RIP

Erin Storm, who competed for the affection of Matt Grant on "The Bachelor," has died in a plane crash.

The single engine plane went down Monday shortly after taking off at Hawthorne Airport. A nearby construction crew witnessed the crash and pulled the 41-year-old from the wreckage. She was taken to a local hospital but could not be saved.

We're told Erin was flying the plane. There were no passengers.

It's unclear what caused the wreck ... but cops say no one on the ground was injured.

Erin was eliminated from the show in 2008 after the third episode.

R.I.P.

Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford -- who became world famous for his crack scandal while in office -- died Tuesday after a battle with cancer ... his reps confirm.

Ford was diagnosed with pleomorphic liposarcoma in 2014 after a tumor was found in his abdomen. He underwent surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, but the cancer proved too strong.

Ford -- who served as mayor from 2010 to 2014 -- was caught on video smoking crack on multiple occasions during his term. He admitted to using the drug though denied he was an addict.

In 2014, Ford went to rehab to seek help for his "problem with alcohol" -- and after a 2 month stint, he returned to work to continue his term.

He died at Mount Sinai hospital in Canada -- surrounded by his family. Ford is survived by his wife and 2 children.

Mini Kim Kardashian died at 32 from health issues and no foul play is suspected ... this according to law enforcement sources.

We're told the day before her death Kim had complained to friends she was having significant chest pains.

As we reported, Kim's boyfriend Ricky Sells, who played mini Kanye West alongside Kim, found her body just after midnight Sunday, sitting upright on the porch of their Las Vegas apartment. She was purple and could not be revived.

Ricky says mini Kim K. will be cremated and her ashes spread in the ocean ... with a party celebrating her life to follow.

Kim Kardashian said her goodbye to Kim Tripp, the pint-sized woman who played her to a tee at Beacher's Madhouse.

Kim K. sent her thoughts and prayers to Tripp's friends and family, writing, "Rest in peace beautiful soul."

Tripp was found dead at her Las Vegas home Sunday by her boyfriend, who plays mini-Kanye West at the Vegas revue. We're told it looks like her death was health-related.

Tripp had become a centerpiece of the show. She was only 32.

"Gold Rush" star John Schnabel, one of the great Alaskan gold miners on the Discovery show died Friday morning. He was 96.

Schnabel's family broke the news he passed away peacefully in his sleep, saying ... "He was a true legend."

Schnabel was a military vet who got into gold mining later in life when doctors suggested he keep active after a triple bypass. He became an anchor on Discovery's hit gold mining show -- which focuses heavily on his grandson, Parker Schnabel.

Parker took over responsibilities at the Big Nugget Mine when John's health declined.

#RIP

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Tray Walker has died from injuries sustained from his motorcycle accident Thursday night ... this according to his agent Ron Butler.

Walker was 23.

According to police, Walker was operating a dirt bike in the dark without lights and crashed into a 2014 Ford Escape. He was not wearing a helmet.

Walker was transported to the trauma unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Joe Santos, who played Lt. Dennis Becker on "The Rockford Files" has died.

Joe's son, Perry, tells TMZ, Joe had a heart attack at his L.A. home Wednesday and was put on life support. He passed away Friday morning in a Santa Monica hospital.

Joe's career spanned more than 40 years and he was nominated for an Emmy in 1979 for his work on "The Rockford Files." He also had roles on "Magnum, P.I." and "The Sopranos." He was most recently in the movie "Chronic" which was released in 2015.

Joe had two sons and a daughter. He was 84.

R.I.P.

The shotgun Kurt Cobain used to kill himself is now available for public view ... partly to dispel rumors police had destroyed the weapon to cover up his murder.

Seattle police released photos of the shotgun, but only after a court ordered them to do so.

Emmy winning actor Larry Drake, who famously played Benny on "L.A. Law" died Thursday ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Larry had some health problems lately, related to his weight, but nothing acute or terminal ... as far as his rep knew. Sources on scene tell us Larry was found in his Hollywood home by a friend, who called paramedics around 1:30 PM.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Larry won two consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor for "L.A. Law" in '88 and '89. He also starred in the 1990 cult classic, "Darkman."

Larry had dropped out of movies and TV in recent years, but we're told he was an acting coach.

He was 66.

Frank Sinatra Jr. died in a Daytona Beach hospital of a massive heart attack ... TMZ has learned.

Sinatra was in town to do a concert at the Peabody Auditorium on Wednesday night, but died suddenly in the afternoon ... according to his rep.

We're told Sinatra cancelled tonight's show when he felt lightheaded. He was admitted to Halifax Medical Center, but according to his rep he said he was feeling better. He suffered the heart attack while still at the hospital.

He was famously kidnapped in Lake Tahoe in 1963, when he was 19 years old ... and held ransom for $240,000. He was eventually found, safe and sound, walking the streets of Bel Air.

Reports dogged him for the rest of his life that the kidnapping was a hoax, but the FBI says it was real -- and the kidnappers were convicted.

Sinatra Sr. died in 1998, also of a heart attack. Frank Jr. was 72.

Miss Robbie, the star of "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" on OWN, is mourning the loss of her grandson ... who was shot and killed in St. Louis, and she believes he was set up.

21-year-old Andre Montgomery was found in a house, unconscious with a gunshot wound Monday night. Police say he was pronounced dead on the scene ... and at this point there's no suspect.

Miss Robbie tells TMZ ... the house where Andre was shot had a recording studio, and he was laying down a rap. She's been told that during the recording session, Andre got a phone call to meet someone outside, and when he went out ... that's when he got shot.

Miss Robbie says there is one strong lead in the case -- Andre was staying in a hotel, and on Tuesday morning someone used a key to enter the room. She says Andre's belongings were missing from the room ... but the person who went in was captured on surveillance cameras.

Andre was frequently featured with his family members on 'Sweetie Pie' ... including his high school graduation in 2013, when Miss Robbie was beaming with pride.

A horse went down like the Titanic near the "Fast 8" set in Iceland after gale force winds sent a fake iceberg flying into a paddock where the animal was grazing.

Local police tell us the horse, named Jupiter, had to be euthanized. Strong winds sent a portion of a plastic iceberg -- a set piece for the movie -- flying and it struck the horse, breaking its leg. Another horse was also injured but is expected to recover.

Neither was involved in the production -- just a case of wrong time and place.

We're told production called the horse owner and broke the news but said insurance would cover the cost of the horse and fence repair.

Legendary rock keyboardist Keith Emerson's death is being investigated as a suicide ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us Emerson had a single gunshot wound to the head when his girlfriend found him in their home in Santa Monica.

The Emerson, Lake & Palmer co-founder had recently been suffering from a serious medical problem -- a degenerative nerve issue in his right hand ... according to our sources. We're told he could only play the keyboard with 8 fingers at this point and knew it was only going to get worse.

As a result, he was struggling with depression.

Keith Emerson -- founding member and keyboardist of Emerson, Lake and Palmer -- died late Thursday night. He was 71.

According to our sources, Emerson's girlfriend discovered his body in their home and described the passing as "sudden." We're told Emerson had plans to tour in Japan next week.

Emerson's death was confirmed on the band's official Facebook page ... though no cause of death was given.

Bandmate Carl Palmer released a statement, saying, "Keith was a gentle soul whose love for music and passion for his performance as a keyboard player will remain unmatched for many years to come."

Emerson, Lake and Palmer was one of the most popular progressive rock bands of the 1970s ... and Emerson's solos are legendary.

Moonie, the dog who shared the big screen with Reese Witherspoon in "Legally Blonde" has died.

Reese just broke the ruff news ... posting a pic of her and Moonie, who played Bruiser Woods. She said, "I will never forget all the days we spent together ... I'm sure his tail is wagging in the sky."

Moonie was a rescued chihuahua before landing the "Legally Blonde" gig ... and was good pals with Gidget, the Taco Bell dog.

He was 18.

#RIPBruiser

George Martin, the incredibly brilliant producer of The Beatles who was such an influence on the group he was known as "the 5th Beatle" -- has died.

Martin passed away Wednesday at his home in London.

His influence cannot be understated. When Martin met the Beatles in 1962 he was not impressed ... he felt their music was all over the place, but, as he put it, "They were like plants in a hothouse. They grew incredibly fast."

Martin got initial resistance from John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who wrote the songs for the group, but they quickly grew to trust Martin like a partner. When they were recording "Yesterday," it was Martin who wanted to add a string quartet. Paul didn't get it at first, saying "We're a rock 'n' roll band!" Paul relented, and an empowered Martin added a cello and violin.

Martin's knowledge of technology was inspiration for the group ... best shown in songs like "Penny Lane," "Strawberry Fields Forever" and the crown jewel -- the album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

Paul called Martin "a second father," but all 4 guys revered him.