RIP

Wes Craven ... legendary horror director of "Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Scream," has died.

Craven passed away Sunday at his home in Los Angeles after battling brain cancer.

Along with creating one of the most feared movie monsters of all time -- Freddy Kreuger -- Craven is also known for horror classics like "The Hills Have Eyes" and "Last House on the Left."

He is survived by his wife, three children, and grandchildren. He was 76.

NBA legend Darryl Dawkins -- nicknamed "Chocolate Thunder" for his monster dunks -- has died at the age of 58 ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Toby Sheldon -- who became famous for spending more than $100k to look like Justin Bieber -- has been found dead ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Toby's body was found in a Motel 6 in the San Fernando Valley on August 21. He has been reported missing since August 18.

Law enforcement tells TMZ, police found drugs in the room but it's unclear how he died.

When Toby went missing, the LAPD said the disappearance may have been triggered by a breakup with his boyfriend.

The 35-year-old had appeared on the shows "Botched" and "My Strange Addiction."

Anna Kashfi, mother of Marlon Brando's first son, has died in Washington state.

Kashfi married Brando in 1957, not too long after meeting at the commissary at Paramount Studios. She gave birth to Christian Brando in 1958. The next year she and Marlon divorced -- they fought for custody of Christian ... with Marlon eventually winning.

Kashfi said she was born in India, and raised in Great Britain. In the early '50s, she starred in movies with Rock Hudson ("Battle Hymn") and Spencer Tracy ("The Mountain").

She wrote a tell-all book about her life with Marlon in 1979 called, "Brando for Breakfast."

Christian, you may recall, shot and killed his sister's boyfriend, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and served 6 years in prison. He died in 2008, and was buried in Kalama, Washington ... the same town where Anna lived.

The LAPD detective who investigated the death of Biggie Smalls died of an apparent heart attack while interviewing an L.A. County Sheriff's captain about Biggie's murder ... TMZ has learned.

Russell Poole was at the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau Wednesday interviewing the captain for a book he was writing about the case. Poole believed LAPD officers who worked off duty for Suge Knight had a hand in Biggie's killing ... as retaliation for Tupac's murder.

We're told Poole was interviewing the captain when he clutched his chest, said "I think I'm having a heart attack," and then keeled over.

Law enforcement sources tell us Poole -- who was 58 -- made it known he believed the LAPD wanted him dead. There's no evidence of foul play, and in fact we're told Poole suffered from chronic high blood pressure.

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper died from a blood clot in his lungs ... TMZ has learned.

We've obtained a copy of the death certificate, which shows the wrestling legend had pulmonary embolism (a blood clot) that triggered a heart attack.

The death certificate helps explain the clot ... Roddy suffered from hypertension for years, resulting in chronic high blood pressure. Clotting can occur as a result of high blood pressure.

And the document reminds everyone how much of a force Roddy was in his profession ... his occupation is listed as "PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER ... 45 YEARS."

51-year-old Lenny B. Robinson, better known as The Route 29 Batman, was fatally struck by a car Sunday night around 10:30 pm.

Robinson was on his way home from a car show in West Virginia after his 'Batmobile' -- a black Lamborghini -- broke down on the I-70 near Hagerstown, MD.

Robinson became the President for “Superheroes for Kids, Inc.” after he sold his commercial cleaning business ... he would regularly visit sick children in hospitals. His site says his mission was to "entertain ill and terminally ill children by appearing to them as Batman."

He gained fame when video of a 2012 traffic stop went viral after he was pulled over in his Batmobile.

#RIP

---------------------------------------------------- 2012 Traffic Stop ----------------------------------------------------

5:10 AM PT -- According to police, the suspect -- Hines' boyfriend, Lamar Davenport -- was screaming about religion during the alleged stabbing. Davenport is currently hospitalized and will undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Davenport was charged Monday with second-degree murder.

Morgan Freeman's 33-year-old step-granddaughter was murdered outside of her New York City home early Sunday morning.

Law enforcement tells TMZ E'Dena Hines was found lying on the street and had suffered multiple stab wounds to her torso. She was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

A 30-year-old man was taken into custody at the scene and transported to a hospital nearby.

In a statement to People, Morgan said, "Her star will continue to shine bright in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. May she rest in peace."

The PGA Championship was hit by tragedy -- a Sheriff's K-9 overheated in a patrol car and died in the line of duty.

Sophia the St Bernard was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer ... so her owner Alyson wanted to give her something special before she had to be put down.

The Chill Factore in Manchester -- UK's longest indoor ski slope -- was happy to give them the opportunity to play around in their snow filled park.

Uggie, the famous Jack Russell Terrier from "The Artist" ... has gone to the big doghouse in the sky -- after bravely battling a prostate tumor.

TMZ has learned the 13-year-old star who played "The Dog" in the 2012 Oscar winning film was put down Friday in Los Angeles. His owner, Omar Von Mueller, tells us it was a difficult decision, but Uggie had been suffering with the tumor, and the last few weeks were especially difficult.

Sarah Clifford worked with Uggie on his big star turn, and tells us he was "a perfect little terrier" with boundless energy.

His "Artist" work earned him several accolades, including a Golden Collar Award ... and the Palm Dog Award at Cannes. He also famously nipped at Harvey Levin during a visit to TMZ Live.

Uggie was able to cash in on all that success too -- becoming Nintendo's first ever spokesdog.

Clifford added ... "I will forever hold him dearly in my heart and never forget his infinite love for chicken and hotdogs."

R.I.P. little guy.

"Deadliest Catch" star Tony Lara didn't suffer when he died ... authorities believe he suffered a heart attack in his sleep.

Meade County Sheriff, Ron Merwin, tells TMZ ... the pathologist who performed the autopsy observed scar tissue on Lara's heart, which is consistent with the effects of a heart attack.

Merwin says they'll know for sure when the toxicology report comes back, but there were no signs drugs or alcohol played a role. We're told Lara's body is being transferred back to his hometown in Alaska.

The body found in the Hudson River has been identified as that of Ian Jones, the boyfriend of Tali Lennox.

As TMZ reported, a body was spotted in an alcove near a yacht club a few miles from where Tali and Ian were kayaking over the weekend. The kayak capsized ... Tali was unhurt but Ian went missing.

Authorities say alcohol may have played a role in the accident.

Tony Lara -- who appeared on the hit discovery show "Deadliest Catch" -- died in his sleep Saturday. He was 50.

Lara was found early Saturday morning at a private residence in Sturgis, South Dakota. So far, authorities have no cause of death, pending autopsy results.

Lara was a crabbing catcher who appeared on "Deadliest Catch" to help Josh Harris out as captain of the Cornelia Marie after Capt. Phil Harris died.

Football great Frank Gifford died suddenly Sunday morning ... according to a statement from his wife Kathie Lee and their kids.

Gifford's family says he passed away of natural causes at their Connecticut home. He was 84.

Gifford was an NFL Hall of Famer with the NY Giants ... and also a famous broadcaster for "Monday Night Football" from 1971-1997.

He married Kathie Lee in 1986 and they had 2 children -- Cody and Cassidy ... who is now an actress, and had her first starring role this summer in "The Gallows."

Frank had 3 other children (and 5 grandkids) from his first marriage.

Rapper Sean Price of Heltah Skeltah, Random Axe and Boot Camp Clik passed away Friday night, he was 43.

In a statement to Billboard, Price's rep said, "It is with beyond a heavy heart that Duck Down Music is Sadly confirming Sean Price passed away early this morning in his Brooklyn apartment."

The statement continues, "The cause of death is currently unknown, but it was reported that he died in his sleep."

Several big name rappers including Pusha T and Talib Kweli ... as well as radio/TV host Charlamagne Tha God took to Twitter to express their condolences.