RIP

Tom Cruise's mother, Mary Lee South -- who in recent years had battled health issues -- died in her sleep.

The former special education teacher was the driving force behind Tom's pursuit of acting. He frequently credited her for inspiring him.

She died last week and a service was already held ... which Tom and his 3 sisters attended.

We last saw her back in 2013 when we tried getting her to spill some Christmas secrets.

People first reported the death.

Mary Lee was 80.

Debbie Reynolds' memorabilia and costume collection has found a home ... her North Hollywood dance studio, which is being turned into a museum.

Todd Fisher, Debbie's son, tells us the studio has 6 rooms for dancing, and now 2 of them will house her collection. Renovations are underway.

Some of the items ... Debbie’s SAG Life Achievement Award and Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, along with costumes from ‘Molly Brown’ and "Singin' in the Rain."

Todd says they'll consider transferring some items to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures when it eventually opens, but for now it'll all live in the studio.

Debbie opened the place in 1979 and a bunch of celebs, including Lucille Ball, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bette Midler, Cher, Usher and Mariah Carey, rehearsed there.

TMZ broke the story ... Debbie died of a stroke in December just days after her daughter, Carrie Fisher, passed away from cardiac arrest. Debbie was 84.

Al Jarreau, famed R&B and jazz singer, died Sunday morning ... according to his reps.

The 7-time Grammy winner had been hospitalized recently in Los Angeles. Amid his medical battle ... he announced he would be retiring. He'd been touring almost non-stop for 50 years.

A message on his website says he passed away while in the hospital. The announcement doesn't say what he died from -- but Al had fought through respiratory and cardiac issues in recent years.

Just last week, Al's son said his father was singing "Moonlighting" to one of his nurses.

Jarreau won 7 Grammy's for a slew of hits through the '70s and '80s including "Mornin'," "After All, "We're In This Love Together" and, of course, that theme to the immensely popular "Moonlighting" TV theme.

Al successfully crossed over from jazz to R&B and soul music ... many times in his career. He was also one of the featured vocalists on "We Are the World" -- right between Willie Nelson and Bruce Springsteen.

#RIP

Syracuse basketball standout Fab Melo has died unexpectedly in Brazil.

According to reports out of the country, 26-year-old Melo died Saturday in his sleep ... an official cause is not yet known. Melo recently began a career playing professionally in Brazil, where he was from.

Melo played two seasons for The Orange and was named the Big East Defensive Player of The Year after his sophomore season. He was drafted by The Boston Celtics 22nd overall in the 2012 NBA draft but struggled as a pro.

WWE wrestler Chavo Guerrero Sr. has died after a battle with liver cancer.

Guerrero's son, Chavo Jr. -- who also wrestled -- announced his father's death Saturday, saying, "Today the world lost a true rebel. He did things "HIS" way. Not always right, not always wrong, but He always followed what he believed in." Junior says Chavo was diagnosed with liver cancer last month.

Chavo Sr. was a staple in the legendary Guerrero wrestling family and the brother of WWE wrestler Eddie Guerrero, who died in 2005 of heart failure.

Guerrero Sr. was 68.

RIP

Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch -- who also founded Little Caesars Pizza -- has died at 87 ... his family confirmed.

Ilitch was worth a fortune ... reportedly more than $6 BILLION.

He also owned the Detroit Red Wings ... who won 4 Stanley Cups under his ownership.

“My father was a once-in-a-generation entrepreneur, visionary and leader, setting the tone for our organization and our family” ... Ilitch's son said in a statement.

Ilitch's family says he died at a local hospital.

George Michael's boyfriend calmly called 911 on Christmas Day and informed the dispatcher, "I've been trying to wake him up for the last hour but it's not possible. He's gone."

Fadi Fawaz discovered Michael's body in bed and told dispatchers the singer was "cold and he's blue ... and he's very stiff."

Fawaz sounds distressed but held it together. He was under a cloud of suspicion after he reportedly said he had spent Xmas Eve sleeping in his car and not at George's home. After the first autopsy proved inconclusive, cops interviewed Fawaz for hours but cleared him of any wrongdoing.

He still has not been buried as authorities continue to investigate cause of death.

Richard Hatch -- best known for playing Captain Apollo on the original "Battlestar Galactica" TV series -- has died ... family sources tell TMZ.

We're told Hatch had pancreatic cancer and went into hospice care a few weeks ago.

The actor, writer and producer began working in television in 1970 when he joined the cast of "All My Children" ... before landing a starring role on 'BG' in 1978. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV series in 1979.

Hatch made several guest appearances in the '80s on shows like "Murder, She Wrote," "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island." He also returned to the "Battlestar Galactica" franchise in a re-imagined series in 2004 as the character Tom Zarek.

Hatch was 71 years old.

RIP

Jenni Rivera is getting dragged through the mud by a Univision TV series about her life, and it's all because her former manager's got loose lips ... according to a new lawsuit.

Jenni Rivera Enterprises filed the suit against Univision over "Su Nombre Era Dolores, La Jenn Que Yo Conoci" (for gringos that's "Her Name Was Dolores, the Jenn That I Knew") -- which started airing last month. JRE says the show is based on a tell-all book written by Pete Salgado ... who was Jenni's "on and off manager" for many years.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Salgado had signed a non-disclosure agreement with the late singer, and his collaboration with the weekly TV series' producers is a flagrant breach of that contract. JRE points out Univision promoted the series as a look at Jenni's life through Salgado's eyes.

JRE adds the show is filled with defamatory scenes about Jenni and her 5 children ... although it doesn't specify any scenes. It's suing for at least $10 million in damages.

The man who shot and killed ex-NFL running back Joe McKnight back in December just pled not guilty to 2nd degree murder.

Ronald Gasser appeared in a Louisiana courtroom -- along with his mother and sister -- where he entered the plea.

Gasser has maintained he shot McKnight in self-defense in the middle of a road rage incident. Police have said there is video and witnesses which indicate the two were in a heated exchange before the shooting.

If convicted of 2nd degree murder, Gasser faces life in prison.

Gasser has been locked up in jail ever since he was charged on Dec. 5. Bail is set at $750k but he hasn't posted it.

Zsa Zsa Gabor sold her Bel-Air home long before she died, but her husband and conservator Frederic Prinz Von Anhalt isn't ready to move out, and now will have to pay rent to stay.

Zsa Zsa sold the estate for $11 million in 2013. Under the agreement, she was allowed to stay there until she died, at which point the home would be turned over to the new owner within 4 months.

Zsa Zsa died Dec. 18 of a fatal heart attack, which means The Prince would have to be out by April 17, but he claims in new court docs it's simply not enough time to orchestrate a move.

Since he's the conservator of her estate, he's struck a deal with the new owners for a 6 month extension. The original selling price of the house gets slashed by $300k and The Prince will pay rent ... a much-discounted $1000 a month.

You can't get a studio in WeHo for $1k a month.

WWE legend Tammy Sytch says she has "tremendous guilt feelings" about the death of her good friend, Chyna ... admitting she failed to get her the help she needed when she saw Chyna struggling.

Sytch -- aka Sunny -- was on her way to court-ordered rehab this week when she told us Chyna's death has been on her mind for months. The two were very close and would FaceTime every night.

The Hall of Famer says she recognized Chyna was going down a bad path and tried to convince her to go to rehab -- but she refused, and died while Sytch was seeking treatment for herself.

Obviously, Chyna's death isn't Tammy's fault ... but Sytch says she wishes she could've gotten her friend to see the light. Chyna passed away in April after overdosing on Rx pills and booze.

As for Tammy ... her next stop is another stint in rehab to combat her ongoing alcohol issues -- and she says she's receiving the full support of the WWE.

The man who shot and killed NFL player Joe McKnight has been indicted for 2nd degree murder ... officials in Louisiana announced.

Ronald Gasser, 55, was arrested on December 5 and booked for manslaughter ... following a road rage incident that led to the death of the former USC star.

Now, after further investigation by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in collaboration with the D.A., a grand jury has hit Gasser with the more serious charge of 2nd degree murder.

As a result of the indictment, the judge raised Gasser's bond from $500K to $750k.

President Trump bolted from the White House Wednesday afternoon aboard Marine One to make a trip that was unannounced, and shocked the Press Corps -- but turns out it's for a very somber occasion.

The President was with Ivanka Trump when he left, and reporters had no idea where he was going. About 20 minutes after he lifted off in the chopper ... the White House revealed he was flying to Dover Air Force Base to greet the plane bringing back the remains of Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens.

Owens, reportedly a Navy SEAL, died during a counterterrorism raid in Yemen. He is the first solider killed under the Trump administration.

Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks pulled the trigger on a handgun and killed himself while his wife frantically dialed 911.

The recording of the call was just released, and you can hear Melinda Trucks screaming immediately after what sounds like the fatal gunshot. She tells the operator he used a pistol.

Trucks, named one of the 100 greatest drummers by Rolling Stone, died January 24 at home in West Palm Beach. He was pronounced dead on the scene once paramedics arrived.

Butch was 69.

Frank Pellegrino -- best known for his role as the FBI Chief gunning for Tony Soprano on the HBO hit show -- died after losing his battle with cancer.

Frank -- who also co-owned the popular Italian restaurant Rao's in East Harlem -- died in New York Tuesday. The restaurant, founded in 1896, was famous for celebrity drop-ins ... including Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and Jay Z.

Frank appeared in "Goodfellas" and 'Law & Order' but he burst onto the scene beginning in 1999 when he was tapped as FBI Chief Frank Cubitoso on 'Sopranos.'

He was 72.