RIP

Joan Rivers suffered from heart arrhythmia and worried that her heart might stop beating on stage or during surgery.

Joan spoke about the condition -- which causes sudden irregularities in the heart beat -- during an interview with Joan Lunden on Good Morning America back in 1985.

Joan said, "It scares the hell out of you. And when you go under, say for plastic surgeries and things like that ... that's when your heart can go out of kilter."

Joan Rivers' autopsy has been done, but the Medical Examiner will need more information to determine exactly how she died ... TMZ has learned.

The Medical Examiner's Office tells us they've completed the physical examination of Joan's body, but could not find a clear "cause and manner of death" ... pending further studies.

We're told those further studies will include conducting toxicology testing, and interviewing medical professionals who were present during the throat procedure Joan was getting last week when she stopped breathing.

11:30 AM PT -- Melissa Rivers was just seen leaving a funeral home in NYC.

Joan Rivers won't be getting the perfect funeral she wrote about ... because the famous singer she wanted to perform is too sick to make her wish come true.

In her 2012 book, Joan described her perfect funeral as "a huge showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action." She wrote, "I don’t want some rabbi rambling on; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents. I don’t want a eulogy; I want Bobby Vinton to pick up my head and sing 'Mr. Lonely.'"

But TMZ has learned 79-year-old Vinton -- who's been friends with Joan for years -- is just getting over a bout with pneumonia. Bobby's rep tells us Vinton is bummed he won't be able to perform his 1964 hit, but will try to make it up in some way ... perhaps with a recorded video message.

Meryl, it's all on you now ...

The clinic where Joan Rivers was undergoing a throat procedure last week is under fire, because fans are blaming the staff for her death ... and are making it clear they're out for blood.

Sources connected to the Yorkville Endoscopy clinic in NYC tell us death threats have been coming in droves since Joan was rushed to the hospital last week. Some of the threats have included -- "If Joan dies, so will you," ... and ... "I hope you people die, you killed an icon."

We're told the clinic has been shutting down early on some days to send employees home -- and additional security's been hired.

As we previously reported ... the NY Health Dept is already reviewing the clinic to see if a full scale investigation is warranted.

10:00 AM PT -- A rep for Yorkville Endoscopy tells us extra security has been hired due to media and cameras outside the facility, claiming, "Security is only to ensure patient safety and privacy."

Sarah Silverman took the passing of Joan Rivers very hard ... commiserating with Jimmy Kimmel Thursday night and cracking a few fashion jokes at Jimmy's expense ... like Joan would have.

Silverman told Kimmel she just heard from Joan last week -- she reached out to congratulate Sarah on her Emmy. Silverman added that Joan told the most "hardcore jokes on TV" on her show, "Fashion Police."

Joan Rivers -- who made the world laugh for over 50 years with her jokes, put-downs and one-liners -- has died in NYC ... a week after her heart suddenly stopped beating during vocal cord surgery.

She was 81.

Joan's daughter Melissa Rivers took her mom off life support so she could pass comfortably in a private room.

The death has been reported to the NYC Medical Examiner's Office -- and officials tell TMZ the office will open an investigation to determine cause of death.

Melissa just issued a statement saying, "It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers."

"She passed peacefully at 1:17 PM surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Mount Sinai hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother."

"Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated."

"My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."

Rivers is widely credited for opening doors for countless female comediennes. She broke through in a big way during her appearances on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.

She also famously enraged Carson by accepting a gig to host a competing late night show on FOX. Carson never spoke to her again.

Rivers was born in 1933 -- she worked as a writer and fashion consultant before entering show biz as a stand-up comic in the early '60s. She was famously self-deprecating ... often self-critical of her looks and her marriage to Edgar Rosenberg ... who committed suicide in 1987.

Joan's late '80s FOX show tanked, which somewhat derailed her career. It was resurrected in a big way in 2010 in the wake of the documentary "Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work."

She was universally adored by fellow comedians, including fellow legend Don Rickles, who once said about her ... "Joan is not only a very intelligent lady, but extremely masterful at comedy timing. Sharing the stage with her has always been a joy for me."

Barbara Walters was asked about Joan last year, saying ... "I wouldn't dare to try to be funny about Joan Rivers because she is the smartest, best-informed and funniest woman I know."

Joan and her daughter Melissa began working as a team hosting various red carpet and fashion shows on E! and other networks, including "Fashion Police."

Joan's credits could fill a book ... including appearances in "The Muppets Take Manhattan," "The Carol Burnett Show," "Hollywood Squares," "Pee Wee's Playhouse," "Celebrity Apprentice," "Saturday Night Live" ... and on and on.

Joan Rivers spoke prophetically about what she wanted on her tombstone one month ago -- and the words she chose were classic Joan.

She was at LAX back in August when a photographer -- with whom she clearly had a good relationship -- jokingly asked about her health ... and what she would want her epitaph to say.

Check it out ... it's simple, honest -- and no one could possibly argue against it.

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.