RIP

"MASH" star William Christopher -- who played Father John Mulcahy -- died from cardiorespiratory arrest ... this according to his death certificate obtained by TMZ.

The document also lists small cell carcinoma as a contributing factor, something we're told was non-lung related. Christopher died on New Year's Eve in his Pasadena home at 7:12 AM.

The death certificate also notes he was in the entertainment industry for 60 years.

Some real talk from Craig Sager Jr.

Being the son of a legendary NBA reporter could be "pretty frustrating growing up" ... but CS2 says he finally got the relationship he wanted thanks to one final project before his dad passed away.

Craig opened up about his father to TMZ Sports ... telling us how the decision to co-author a book about the sideline reporter's battle with cancer brought them closer together than ever before.

It's an emotional story with a great ending.

Debbie Reynolds bared a massive bruise on her face during HBO's posthumous documentary starring Carrie Fisher ... after falling flat on her face at home.

In the film "Bright Lights" that aired this weekend, Debbie is seen sporting what looks to be a painful bruise around her mouth, after it's revealed she became dizzy and fell at home.

She got injured in the process of getting an auction together to sell some of her Hollywood memorabilia ... to neutralize debt she'd incurred.

Her son, Todd Fisher, says the fall didn't stop her from going on about her business.

While everyone's crying for Tilikum, the family of late SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau wants the world to remember he killed their daughter 7 years ago -- and the tragedy's still fresh for them.

Dawn's mother, Marion LoVerde, tells TMZ she doesn't want the orca's death to overshadow Dawn's. She says, yes ... "It's sad nature took Tilikum's life, but he lived 7 more years than Dawn did, and we have to live with it."

Marion admits having mixed feelings about the death of Tilikum ... who drowned Dawn by taking her underwater by her ponytail. The attack was infamously chronicled in the "Blackfish" documentary.

Despite the tragedy, Marion says her family still works with SeaWorld to host charity runs in Dawn's name.

She added ... Dawn loved Tilikum, and they believe her death was a tragic accident.

When Antonio Brown takes the field this weekend, he'll being wearing special cleats honoring Jasper Howard ... the UCONN cornerback who was killed after a game in 2009.

TMZ Sports spoke with cleat artist Corey Pane who says Brown knows Howard was born in Miami and felt it was right to pay tribute this week while the Steelers were playing the Dolphins.

Howard's story is well known ... he was killed on campus after a homecoming dance where he and his teammates were celebrating a victory over Louisville.

He was only 20 years old.

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher have been laid to rest ... right next to each other as planned.

Family and friends met at Hollywood's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Friday morning to bury the mother and daughter duo ... who died one day apart. Carrie was cremated earlier this week, but some of her ashes were buried in a coffin next to Debbie's.

Some of those in attendance ... Carrie's daughter, Billie Lourd, Taylor Lautner, and Todd Fisher -- who was seen carrying Carrie's ashes in an urn ... shaped like a giant Prozac pill.

The funeral came after a private memorial held at Debbie and Carrie's family compound in Bev Hills, where Meryl Streep reportedly sang a song for Carrie. She's also been tapped to give the eulogy at the public memorial.

#RIP

Tilikum -- the orca that killed someone at SeaWorld in Orlando 7 years ago -- has died.

The giant mammal died Friday. It's unclear what killed him, but he had been treated for a nagging bacterial infection.

The killer whale -- which was around 36 years old -- killed a trainer back in 2010. He was a central figure in the documentary, "Blackfish," the show which created a backlash against keeping killer whales in captivity.

Tilikum was also involved in 2 other deaths back in the '90s.

RIP

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher are being privately honored by family and friends Thursday ... and the service includes a ton of flowers and Meryl Streep.

A massive shipment of white roses and tiger lilies were delivered earlier Thursday to Debbie's home in Bev Hills, where Carrie also lived right next door on the same compound.

Unclear exactly how many flowers were ordered, but you know it's a lot when they're bringing 'em in by the truckload.

As we previously reported, the Fisher family has also asked Meryl to give the eulogy at the public memorial.

Looks like Gary, Carrie's beloved dog, is also getting pampered for the intimate service.

Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds had very different ideas for their burial, and the family has already taken steps to carry out Fisher's wishes.

We've confirmed Carrie's body has already been cremated and we're told the action was taken at the behest of the actress when she was still alive. Her will states she wanted to be cremated.

As for Debbie, she wanted her body buried ... she specifically did not want to be cremated.

We're told a portion of Carrie's ashes will be placed in a coffin and buried alongside Debbie's coffin at Forest Lawn in Burbank.

The guy who tried to fight Snoop Dogg during actor and comedian Ricky Harris' funeral was an upset relative, but several fists stopped him from getting to Snoop.

Multiple sources inside the Long Beach church tell us it was one of Ricky's cousins who stepped to Snoop and called him a "bitch ass n****." We're told 2 members of Snoop's crew -- Daz Dillinger and another dude -- stepped up, took down the cousin ... and all hell broke loose.

Snoop's bodyguard eventually dragged the guy out of the church.

Initially, there was talk a guy named Big Flossy -- who has a longstanding beef with Snoop -- had started the fight, but we've confirmed Flossy wasn't involved.

Afterward, Snoop gave his own review of the chaos.

Officials have determined ex-NFL player Keion Carpenter died from traumatic brain injuries suffered in a fall during his Miami vacation ... but why he fell remains a mystery.

TMZ Sports obtained the autopsy report for the 39-year-old former Atlanta Falcons safety who died on Dec. 29th.

Investigators say Carpenter had only had 1 drink on the day he collapsed (rum and pineapple juice) during an excursion with his family to Black Point Marina.

When they were leaving at 8:15 PM, he raced his son to the car ... and that's when Keion came to a complete stop by his car, grabbed the side mirror and collapsed backwards to the ground.

The report says, "He did not make any attempts to stop his fall, striking the back of his head on the ground."

His wife called 911 -- and Keion regained consciousness. He told responders he felt hot and his head was hurting. He suffered a heart attack in the ambulance and never recovered. He died two days later.

The medical report lists the cause of death as acute epidural hematoma (bleeding of the brain) due to blunt force head trauma.

But the big mystery ... why did he fall in the first place?

The report notes Carpenter had hypertension -- but took his medicine, monitored his blood pressure daily and kept a healthy diet.

There is this ... the M.E. notes Carpenter suffered "several" concussions during his football career -- though investigators did not directly link that to the collapse.

The medical examiner says the brain was not examined further per the wishes of Keion's family.

9:21 AM PT -- A rep for the M.E.'s office issued a statement about the investigation into the fall.

"During the autopsy, we looked for evidence of a medical event that could have preceded the fall. No definitive conclusion could be drawn from anything that was found."

The family of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds is planning a public memorial which will become a grand Hollywood event, and we're told they've reached out to Meryl Streep for the keynote eulogy.

Family sources tell us there will be a private service and burial Thursday for both Carrie and Debbie. The service will take place at Forest Lawn in Burbank, where mother/daughter will be buried side by side.

We're told there will be no celebrities delivering eulogies at the private service. If Billie Lourd feels up to speaking she will, but there are no concrete plans.

As for the public memorial, no date has been set. Billie is spearheading the service, and she wants to get through the funeral before she goes full bore.

We're told as of late Tuesday, Meryl Streep was not a firm lock but they fully expect her to be the principal speaker. As you know, Streep played Carrie in "Postcards from the Edge" and was very close to Debbie. Meryl presented Debbie with a humanitarian award a couple years back.

We're told the family will also reach out to 'Star Wars' actors to speak, including Mark Hamill. They expect George Lucas to attend but not to speak.

The public memorial will be a Hollywood event. We're told Debbie's costumes from "Singin' in the Rain" and other movies will be on display. Carrie's 'Star Wars' outfits likewise will be featured.

Carrie Fisher and her mom, Debbie Reynolds, are the subjects of a poignant documentary about their bond ... professionally and personally.

HBO just released the trailer for "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds" ... which was shot over more than a year during 2014 and 2015.

It comes out Jan. 7, and features mother and daughter sharing moments made even more emotional after their deaths.

Snoop Dogg's bodyguard had to take down a mourner who was flipping out during actor and comedian Ricky Harris' funeral.

Family and friends -- including Snoop and Sherri Shepherd -- gathered Tuesday in Long Beach, CA to honor Ricky, who died Dec. 26 ... reportedly from a heart attack. Sherri says some guy stood up in the middle of the service and started yelling ... until Snoop's security intervened.

Sherri posted a video outside the service and was clearly shaken up after the fight.

Lisa Marie Naegle's death certificate is filed, but it doesn't make it clear how the "Bridalplasty" contestant died.

TMZ obtained a copy of Naegle's

-- filed by the L.A. County Coroner -- and says the cause of death of has been "DEFFERED."

We broke the story ... Jackie Jerome Rogers was charged with her murder after confessing to cops. He allegedly smashed her in the head seven times with a hammer after they'd been out partying together.

Story developing ...

Carrie Fisher's family is on the hunt for the off-duty emergency workers who came to her aid on a United jet when her heart stopped.

Family sources tell us ... they believe 2 people on Carrie's flight deserve a big thank you for their valiant effort. Flight attendants jumped on the P.A. asking for medical professionals to come forward ... and they did.

We're told these 2 volunteers -- one of whom is a nurse -- "worked like crazy" to keep Carrie alive, despite the fact they couldn't get a pulse for more than 10 minutes. The family believes if it wasn't for them, they wouldn't have had a few extra days to say goodbye.

The family will contact United to see if they can locate the passengers.