RIP

Caleb Bankston, a contestant on "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" died Tuesday in a train accident.

The 26-year-old -- who appeared on the show with his fiance last year -- worked for the Alabama Warrior Railway. He was working on one of the trains when it derailed Tuesday, killing him.

Caleb worked as a locomotive engineer/conductor.

It's unclear what caused the derailment but both OSHA and the Federal Railroad Administration have already been contacted.

Charles Manson will NOT be glorified in porn ... so vows the sister of Sharon Tate.

Debra Tate is incensed over the impending casting of "Manson Family XXX" ... a porn parody of the twisted Manson family murder spree that rocked L.A. in 1969.

Adult film director Will Ryder -- whose credits include "Not The Wizard of Oz XXX" -- will cast Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten, Linda Kasabian, Charles "Tex" Watson, and others. Manson is the central figure who has sex with all of them.

Debra Tate calls it the lowest of lows ... vowing to sic her lawyers on producers if they dare use Sharon's name or likeness.

"Deal or No Deal" model Katie Cleary says her husband's suicide over the weekend had nothing to do with photos that surfaced of her hanging with Leo DiCaprio and Adrian Grenier ... but the husband's friends tell a different story.

TMZ broke the story ... Andrew Stern -- who married Cleary in July 2010 -- shot himself in the head Sunday, and law enforcement tells us he was suffering significant stress over marital problems.

Just last month Katie was in Cannes partying with Leo and Adrian ... and reports surfaced that she was involved with Leo, although he denies it.

Now Katie's rep tells us ... the couple split 8 months ago and Stern filed for divorce in April. The rep says Cleary and Stern discussed the photos and they were a non-issue.

But several of Andrew's friends see it differently, telling us the pics really bothered him. They say Andrew still loved Katie but filed for divorce because she was humiliating him by globetrotting and hobnobbing with celebs.

Katie's rep also says Katie and Adrian have been friends for a while, and she had never even met Leo until the night of the photo, where they talked about animal conservation and that's all.

The husband of "Deal Or No Deal" suitcase model Katie Cleary shot himself to death ... just weeks after she was photographed getting cozy with Leo DiCaprio and Adrian Grenier.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Andrew Stern shot himself in the head Sunday while he was at a shooting range in the San Fernando Valley.

The 40-year-old businessman was married to Katie ... who was also a contestant on "America's Next Top Model." Katie was photographed in Cannes last month with Leo and the two seemed tight. There are also photos of Katie in Cannes with "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier.

We're told law enforcement interviewed various people after the suicide, including Katie, and they were told -- among other things -- he was suffering significant stress over marital problems.

Our sources say Katie told law enforcement she and Andrew -- who appeared on "Millionaire Matchmaker" before he got together with Cleary -- were in the process of getting divorced.

A source close to Leo tells us Katie and the actor never hooked up and he left the club with his GF Toni Garrn.

In addition to marital problems, law enforcement says Andrew had a history of depression and had financial issues.

Casey Kasem's children wanted him to die so they could collect on his sizable life insurance policy -- so claims the DJ's widow, Jean Kasem.

Jean tells TMZ ... Kerri Kasem called the funeral home and asked how quickly they could issue a death certificate. Jean thinks it's a money grab --- "Their impatience for Casey to die was obvious when they killed him and now their impatience to collect on the life insurance is even more telling."

Jean also scoffs at the private memorial Casey's children held over the weekend ... telling us, "We have had to once again handle all of their incessant sleaze peddling while preparing the arrangements for a befitting funeral for Casey."

Speaking of which ... it's unclear why Jean hasn't had Casey's body flown down to L.A. for a burial ... more than a week after his death.

Kerri tells us it's pretty clear ... Jean is deflecting a looming criminal investigation for elder abuse.

Nate Estimada -- the "Men of the Strip" star who committed suicide Wednesday -- had been suffering from depression before he drove off a cliff ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources tell us it was clear something was wrong with Estimada during his final performance in Boston last Friday ... but Nate wasn't receptive to talking about it with his co-stars.

We're told Nate's close friend -- one of the other dancers -- told the rest of the cast Estimada had been getting treatment for depression ... and he was just having a rough time dealing with things.

As we previously reported, Nate drove his car off a cliff ... and cops say he plunged 300-400 feet into a landfill area.

According to an eyewitness ... he heard the Mustang engine rev up very loudly before it launched off the cliff. We're told Nate was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

Nate Estimada -- one of the stars of the male revue "Men of the Strip" -- committed suicide Wednesday by driving his car off a cliff ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

Our sources say the 24-year old Estimada drove his Mustang in a mountainous area near the City of Industry in L.A. County during the daytime Wednesday ... and accelerated off the cliff, dropping at least 40 ft. into a landfill.

We're told authorities have determined the plunge was intentional and they're conducting toxicology tests to determine if drugs were in Estimada's system.

A rep for the show released a statement saying, "The cast and management of Men of the Strip thank you for your heartfelt condolences and expressions of love and support."

We got video of Nate's final performance last Friday in Boston -- and If you've never seen one of their shows, this is your warning ... the dancers grind hard.

One of the women who co-starred with King Kong in his iconic scene atop the Empire State Building has passed away at age of 103.

Pauline Wagner is the actress who stood in for the legendary Fay Wray during key reshoots for the 1933 classic. Wagner died last month outside Los Angeles. Her manager confirmed the death to the Hollywood Reporter today.

'Kong' producers needed to reshoot the climactic finale, but Fay was already in England working on another film -- and that's when Wagner stepped in ... donning a wig to fight off the giant ape.

Wagner said in a 2011 interview ... "I worked for four hours and that was it." Still, it was a bigger break than most get in Hollywood, and it secured her place in movie history.

Wagner went on to have small roles in several other films like "Lady Killer," "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town," and "King of Jazz." She also helped James Cagney form the Screen Actors Guild.

4:45 PM PT -- The Giudice's rep just told TMZ, "The ONLY focus of both Joe and Teresa is their family right now, especially the girls. No decisions about the court case or the show are being addressed today."

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Joe Giudice -- who is facing years in prison on fraud charges -- just got struck with a profound tragedy ... his dad just collapsed and died in Joe's garden.

Frank Giudice -- who also appears on "Real Housewives of New Jersey" along with Joe and Teresa -- was building a chicken coop in the garden when he fell to the ground.

We're told Frank had no apparent health issues. Joe and Teresa believe he suffered a massive heart attack, but it's too early to tell. EMTs are still at the house at the time this story was posted.

Casey Kasem has gone to that great radio station in the sky, but his legend lives on through "American Top 40" replays -- and the awesome cartoon voices of Batman and Scooby Doo’s sidekicks.

Like, wow ... that guy had crazy range!

We're told Kerri and Jean never spoke directly ... only through attorneys.

As we previously reported -- Kerri's role as conservator expired when her father died Father's Day morning. Jean is the executor of Casey's will.

According to a recent filing of Casey's health directive ... he wanted a burial.

Tony Gwynn Sr. -- one of Major League Baseball's greatest hitters -- died today after battling cancer for several years.

Gwynn played 19-years for the San Diego Padres and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007. He was known for his tremendous batting skills. He had a .338 career batting average and 3,141 hits.

Casey Kasem -- the original voice of the American Top 40 countdown -- died Sunday morning ... TMZ has confirmed.

His daughter Kerri said on Facebook this morning ... her dad was surrounded by family and friends. adding, "Even though we know he is in a better place and no longer suffering, we are heartbroken."

Casey was suffering from advanced Parkinson's Disease and dementia. His wife Jean Kasem moved him to a convalescent home in Santa Monica a few months ago.

Kasem founded the "AT 40" radio franchise back in 1970 ... and famously hosted the wildly popular show until 2004. He went on to do several spinoff countdown shows until he retired from radio in 2009.

He was also very famous for voicing cartoon voices like Shaggy from "Scooby-Doo" ... and Robin on "Super Friends." He was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1985.

Casey's illness was marked by a bitter war between Jean and Casey's three children from his previous marriage. The kids claimed Jean blocked them from seeing Casey for several months.

Earlier in the week Kerri took her dad off of all life support including nutrition.

Casey was 82.

Ruby Dee -- one of the legendary actresses in Hollywood and on Broadway -- died Wednesday night ... TMZ has learned.

Ruby was at home in New Rochelle, NY ... surrounded by family when she passed away ... according to sources connected to the family. A rep confirmed the death.

Ruby was a pioneer for African-American women in Hollywood ... and is perhaps best known for her starring role in the 1960s film "A Raisin in the Sun" -- and her roles in the Spike Lee movies "Do the Right Thing" and "Jungle Fever." Her most recent big budget Hollywood film was "American Gangster" ... she played Denzel Washington's mother.

Ruby was a poet and screenwriter. She won a Grammy, an Emmy ... and also received the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors.

She and her late husband Ossie Davis -- with whom she frequently co-starred -- were also hugely active in the Civil Rights movement -- often demonstrating with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Ruby was 91 years old.

British comedian Rik Mayall suffered a fatal heart attack after his usual morning run ... this according to his family.

Mayall -- who starred in the cult 90s comedy "Drop Dead Fred" -- passed away on Monday at the age of 56.

In a statement, Mayall's wife Barbara revealed the cause of his death, and added ... "We always knew that Rik was well loved but we are all overwhelmed by so many joining us in our grief."

Kevin Roper -- the truck driver facing charges over the fatal crash that involved Tracy Morgan -- pled not guilty in a New Brunswick court this afternoon.

Roper is facing charges of death by auto and assault by auto. His bail was set at $50,000.

Roper was driving a truck for Walmart on Saturday when he struck Morgan's limo. One person died as a result and Morgan is still in the hospital in critical condition.