RIP

Former U.S. Senator and longtime Hollywood actor Fred Thompson died in Tennessee today after battling cancer.

Thompson famously co-starred in tons of big budget movies, like "Die Hard 2," "The Hunt for Red October" and "Cape Fear" -- before going on to win office as a U.S. Senator for Tennessee.

Thompson served in the Senate from 1994 to 2003. He was also an attorney and was appointed minority counsel for the Republican Senators who were on the Watergate Committee.

After his time in office Thompson went back to acting, and most notably starred in a couple of "Law and Order" TV series as D.A. Arthur Branch.

In 2007, he briefly jumped back into politics ... attempting to win the Republican nomination for President. He eventually dropped out of the race in early 2008.

His family said he died peacefully in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones. They said he'd been battling lymphoma.

Thompson was 73.

The makeup artist who made a name for himself working with Katy Perry and Selena Gomez warned rescuers they'd be approaching fatal fumes when they discovered his body after he committed suicide.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Jake Bailey's assistant found his body sitting in his car in his garage when he took his own life last week. We're told Bailey posted several signs outside of the car that said "caution, vapors" so that anyone who found him could avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

We're told Bailey lit several pieces of charcoal in a stone bowl in the vehicle and had his windows rolled up ... eventually dying from the fumes.

At least 27 people are dead after a nightclub fire in Bucharest, Romania during a "Goodbye To Gravity" concert.

The blaze, allegedly started Friday night after on-stage pyrotechnics ignited structure columns around the stage covered in foam. According to reports, the entire ceiling was engulfed within seconds and fans rushed to the doors, causing a stampede.

At this point, officials have confirmed over 180 people were injured with at least 27 dead. Among those reportedly dead are GTG guitarists Vlad Telea and Mihai Alexandru.

Story developing ...

Al Molinaro, who played the beloved chef at the drive-in on "Happy Days" ... died in a California hospital on Friday.

Molinaro's son confirmed the actor's death ... telling us he had very bad gall stones, but Al elected not to have surgery due to his age. He was 96.

On "Happy Days" he played Big Al Delvecchio, who started out as the chef at Arnold's Drive-In. He eventually became owner of the Fonz's fave hangout, and remained on the show for 10 years.

Molinaro also played the Big Al role on the spinoff, "Joanie Loves Chachi." His character would famously spin long tales that always started with, "Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep."

In the mid '90s Weezer put him in their "Buddy Holly" music video.

Al is survived by his wife, Betty and his son Michael .. who tells us the actor was extremely proud of his family and his roots in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The Los Angeles Lakers will have a moment of silence before tonight's home opener to honor Flip Saunders ... the Minnesota Timberwolves coach who passed away this past weekend.

It just so happens that the Lakers play Minnesota tonight -- and a rep for the team tells us, "Our players will be wearing a special t-shirt during pre-game warmups and also we will do a brief moment of silence for Flip just before the national anthem."

Michael Jackson's physician and dear friend Dr. Arnold Klein's body remains on ice at the coroner's office because no family members have come forward to claim it.

It's kinda sad, but sources who were close to Klein tell us his closest relatives are unable to get his body. We're told he has 2 living brothers: one is mentally challenged ... the other is bankrupt and unable to fly to Palm Springs.

Klein also has an aunt who is, as one source put it, "out of it" ... and doesn't understand what's happening around her.

TMZ broke the story ... Dr. Klein died last week after suffering severe abdominal pains. If no family members retrieve the body, the county would have to approve a friend to do it.

Scott Marshall, the winner of season 4 of "Ink Master" has died at 41-years-old ... TMZ has learned.

According to Marshall's wife Johanna, Scott called her from his tattoo shop near Chicago Saturday night and said he wasn't feeling well enough to make the drive home. She says Scott got a hotel nearby to crash but when he didn't answer her calls the next day, she got worried.

Johanna says 2 police officers came to her door Sunday and told her Scott had passed away in his sleep. She says preliminary autopsy results show it was something to do with his heart.

We spoke with the coroner and local police who would only say his death is under investigation.

Scott won the show's $100,000 prize in 2014 and was featured in Inked Magazine. He leaves behind 3 kids.

A rep for the show tells TMZ, "He was a great competitor and talented artist. Our deepest condolences go out to the Marshall family and friends."

Dick Maugg, the man who played Ed Jaymes in the Bartles & Jaymes commercials from the '80s, has died.

Maugg passed away on July 28 after battling cancer, but the family kept it to themselves because they were dealing with his daughter's own fight with cancer, which she lost earlier this month.

Maugg spent the majority of his life as a general contractor and had never acted before landing the role of Ed Jaymes, the silent sidekick in the wine cooler spots. The ads ran for 7 years.

He was 83.

Emotional moment from ex-NBA star Sam Cassell -- who says he's "torn up" over the death of Flip Saunders ... and will always be grateful to the man who gave him his first shot as a coach.

Back in 2009 -- right after Cassell's playing days came to a close -- Saunders hired Sam as an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards, where he worked for 5 seasons.

Sam's coaching career has continued to blossom since then -- now he's with the Clippers -- and Sunday, Cassell told TMZ Sports he'll always remember the man who gave him his first opportunity.

Maureen O'Hara, an actress who appeared in legendary movies like "Miracle on 34th Street" and "The Quiet Man" has died. She was 95 years old.

A family spokesperson says O'Hara died of natural causes at her home in Idaho surrounded by her loved ones on Saturday. The statement says her family played music from her favorite movie, "The Quiet Man" during her final hours.

O'Hara -- originally from Ireland -- played Natalie Woods' mother, Doris Walker in "Miracle" in 1947. She also starred in several movies with John Wayne.

O'Hara received an honorary Oscar last year.

Three people are dead and several others have been seriously injured after a car slammed into fans watching the Oklahoma State Homecoming Parade Saturday morning.

According to reports, the vehicle was moving at a "high rate of speed" and plowed through dozens of spectators. At this time, three people have died and 22 are injured ... according to police in Stillwater, OK. The driver, a 25-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of DUI.

The celebrity makeup artist who made a name for himself working with Katy Perry, Selena Gomez and Mariah Carey ... is dead after an apparent suicide in L.A.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Jake Bailey's assistant found him Friday morning in his home and called the cops. We're told it appears he succumbed to carbon monoxide.

The 37-year-old was most famous for his work with Perry ... most notably, her Cosmo cover.

We're told an autopsy will be completed by the L.A. County Coroner's Office.

Michael Jackson's longtime physician and close friend Dr. Arnold Klein died Thursday night in Palm Springs ... TMZ has learned.

Dr. Klein was admitted to a hospital in Palm Springs 4 days ago ... according to law enforcement sources. We're told he was suffering severe abdominal pains, and remained in the hospital until he died Thursday evening. He was pronounced dead, of natural causes, at 7:50 PM.

Klein, a renowned Beverly Hills dermatologist, had an astonishing fall from grace in the wake of Michael's death. He was the go-to dermatologist for scores of celebrities, including Elizabeth Taylor, Dolly Parton, Goldie Hawn, Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone and Cher.

Klein was also a Botox pioneer ... in fact he was called, "The father of Botox."

MJ and Klein were the best of friends, often vacationing and spending holidays together. But MJ used their friendship to help fuel his drug addiction.

Everything unraveled for Klein when Michael died. TMZ broke the story, Klein had injected Jackson with Demerol 51 times in the 3 months prior to his death.

And Klein also took Jackson to various surgery centers to put him under with Propofol, the drug that killed the singer. On one occasion, Klein took Jackson to the gynecologist next door to his office and put him under with anesthesia which one doctor said was Propofol under the pretext it was for an acne treatment. Klein denied it was Propofol.

Klein gave Jackson prescriptions for various narcotic drugs including Demerol under a variety of aliases, including Omar Arnold, Fernand Diaz, Peter Madonie and Josephine Baker.

Klein's life went into a tailspin and he ended up in financial ruin, declaring bankruptcy.

In the weeks before Jackson's death ... TMZ shot video of Michael at Klein's office almost daily.

Klein was also rumored to be the biological father of Michael's son, Prince Jackson -- and coincidentally, Prince addressed the rumor just yesterday ... essentially saying he knew Michael was not his biological dad, but it didn't matter to him.

As TMZ reported ... Dr. Klein was not Prince's father either, even though Klein once posted a young driver's license photo of himself that stoked the rumors.

Dr. Klein was 70.

Marty Ingels, the star of dozens of TV sitcoms in the 1960s ... and the husband of Shirley Jones has died after suffering a massive stroke. He was 79 years old.

Ingels passed away Wednesday at the Tarzana Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley. He became a household name for his guest appearances on multiple shows, including "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Bewitched," and "Pete and Gladys." He also starred in the short-lived, but cult classic 1962 comedy, "I'm Dickens, He's Fenster."

Ingels went on to start his own talent firm, booking commercials for actors like John Wayne and Orson Welles.

He and Shirley got married in 1977. In a statement to Variety, which first reported Ingels' death, she said ... "He often drove me crazy, but there's not a day I won't miss him and love him to my core."

Cory Wells, co-founder and one of the lead singers for Three Dog Night has died. He was 74 years old.

Danny Hutton, Wells' bandmate posted a message on the group's website saying, "It is with deep sadness and disbelief that I must report the passing of Cory Wells." The post goes on to say Cory "died unexpectedly" in New York but it's unclear how.

The group had huge success in the 1960's and '70s with hits like "Joy To The World," "Black and White," and "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" ... on which Cory sang lead.

Roddy Piper had a secret talent ... music ... so says his daughter Ariel Teal Toombs who tells TMZ Sports they had plans to duet together for her album before he passed away.

Toombs is an aspiring singer who was talking to us about her plans for her first album -- when she brought up the role her father was supposed to play in the project ... and got very emotional.

"My dad sings ... I'm sorry, sang," Toombs said. "He was actually very musical. He had an amazing ear."

Piper passed away back in July -- and Toombs says she thinks about him every single day. It's clear he will have a huge influence on the album.

RIP Roddy.

BTW, just found a Roddy Piper music video from 1992 ... DUDE CAN SING!!