Children" and "The Guiding Light" -- OD'd on pills early the next morning.

Rocco was cremated and friends told the Post Santino will be too.

Actor Robert Hegyes, one of the stars of the 70s sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter" died today of an apparent heart attack.

Hegyes was best known for his role as the Puerto Rican-Jew on that show -- Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein. Epstein for short.

Hegyes reunited with John Travolta and the rest of the Sweathogs last year to accept TV Land's 35th Anniversary Award.

He also co-starred on the hit drama, "Cagney and Lacey."

The man who voiced the robot from "Lost in Space" back in the 60s has died.

Dick Tufeld died peacefully at an L.A. area hospital -- this according to Dick's "Lost in Space" co-star Bill Mumy.

According to Mumy, Tufeld -- a cancer survivor -- suffered from Parkinson's disease. He was 85 years old.

Mumy tells us, "Everything just caught up to him" -- adding, "He lost his wife a few years ago and lost his pep after that."

Joe Paterno -- the legendary former football coach at Penn State University -- died this morning at the age of 85 ... this according to his family.

His family released a statement that reads, "He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community."

The front page of the website for the Penn State athletic department was updated with simply a picture of Paterno (see below).

Jerry Sandusky, the longtime assistant coach facing sexual abuse allegations that led to Paterno's dismissal at Penn State, called his death a sad day ... and Paterno "had the courage to practice what he preached" about toughness, hard work and clean competition.

In November 2011, his son Scott announced Paterno had a treatable form of lung cancer.

JoePa, as he was known, holds the record for most victories by a Division I football coach with 409.

Legendary R&B singer Etta James -- famous for her hit songs "At Last" and "Something's Got a Hold on Me" -- has died.

The singer -- whose health was on a rapid decline the last few years -- was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010. She also suffered from dementia and Hepatitis C.

Her live-in doctor announced the singer was "terminally ill" last month, after her leukemia was declared incurable.

Etta died at a hospital in Riverside, California ... her manager confirmed.

She won 6 Grammys in her lifetime -- including Best Jazz Vocal Performance in 1994 -- and was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Freestyle skiing legend Sarah Burke -- a 4-time X Games gold medal winner -- died today from injuries sustained during a recent skiing accident.

The 29-year-old Canadian crashed hard during a training session at the Park City Mountain Resort superpipe in Utah on January 10.

According to reports, Burke went into cardiac arrest shortly after the accident -- but was resuscitated and airlifted to a nearby hospital ... where she underwent major surgery to repair a tear in a major artery.

But Sarah's injuries proved to be too severe and she was placed on life support. Sarah's publicist confirms she died today, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Cheetah the chimpanzee -- who reportedly played Johnny Weissmuller's sidekick in the 1930s "Tarzan" films -- passed on to the great jungle in the sky last week after suffering kidney failure ... this according to the primate sanctuary that he called home.

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida -- where Cheetah had been living since the 1960s -- made the announcement, saying, "It is with great sadness that the community has lost a dear friend and family member."

It was not a Merry Christmas in the Osbourne home yesterday -- their beloved chihuahua Martin died.

Kelly Osbourne passed on the sad news via Twitter yesterday, writing, "today is a sad day in the Osbourne family house hold we lost R dog martin of 14 years. Devastated does not quite sum it up! #NotSoMerryXmas"

On Sharon's website, Martin is described as "a sophisticated little creature. Shunning the affection of women, Martin prefers the love of a good man."

Waka Flocka Flame and Gucci Mane are throwing down big $$$ to cover funeral expenses for a fellow Atlanta rapper -- who was brutally gunned down last week -- lavishing their fallen comrade with elaborate memorial arrangements.

Rapper Slim Dunkin (center) -- real name Mario Hamilton -- was shot and killed Friday night inside an Atlanta recording studio ... after a verbal altercation with an unidentified man turned deadly.

Now, a rep for Waka and Gucci tells TMZ, the rappers are pooling their assets to ensure Slim is laid to rest in the best way possible ... with an elaborate funeral that includes a white horse-drawn carriage, massive white floral arrangements, and a white dove release ceremony.

We're told Slim's family will cover some funeral costs -- but Waka and Gucci are paying for the lion's share.

Bobby Brown's dad passed away today after a long bout with cancer ... sources close to the family tell TMZ.

According to a family source, Herbert Brown -- known affectionately as Pop -- had been ill of quite a while. He was 82.

Emmy Award-winning actor Harry Morgan -- who played Colonel Potter on the series M*A*S*H -- died this morning in his L.A. home ... this according to the actor's son.

His son Charles told the NY Times ... Morgan was recently treated for pneumonia -- thought it's unclear if that was a cause of death.

Morgan had an illustrious TV career -- also starring in "Dragnet," "Pete and Gladys," "December Bride," and "Hec Ramsey."

Morgan is survived by his wife Barbara, three son's from his previous marriage, and eight grandchildren. He was 96.

Bill McKinney -- who starred in the famous "Squeal like a pig" scene in "Deliverance" (below) -- has died after a battle with lung cancer.

McKinney's Facebook page contains a statement ... reading, "Today our dear Bill McKinney passed away at Valley Presbyterian Hospice."

The statement continues, "An avid smoker for 25 years of his younger life, he died of cancer of the esophagus. He was 80 and still strong enough to have filmed a Doritos commercial 2 weeks prior to his passing, and he continued to work on his biography with his writing partner."

Aside from playing the crazy, rapist Mountain Man in "Deliverance" -- he also starred in 7 Clint Eastwood flicks ... including "The Outlaw Josey Wales."