RIP

Mike Nichols -- the legendary director who won the Oscar in 1968 for the classic film "The Graduate" -- died suddenly on Wednesday night. He was 83.

Nichols -- who was married to Diane Sawyer for the last 26 years -- is one of the few people to have won an Emmy, a Tony, a Grammy and an Oscar. His best known films include "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," "Working Girl," "Silkwood" and "The Birdcage."

Nichols was also a prolific stage director, having helmed Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park," "The Odd Couple," and Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" ... just two years ago. He also directed the critically acclaimed HBO miniseries "Angels in America."

Nichols is survived by three children and four grandchildren.

Casey Kasem is rotting in Norway because of his own flesh and blood -- his daughter -- so claims Casey's widow, who has gone to court so she can put Casey in his place for good.

TMZ first reported ... Casey's remains have been stagnating in Oslo for 3 months, and he's been dead for 5. Kerri filed legal docs recently asking for an order allowing her to bring the body of her father back to the U.S. for an autopsy -- something the LAPD wants for its elder abuse probe targeting Jean.

Now Jean has fired back saying Kerri is the obstructionist that is preventing a proper burial.

Problem is ... Jean's argument makes no sense. She's fighting Kerri on the one hand, saying Kerri's U.S. lawsuit is BS because our courts can't force Norway to do anything, yet on the other hand she seems to be saying Kerri's lawsuit is preventing Casey's burial. She can't have it both ways.

Kerri thinks Jean is full of it and the reason she's dragging her feet is so the body decays to the point the Coroner won't be able to pin the blame on her for the infection that led to his death.

Jimmy Ruffin, the crooner who was a staple in Motown for decades, has passed away at the age of 78.

Ruffin reached legendary Motown status in 1966 with his hit "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" ... and had incredible staying power, hitting the Top 10 yet again with "Hold On To My Love" in 1980.

Ruffin's family ties were just as impressive ... his younger brother, David Ruffin, was the lead singer of The Temptations. David was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Ruffin's 2 kids -- Philicia and Jimmy Lee -- confirmed that he passed Monday at his home in Las Vegas.

Brokenhearted indeed.

The father of the late "Real Housewives" star Russell Armstrong will finally get photographic evidence to answer the question he's been asking for 3 years ... "Was my son murdered?"

The L.A. County Coroner has agreed to turn over pics, negatives, videos and X-rays to Louie Armstrong and his lawyers ... provided they keep the evidence under wraps.

The elder Armstrong has never believed his son took his own life. Russell was in financial straits -- owing a ton of money to business associates -- so when Armstrong was found hanging from an electrical cord Aug. 15, 2011, his dad immediately suspected foul play.

"American Idol" singer Michael Johns died from an enlarged heart, but a "fatty liver" contributed to his death ... this according to the Coroner's report.

The 35-year-old singer died suddenly Aug. 1 after his leg became swollen and bruised ... reportedly from a sprained ankle. Family sources claimed the injury had triggered a blood clot, but his best friend claimed the singer drank himself to death.

The Orange County Coroner's report concludes Johns died of natural causes -- the result of a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that inhibits the flow of blood to the body. The disease caused his heart to enlarge.

As for the "fatty liver" ... it can be caused by excessive alcohol intake, but there are other causes as well. Law enforcement told us ... Johns often drank to excess and did so hours before he died.

Timbaland clearly thinks Lifetime deserves every ounce of crap being flung their way for the Aaliyah biopic that premiered Saturday ... and during his attack on the network, no digital punches were pulled.

The rapper/producer went on a social media rampage last night urging people to boycott the "Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B"... using a slew of hilarious memes.

Once the movie was over -- Timbo had no problem gloating to fans who watched the flick anyway -- taunting them and the network with a funny video post.

Timbaland wasn't the only celebrity who had choice words for the movie ... DL Hughley also chimed in -- saying, "Aaliyah is the Soul Plane of Lifetime!"

Glen A. Larson -- who created the hit shows "Magnum P.I.", "Knight Rider" and "Quincy M.E." -- has died from esophageal cancer at the age of 77.

The incredibly successful writer died Friday night at UCLA Medical Center ... according to his son James.

Larson was one of the most prolific producers of the '70s and '80s ... creating a string of iconic hit shows -- including "Battlestar Galactica," "The Fall Guy," "B.J. and the Bear," and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century."

He also wrote the original "Six Million Dollar Man" pilot and TV movies.

In case you're wondering ... Quincy, Magnum, Rider and Fall Guy alone account for 513 hours of television -- as well as 21 combined seasons from 1976-88.

Safe to say this guy helped define an entire generation of TV watchers.

"The Challenge" star Theo Von says his former co-star Diem Brown was the bravest person to ever appear on the show ... and he's praying she's in a better place now.

As we previously reported ... Brown died this week after a long battle with cancer -- and Theo told our camera guy he's already checked in with show producers about her memorial.

The reality star also went into detail about how inspirational Diem was ... and says she always put life into perspective for him.

Author R.A. Montgomery -- founder of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" book series -- has died.

If you'd like to know more about his death ... go to paragraph 2.

If you'd like to learn the author's history ... go to paragraph 3.

Montgomery passed away at his home in Vermont last Sunday. His family hasn't released the cause of death.

The author created the series in the '70s and more than 200 "CYOA" titles were eventually published. It's one of the best selling children's book series of all time.

If you'd like to give your condolences ... go to the comments section.

If you'd like to tell your friends ... share the story on social media.

"Real World/Road Rules Challenge" star Diem Brown has died after a long battle with cancer.

Diem -- who found out she had ovarian cancer 3 weeks before her first appearance on MTV in 2006 -- was reportedly surrounded by family this week in a New York hospital as her condition worsened.

Back in August, the reality star collapsed on set while filming "The Challenge" ... then announced she had been diagnosed with stomach and colon cancer. It eventually spread to her liver and lymph nodes as well.

Diem founded MedGift ... a support registry for other people battling illness.

One of her most inspirational moments on MTV came when she took off a wig to reveal her hair loss due to chemotherapy.

Diem was 34.

Carol Ann Susi -- one of the central characters on "The Big Bang Theory" -- died Tuesday after battling cancer ... according to execs on the hit show.

Susi played Howard Wolowitz's mom who almost NEVER appeared on camera -- but whose voice was heard in just about every episode.

'Big Bang' executive producer Chuck Lorre said ... "The Mrs. Wolowitz character became a bit of mystery throughout the show's eight seasons. What was not a mystery, however, was Carol Ann's immense talent and comedic timing."

Susi's rep described her cancer as "aggressive" ... and added it was a brief battle.

Wolowitz's mother was only seen once on 'Big Bang' -- and it was just a quick glimpse during Howard's wedding. It's unclear how Lorre and producers will handle Susi's death on the show. Her character's had a central plot line this season.

Carol Ann Susi was 62.

We have no doubt Sugarhill Gang rapper Big Bank Hank is still shocking the house for the young ladies. Only difference is ... he's got God on the ones and twos now.

Our man Hank died at the age of 57, but "Rapper's Delight" lives on -- because he can rock a party 'til the early light!

The lead singer of Survivor died from a stroke and methamphetamine abuse ... according to autopsy results.

Jimi Jamison had a narrowing of his arteries and cardiovascular disease ... according to the report -- however it lists the brain stroke as the ultimate cause of death. He died back in September at his home in Memphis.

Jamison took over as the band's frontman in 1984 -- after their biggest hit, "Eye of the Tiger" -- but was responsible for several other hits like ... "The Search is Over" and "Is This Love?"

Jamison was 63.

Big Bank Hank -- the Sugarhill Gang rapper best known as "the grandmaster with 3 MCs that shock the house for the young ladies" -- died early Tuesday morning ... TMZ has learned.

Hank -- born Henry Jackson -- had been suffering from cancer. We're told he passed away in the greater NYC area around 2 AM. Hank was one third of the famous Sugarhill Gang ... which had the first mainstream rap hit "Rappers Delight" in 1979.

His group mates Wonder Mike and Master Gee told TMZ ... "So sad to hear of our brother's passing. Rest in peace Big Bank."

Hank was 57 years old.

Robin Williams' suicide was triggered by a horrible disease called Lewy Body Dementia ... sources connected with his family tell TMZ.

TMZ has obtained documents showing Williams was struggling with the disease, which is marked by abnormal protein deposits in the brain that disrupt normal function.

Lewy Body Dementia is a condition commonly associated with Parkinson's ... and people afflicted by both often get severe side effects from Parkinson's meds. Hallucinations are common, where patients see phantom objects, people or animals. The patients often try to converse with the illusions.

Robin's wife had told authorities shortly after his death he had been complaining about the meds and the way they made him feel.

Sources connected with the Williams family tell TMZ ... Lewy Body Dementia was the "key factor" they believe drove him to kill himself. We're told Robin's doctors agree that the disease was the critical factor leading to his suicide.

Joan Rivers would be alive today if the clinic where she stopped breathing had a proper crash cart ... sources connected with her family's legal team tell TMZ.

TMZ broke the story ... there were a number of screw ups, including doctor's notes that showed an alarming amount of Propofol in her body. We're told the notes were not accurate and there was nothing in the blood work to suggest Propofol killed Joan.

But the legal team believes the Yorkville Endoscopy Center did not have critical lifesaving equipment on the crash cart ... specifically a drug called Succinylcholine, used to relax a patient's trachea. The legal team believes Joan's vocal chords spasmed and closed shut. The drug would have instantly opened them.

To make matters worse ... the legal team says the doctors were asleep at the wheel, failing to identify "deteriorating vital signs."