RIP

Willie Roaf is sick and tired of the gun violence in New Orleans ... and now, in the wake of Will Smith's shooting death -- he's demanding change.

The NFL Hall of Famer was at the airport in D.C. when he told us the entire New Orleans Saints organization is devastated by Smith's death.

Roaf also said the entire Saints organization is waiting to hear about plans for a memorial -- with Willie saying he's willing to drop everything and hop on a plane the second plans are finalized.

But Roaf -- who played 9 seasons with the Saints -- says the bigger issue is the gun violence in New Orleans.

A makeshift memorial to ex-Saints player Will Smith has sprung up at the New Orleans street corner where he was shot and killed this weekend ... and it continues to grow.

We spoke with John Harkins -- owner of Harkins the Florist Inc (a flower shop near the memorial) -- who tells us fans and non-fans have been streaming into the shop all day Monday buying arrangements to contribute to the memorial.

But it's not just flowers ... people are also leaving Saints memorabilia, gold and black balloons and signs condemning the senseless violence.

Smith was killed Saturday night during an altercation following a car accident. Cops have arrested the shooter, who insists he only fired in self-defense.

Paul Walker could have banked up to $80 million off his acting had his life not been cut short.

Universal executives had already committed to 3 more 'Fast and Furious' films while Paul and company were filming the seventh installment ... this according to legal docs in the wrongful death case filed by Paul's 17-year-old daughter Meadow.

Meadow claims the additional movies -- plus other projects -- would have made his bank account swell by anywhere between $30 and $80 million.

Paul's earning prospects was a big factor in the settlement Meadow struck with the estate of the driver, Roger Rodas. The estate -- most likely the insurance co. -- paid her $10.1 million.

According to the docs ... Meadow and her mom got court permission to use $2 million from the settlement to buy a new house.

3:09 P.M. PT -- Prosecutors say Smith was shot in the back and right torso. Hayes appeared in court and his bond was set at $1 million.

Hayes' lawyer told the judge his client -- who he says is a pro football player -- called 911 himself, and waited for cops to arrive, but did not say why he pulled the trigger in the first place.

Former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith was shot and killed Saturday night, and it appears to be a case of road rage.

Smith and his wife were driving in New Orleans when they were involved in a fender bender. Eyewitnesses say 6 to 8 shots rang out shortly thereafter and they found the former defensive end slumped over the steering wheel.

Smith's wife was was shot twice and survived. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance. No word on her condition.

The 28-year-old shooter, Cardell Hayes, has been arrested and charged with 2nd degree murder.

Hugh Hefner's younger brother -- a fixture on 'Girls Next Door' -- died at his home in Beverly Hills ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us Keith Hefner passed Friday morning. He'd been battling cancer, but it's unclear if that's what caused his death.

He was 87.

Keith had been a longtime exec at Playboy -- handling Bunny training and recruitment (you're welcome). He also did some acting, appearing in a few movies and TV shows like the classic sitcom, "Get Smart."

He was married to model Caya Hefner, and is widely credited with inventing the Bunny Dip ... the sexy move servers used to deliver drinks at Playboy Clubs (you're welcome, again).

Daisy Lewellyn, who starred on the reality show "Blood, Sweat & Heels," died Friday after battling a rare form of cancer.

Daisy suffered from bile duct cancer, which attacks the digestive tract leading to the liver. She revealed her diagnosis to the cast during season two of the Bravo reality series.

A Bravo spokesperson said, "Daisy passed on in peace and filled with joy, surrounded by her family and friends. We are all saddened to lose this wonderful woman."

The California native had worked at several fashion publications before securing a spot on the show in 2013. She was known as the Queen of Effortless Chic in fashion circles, and had written for InStyle, Glamour and Essence magazines.

Daisy was 36.

Country music legend Merle Haggard has died after battling double pneumonia ... according to his manager.

Haggard was diagnosed with pneumonia last year and spent 11 days at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage early this year. He died at home near Redding, CA on Wednesday morning.

He'd been battling back from the illness and even scheduled a string of concert dates with his pal Willie Nelson. They released an album, "Django and Jimmie" last year.

But last week Haggard canceled his shows for the month of April due to his continuing efforts to recover. His manager tells us Merle was weary from battling pneumonia for so long ... and had even predicted to friends he would die on his birthday.

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994.

Merle turned 79 today.

11:00 AM PT -- Willie Nelson tells TMZ, "He was my brother, my friend. I will miss him."

Scott Weiland's widow, Jamie, says the singer shorted her by more than $60k when he reneged on a prenup deal that promised her $2k per month of wedded bliss.

Jamie filed a claim against Weiland's estate saying the late singer owes her $64,406.

According to Jamie, her and Scott signed a prenup before their 2013 wedding. It was cut and dry ... what was his before the marriage remained his, and vice versa.

The doc also waived Jamie's right to spousal support if they divorced, but Scott agreed to drop $2k a month into a separate account for Jamie. She was even supposed to get annual 7 percent raises. But Jamie says Scott had only made 2 deposits by the time he died in December of 2015.

She says had Scott kept up his end of the bargain, she'd have the $64,406.

Jamie wants Weiland's estate to cough up the dough pronto.

Michelle Rodriguez has deep regrets about Paul Walker's death ... she's upset he went before her.

Michelle did an interview about her recent experience under the influence of a psychedelic plant/drug called Ayahuasca. She had taken it weeks before the interview, but it sounds like she's still a little under its spell when she rhapsodizes about life and death.

In the end, she talks about her pain over losing Paul Walker. But her regrets are pretty shocking.

The full interview will air as part of a documentary -- "The Reality of Truth" -- by Michael Zapolin.

Erik Bauersfeld, the actor who voiced the classic 'Star Wars' line ... "It's a trap!" ... has died.

Bauersfeld was the voice of rebellion Admiral Ackbar in 'Return of the Jedi' and returned last year for 'The Force Awakens.'

Bauersfeld died Sunday morning at home in the Bay Area, according to The Hollywood Reporter ... which first reported his death.

Probably only the biggest 'Star Wars' fans realize that he was also the voice of Jabba the Hutt's right hand man, Bib Fortuna.

He was 93.

#RIPAdmiral

Larry Drake -- who played Benny on "L.A. Law" -- suffered from a unique disease that caused his blood to thicken ... and ultimately contributed to his death.

According to Drake's death certificate -- he had been diagnosed with polycythemia vera -- a rare form of cancer related to an overproduction of red blood cells in the bone marrow.

The medical examiner also listed cardiac arrest, hypertension, and morbid obesity as causes of death.

TMZ broke the story ... Drake was found dead in his Hollywood apartment by a friend earlier this month.

Tyga is mourning the death of his friend and bodyguard, who was killed in a freak accident on an L.A. freeway ... TMZ has learned.

Arlester Henderson -- known as Punch to Tyga and his crew -- was at the wheel early Wednesday morning when he got into a collision with another vehicle on the 10 freeway.

Cops say Punch got out of his SUV to check on people in the other car. That's when he was struck and killed by a passing car.

Tyga's rep tells TMZ the rapper is "devastated, shocked and heartbroken." Henderson was 29.

Marque Lynche ... the former 'All New Mickey Mouse Club' star died of "acute and chronic" alcoholism ... according to the NYC medical examiner.

The former co-star of Britney Spears and Ryan Gosling died back in December, and was found in his NYC apartment by his roommate.

Lynche -- who also shared the spotlight with Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera -- was a Mouseketeer from 1993 to 1995, and also appeared on season 3 of "American Idol."

Garry Shandling will achieve monk status in an elaborate Buddhist funeral the comedian planned before his death.

He was never very vocal about it, but Garry was a devout Buddhist and sources close to him tell us he secretly made arrangements -- with the help of a longtime employee -- to honor his spirituality with a very specific ceremony.

We're told the decedent is dressed in casual clothes and gets ordained as a monk by having his head symbolically shaved by another monk. He's then laid to rest with a card detailing the "Five Precepts of Buddha." Finally, a monk leads a chant while the congregation lights incense to help guide the spirit to the next life.

It's unclear if Garry will be buried or cremated -- both are acceptable in Buddhism.

We're told -- true to Shandling's Jewish roots -- food will be served afterward while close friends begin a period of mourning ... which lasts 49 days for Buddhists.

We're told the small, private ceremony will go down next month.

Red Bull energy drink got one guy so hyped up on caffeine it destroyed his heart, and his family says the company knew about the medical risk ... but did nothing to warn consumers.

Ann Lemley is suing the energy drink giant over her 44-year-old son William's 2014 death. In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, she says William died after ingesting "toxic amounts of caffeine and other chemicals" in Red Bull.

Lemley points out in the suit ... multiple studies have been done about the negative health consequences of the popular beverage. She claims Red Bull fails to alert its customers to risks associated with the drink ... including hypertension and cardiovascular conditions.

Her son ultimately died of a string of heart ailments.

Lemley's suing for more than $35 million in damages. We've reached out to Red Bull, but have not heard back.

7:30 A.M. PST -- A rep for the company tells TMZ, "Over 60 billion cans of Red Bull Energy Drink have been consumed since it first went on sale in 1987 and it is available in over 165 countries because health authorities around the world have concluded that it is safe to consume.

The European Food Safety Authority has recently again confirmed the safety of energy drinks. So, there is no justification to treat energy drinks differently than coffee, tea or other caffeine containing soft drinks. One 250 ml (8.4 fl oz) can of Red Bull Energy Drink contains about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee (80 mg)."

Hollywood legend Patty Duke -- who won an Oscar for playing Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" -- has died.

She was 69.

Duke passed away at 1:20 AM Tuesday morning. She died from sepsis due to a ruptured intestine.

Duke's son, Sean Astin, said the family is "relieved" because Duke was in a lot of pain and the process took a long time to play out.

Duke's family issued a statement, saying, "This morning, our beloved wife, mother, matriarch and the exquisite artist, humanitarian, and champion for mental health, Anna Patty Duke Pearce, closed her eyes, quieted her pain and ascended to a beautiful place."

"We celebrate the infinite love and compassion she shared through her work and throughout her life."

Duke was a child star -- winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at 16 years old in 1963.

She was married 4 times ... including to actor John Astin -- the father of "Lord of the Rings" star Sean Astin.

Duke is survived by her husband, Michael Pearce, and her 3 kids.