RIP

Joan Rivers made one hell of an impression on her former "Celebrity Apprentice" co-star Herschel Walker ... who just told us a story about Joan that's pretty awesome.

First off, Walker says Rivers was one of the nicest people he'd ever met -- and says he's "very depressed" after learning about her passing.

"I didn’t know much about Joan before 'Apprentice' besides the fact she's a comedian -- but she’s much more than that. She taught me a lot. She's an amazing person."

Now for the story ... Walker says," After 'Celebrity Apprentice,' she asked for my mom’s address. Then, she sent my mom a letter saying how I was such a nice man and sent her a charm necklace by the Joan Rivers collection."

How cool is that?!

"So, unexpected and kind of her," Walker tells us.

R.I.P.

Celebrities from all facets of Hollywood are coming out to pay tribute to Joan Rivers.

Don Rickles -- Our dear Joan is gone. Knowing her, working with he and enjoying the fun times of life with her was special. She will always be in our hearts. She was a good friend to Barbara and I. Melissa, be strong and take care of your son Cooper. Joan…we will miss you.

Barbara Walters -- No one loved life, laughter, and a good time more than Joan. We would have dinner and laugh and gossip and I always left the table smiling. She was a brassy, often outrageous, and hilarious performer who made millions laugh. In private, she was the picture of elegance and class. I will miss her.

Donald Trump -- Joan Rivers @Joan_Rivers was an amazing woman and a great friend. Her energy and talent were boundless. She will be greatly missed.

Bret Michaels -- My deepest condolences to the family of @Joan_Rivers. She was a very funny lady and will be missed. #JoanRivers

Kathy Griffin -- A legend, a friend, a mentor, an icon, and wildly funny. One of a kind. RIP

Richard Lewis -- Joan, say it ain't so. Deep condolences to Melissa and loved ones. You were iconic and authentic from day one .

Nick Swardson -- RIP Joan Rivers. People don't know what a pioneer she was. Check out her documentary. Beautiful and heart breaking. Be at peace, Joan.

Bob Saget -- So funny and irrepressible. Rest in peace, Joan Rivers

Jim Norton -- "Very sad news about Joan Rivers. Such a prolific, brilliant comic. She was more fearless than any of us."

Rob Schneider ‏-- #JoanRivers was thee trailblazer for ALL WOMEN COMICS WHO FOLLOWED!She proved a woman could be just as outrageous and as funny as the guys!

Sam Jackson -- Love Her or Hate Her, we're gonna Miss JOAN RIVERS! I always Respected her go for broke humor. One of a kind.R.I.P.

Ellen DeGeneres -- Joan Rivers will always be a pioneer. She paved the way for a lot of comedians. I’m very sad she’s gone.

Robin Quivers -- Joan Rivers was a mentor and a friend. Can't believe we won't be seeing her again. What a life.

Mike Epps -- RIP Television legend Joan Rivers. She was an incredible woman with a remarkable career. I pay my respects.

Barry Manilow -- I’m so sad. No music today. Joan, I’ll miss you forever.

Howie Mandel -- She gave me my biggest break and inspired me in life. I can't believe that heart stopped

Gilbert Gottfried -- First Robin. Now Joan. The world just became a less funny place. RIP Joan Rivers.

Roseanne Barr -- RIP GODDESS: Hail Hail, a GENIUS has vacated this realm: Joan Rivers has died.

Anna Kendrick -- RIP Joan Rivers. Being publicly told that my dress is hideous will never feel quite as awesome. You will be truly missed.

Bette Midler -- Joan Rivers has died. What a sad ending to a brilliant and tragi-comic life; one of the bravest, and funniest of all.

Alec Baldwin --Very sad to learn about Joan Rivers, a pioneer for women in comedy.

Jane Lynch -- @Joan_Rivers Godspeed my sweet. Thanks for all the laughs. Thanks for all the love. I miss you already.

Larry King -- Joan Rivers was a dear & wonderful friend who I've known for 45yrs. Great guest, pal, comedian & mother. We will never see her likes again. Rest In Peace, Joan.

Lena Dunham -- Watching Joan Rivers do standup at age 81 was incredible: athletic, jaw-dropping, terrifying, essential. It never stopped. Neither will she.

George Takei -- It is with sadness that I received the news that Joan Rivers has passed away. My deep condolences to her daughter Melissa and to all her family. Joan made us laugh, and understandably rubbed many the wrong way, as big voices in our midst so often do. But she moved to the beat of her own drum, was a pioneer in her field, and she will be missed.

Dennis Rodman -- I want to offer my condolences to Melissa and her family. As brilliant of a comedian her mother was Joan Rivers was even a better person. She Looked over me like a son when I struggled my first time on Celebrity Apprentice. She will be missed by millions.

Nia Vardalos -- RIP ‪#‎JoanRivers, as Laurel Thatcher Ulrich said: "Well behaved women seldom make history." I hope we hear God laugh at a d** joke.

Ricky Gervais -- RIP the mighty Joan Rivers. Funny and fearless. Truly one of a kind.

Geraldo Rivera -- Saddened by the passing of dear friend Joan Rivers. She was a brilliant comic who made the world a happier place. Irreverent and energetic, she could make a sphinx laugh.

Demi Lovato -- RIP Joan Rivers... You made fun of my boobies just last week and it was an HONOR. Thanks for making so many people laugh here on Earth.

Lewis Black -- So sad to have lost Joan Rivers.She may have been 81 but was still in her prime with a mouth that wouldn't quit. The silence is deafening

Laverne Cox -- So sad over the passing of @Joan_Rivers. U brought me a lifetime of laughter & were amazing to me the few times we met. RIP

Jimi Jamison -- who was the lead singer for the bands Cobra and Survivor -- passed away Sunday night. He was 63.

Jamison's booking agent, Sally Irwin, tells TMZ that Jamison died of a heart attack at his home in Memphis. He had just performed with the band Saturday night in Northern California.

Jamison joined Survivor in 1984 (after their smash hit "Eye of the Tiger") but was the lead singer on other classic songs like, "The Moment of Truth" (from "The Karate Kid"), "The Search Is Over," and "Is This Love."

Jamison did sing a later Rocky classic -- the workout playlist staple -- "Burning Heart" from "Rocky IV."

Jamison was also the co-writer and vocalist for the song "I'm Always Here" ... the theme song from "Baywatch."

Former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Russell Armstrong's dad thinks his son's death in 2011 wasn't a suicide -- he believes it was murder, and he claims Taylor Armstrong won't help him prove it.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ ... Louie Armstrong is asking the court to force the L.A. County Coroner's office to fork over Russell's autopsy pics, which he plans to have checked out by his own forensic specialist.

As we previously reported ... Russell's family hired a private detective after his suicide in 2011 -- because they were convinced he was killed.

Armstrong seems to think Taylor would have better luck obtaining the photos, since she was Russell's next of kin at the time of his death. In the docs, he says she refuses to assist his efforts.

Omaha police officers were running and gunning to make compelling TV when they sprayed bullets at an armed robbery suspect, killing him and a 'Cops' crewman ... so claims the dead suspect's family.

TMZ spoke with one of Cortez Washington's relatives ... who believes the officers used excessive force Tuesday night -- and were "hyped up" to put on a good show when they responded to the Wendy's.

As we reported ... 'Cops' sound supervisor Bryce Dion died after getting hit by friendly fire from Omaha PD during the shootout with Washington -- who was holding a Wendy's employee at gun point.

Washington's firearm turned out to be a pellet gun -- modeled after a real semi-automatic pistol -- and his family thinks officers should have recognized it wasn't a lethal weapon before they unloaded more than 20 rounds. One family member told us, "With everything going on in Ferguson, you think they would use other options."

The relative also said they don't buy Omaha PD's claim Cortez started the shootout by firing two rounds.

Omaha cops say they were not grandstanding for cameras ... maintaining they responded to the robbery with proper protocol ... and engaged Cortez because he pointed and fired his weapon at them.

Omaha police say the "Cops" crew member who was shot and killed during a police shootout with an armed robbery suspect was hit by gunfire from police ... NOT from the suspect's weapon.

Omaha PD just held a news conference to discuss the details surrounding the death of Bryce Dion -- a sound supervisor who was part of a 2-person "Cops" camera crew. They called it a tragic case of "friendly fire."

According to police ... Dion and his partner were riding with a patrol unit that responded to the armed robbery call at a Wendy's. Police say Dion was in the entryway of the restaurant when the suspect fired shots ... and police returned fire with multiple rounds.

Investigators say Dion was caught in the crossfire ... hit by a bullet or bullets from a police weapon. They say Dion was wearing an armored vest, but the bullet went through the arm hole of the vest.

Omaha PD was also adamant -- the officers were NOT showing off for the camera when they opened fire on the suspect -- who also died from gunshot wounds.

Police say the suspect was firing an Airsoft pellet gun ... something the responding officers didn't know at the time.

'Cops' creator John Langley was at the news conference and said other crew members -- who've been taping in Omaha for 2 months -- are getting counseling. Police released still images from the 'Cops' camera footage.

A cameraman for the TV show "Cops" was shot while covering a shootout between Omaha police and an armed robbery suspect ... and sources close to the production tell TMZ the photog has died from his injuries.

Officers -- with the "Cops" crew in tow -- responded to a call at a fast food restaurant Tuesday night and found an armed robbery in progress. Police say shots were fired and 2 people were hit -- the cameraman and the suspect.

In police radio transmissions, you can hear cops call for backup during the shootout. One of the officers says, "We've got a 'Cops' cameraman hit ... white male ... he's not conscious ... he's slightly breathing."

Robin Williams turned down a huge Las Vegas offer 2 years before he died ... and sources connected with Robin tell us it's further proof he did NOT have money troubles.

TMZ has obtained an AEG Live document to Robin ... offering him $600,000 to headline 2 shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

We're told Robin's people turned the offer down ... he was shooting "The Crazy Ones" at the time. Robin's people -- who have maintained all along money was not a factor in his suicide -- tell TMZ if he was really cash-strapped he would have done some moonlighting in Vegas to rake in some dough.

Under the proposal ... ticket prices ranged from $75 - $150.

Lord Richard Attenborough -- the English actor who made dinosaurs come to life in "Jurassic Park" -- has died after years of poor health.

Attenborough was one of England's leading actors ... but was also a director and producer. He's probably best known for "Jurassic Park" ... but also starred as Santa Claus in the remake of "Miracle On 34th Street"

His 70-year career also included "The Great Escape" with Steve McQueen ... and he directed "Gandhi" -- which won 8 Oscars.

Attenborough's son told the BBC his father died Sunday at lunchtime -- he'd been living in a nursing home with his wife for the past few years.

Attenborough was 90.

John Witherspoon has thrown cold water on the homages to Robin Williams ... saying he was a hardcore junkie.

Witherspoon -- who played the father in "Friday" -- worked with Robin back in 1977 on the set of "The Richard Pryor Show" ... and tells us not only was Robin an addict, but that he even stole his coke right out from under him.

Robin Williams' son Cody put on a brave face ... mingling with friends Tuesday in San Francisco to celebrate his dad's life.

Cody was dressed casually as he arrived at an invitation-only event at Marsha Garces' home ... she's Cody's mom and Robin's second wife. The outside of the house was strewn with candles and bouquets from well-wishers.

The 22-year-old Cody is not seen in the pic with his sister, Zelda, or half-brother, Zac.

Robin Williams' body was cremated the day after he died ... and his ashes were scattered in San Francisco Bay ... this according to the official death certificate.

The document -- issued in Marin County where he died -- does not list an immediate cause of death ... instead it merely says, "pending investigation."

Williams committed suicide August 11th ... after hanging himself with a belt at his home in Tiburon, CA. As we reported, he had been severely depressed.

Don Pardo -- the man who famously announced "It's Saturday Night Live!" starting from the very first episode of "SNL" in 1975 -- passed away Monday night at the age of 96 ... NBC officials confirm.

Pardo reportedly died in his sleep in Tucson, AZ.

The man with the booming voice was hand-picked for the "SNL" job by creator Lorne Michaels -- and was featured on 38 of the 39 seasons (he missed season 7). He also missed 2 eps in 2013 after suffering a broken hip.

But like the champ he was ... Pardo got back to work after healing up and continued to serve as "SNL" announcer when the show resumed in September 2013. He worked all the way up until the "SNL" season finale back in May.

Pardo had been working with NBC since 1944 ... and provided voice work on everything from baseball games to newscasts and even gameshows -- spending 7 years on "The Price is Right" starting in 1956.

After that gig, Pardo spent 11 seasons on "Jeopardy" ... back when Art Fleming hosted the show.

Long story short ... the guy was a pioneer in almost every facet of television.

Former "SNL" writer John Mulaney tweeted moments ago ... saying, "Goodbye Don Pardo. You worked from World War II until this May. You were cool as hell. I'm very lucky I got to talk to you those few times."

Dane Cook also posted a message about Pardo -- saying, "I always wanted to host SNL and it was a lifelong mission. When I got it and got to NYC I had 1 must. Get a photo with the great Don Pardo. His voice set the tone of the show and hearing him usher in each host with his booming hijinx-y role call was in my dreams but saying my name finally. My dream came true. Thank you sir for spending time chatting and introducing me to America on that special Saturday night."

Robin Williams did not plan his suicide ... in fact, hours before he hanged himself he was making plans for upcoming projects.

A confidante of Robin's who spoke with him the day before his body was discovered tells TMZ ... they had a fairly lengthy discussion about several deals in the works and Robin was "completely engaged in the conversation."

The source says Robin was asking lots of questions about the deals ... inconsistent with someone who planned on killing himself.

The confidante says there was nothing out of the ordinary during the conversation ... saying "He [Robin] was unhappy which he often was, but it was nothing unusual." As for why Robin was unhappy, the source says Robin, like lots of other comedians, "lived in a dark place."

We're also told no one in Robin's life -- including his wife or personal assistant -- had any idea suicide was looming.

We're told the family believes whatever set Robin off on his fatal path occurred shortly before he cut, then hanged himself.

Casey Kasem's widow is NOT off the hook just because she's thwarting the efforts of cops to get a full autopsy ... to determine if she committed elder abuse ... because we've learned cops are confident they have the goods to nail her.

We've confirmed Jean Kasem is moving Casey's body from Montreal to Oslo, Norway, where Casey's body will be buried.

TMZ broke the story ... the Santa Monica Police Dept. is investigating Jean ... because they say they have evidence she compromised his health by taking him on a wild, multi-state ride to evade the rest of her family ... causing him to get an infection that contributed to his death.

Law enforcement sources now tell TMZ ... although they'd like to have a full autopsy, detectives believe they have enough evidence to present the case to prosecutors. They've interviewed doctors and others who examined Casey during the car ride ... and cops say it's incriminating stuff.

We're told the case will be submitted to the L.A. County D.A. ... soon.

Robin Williams was "devastated' when his TV show, "The Crazy Ones," was cancelled ... sending him into a deep depression that ultimately led to his suicide.

Sources who frequently interacted with Williams during the last month of his life tell TMZ ... Williams viewed the cancellation as a "personal failure." As Williams put it to one person just before the show debuted, "My face is all over town [on billboards] and it's all on my back."

We're told the cancellation after only 1 season sent Robin into a tailspin -- as one person said, "It hit him hard" -- and that's why he entered the Hazelden Addiction Treatment Center last month -- not for substance abuse, but for depression.

To make matters worse, we're told Robin was increasingly depressed that he was older and good roles for him were few and far between. He would talk about Robert De Niro, saying even he was having a hard time.

Our sources say Parkinson's disease wasn't nearly as significant a factor in his depression as "The Crazy Ones." We're told Robin knew he had the disease for 5 months.