RIP

"Real World" star Ryan Knight's death was caused by a deadly mix of multiple drugs and alcohol according to the final autopsy report.

The Kenosha County medical examiner concluded Knight had various drugs in his system, including methadone (a heroin substitute), tramadol (a painkiller), cocaine and Xanax -- mixed with a high level of alcohol.

The medical examiner ruled the death an accidental overdose.

TMZ broke the story ... Knight was found dead and covered in his own vomit in November, after partying hard in Kenosha, WI.

Knight was 29 years old.

Toto bassist Mike Porcaro died early this morning after a long battle with ALS ... TMZ has learned.

Porcaro's brother and band mate Steve posted on Facebook that Mike was surrounded by family at home and passed away peacefully in his sleep at 12:04 AM.

Mike joined the band Toto in 1983 alongside his brothers Steve and Jeff, but retired in 2007 due to ALS. Mike played bass on some of the bands biggest hits, including ... "Rosanna," "Africa," and "I Won't Hold You Back."

Porcaro was 59.

Wayne Static, frontman for the metal group Static X, OD'd on a mixture of alcohol and a bunch of drugs ... including Oxycodone.

Wayne was found dead in his bed last November ... his wife was in bed with him at the time. The San Bernardino County Coroner's Office says toxicology results showed a fatal combo of prescription meds -- Oxycodone (generic Oxycontin), Hydromorphone, and Alprazolam (generic Xanax) -- along with alcohol.

Right after Wayne's death ... his wife had denied he was abusing any drugs at the time, but admitted he might have been drinking heavily.

The Coroner also said years of chronic drug and booze abuse played a factor.

Pamela Anderson got a lavish gift from Sam Simon just weeks before he died, and ironically the show of affection is the very thing that has made her persona non grata at his private funeral.

Pam and Sam have been tight for years. We're told a couple of weeks before the co-creator of "The Simpsons" succumbed to Colon Cancer, he gave her a ring worth around $800,000.

Sources who were close to Sam tell us his family was infuriated and felt Pam took advantage of a weak man and should never have accepted the gift.

We're told they have specifically decided to exclude her from Tuesday's private service.

Windell D. Middlebrooks -- the Miller High Life delivery guy -- died from a pulmonary embolism ... TMZ has learned, but we're told weight was definitely a contributing factor.

Our sources say the autopsy is clear ... Middlebrooks' 400 lbs made him a target for health problems. What's interesting ... his family tells us before his death Middlebrooks was relatively healthy with no significant medical issues.

TMZ broke the story ... 36-year-old Middlebrooks died Monday in his San Fernando Valley home.

We're told Middlebrooks' family is trying to get his body for a burial.

Bruce Beresford-Redman, the former "Survivor" producer who has been in a Mexican jail for 4 years after his wife was found murdered in Mexico, has been found guilty.

A judge in Mexico sentenced Beresford-Redman to 12 years in prison for murdering Monica. Her body was found in a sewer on the hotel property where the 2 were vacationing. Authorities say she was strangled. The 2 were heard arguing shortly before she disappeared.

Sam Simon's cherished 3-year-old dog is heartsick over his owner's death, but there's already a new owner who is doing everything he can to ease the blow.

Tyson Kilmer, one of Sam's close friends who is also a dog trainer, tells us shortly after Sam was diagnosed, he called with a request -- love and cherish his Italian mastiff after he died.

Tyson gladly obliged, especially because of his history with Columbo. He trained the pooch for aggression issues when he was a pup.

Tyson had a plan he put into motion months before Sam died. Columbo spent time at Tyson's home so the permanent move wouldn't be too jarring.

We're told Columbo is adjusting well, but misses his dad. Kilmer took one of Sam's favorite hooded sweatshirts and laid it on Columbo's bed ... which the dog snuggles up with at night.

Good news ... Columbo has a girlfriend ... a pit bull named Kasha Fierce.

The biggest adjustment for Columbo ... moving from Pacific Palisades to Sherman Oaks ... woof.

Windell D. Middlebrooks -- the actor best known for playing the straight-talking Miller High Life delivery man -- died suddenly at his home ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Middlebrooks tell us he was found unconscious at home in the San Fernando Valley Monday morning -- and was transported by ambulance to a hospital ... where he was pronounced dead.

We're told it does not appear there was any foul play.

While he was best known for the Miller commercials ... Middlebrooks was also a very successful TV actor with roles on "Cougar Town," "Parks and Rec," "Scrubs," "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia," and the "Bernie Mac Show."

He was also a series regular on ABC's "Body Of Proof."

Middlebrooks was 36 years old.

A rep for MillerCoors tells us ... "He connected with people so naturally because he was one of the kindest, most genuine folks around. We will miss him a great deal and he will always hold a special place with us."

Of course Sam Simon is famous for "The Simpsons" and his philanthropy -- but he was also hugely into boxing ... managing former WBO Champ Lamon Brewster, and even stepping in the ring with him!

Brewster was emotional about the loss of his manager and friend when he spoke to TMZ Sports ... telling us, "Sam would spar with me to help me get ready for my fights." That's pretty crazy when you consider Brewster was a beast at 6'2" and 226 pounds!

Brewster says Simon was always a big fan of boxing in general, but after legendary trainer Freddie Roach introduced them -- Simon became his manager from 1999 to 2006.

Simon's guy got the WBO belt in 2004 by knocking out Wladimir Klitschko -- and Simon was right by his side to celebrate in the ring. Brewster says Simon was like a father to him ... who "was always giving me life advice and cracking jokes."

As for Simon's skills in the ring ... Brewster says, "He could hit! He had a good heart, man ... and so down to Earth."

He added, "Sam is now in a great place and I am pretty sure he is up there telling jokes."

Sam Simon, the co-creator of "The Simpsons" has died ... TMZ has learned.

Simon passed away Sunday at his L.A. home, following a long, difficult battle with colon cancer. Simon was diagnosed in 2012 and was very public that his disease was terminal.

We're told Simon was surrounded by his family when he died, and his dog. The dog was very special in Sam's life ... he was a big animal rights advocate.

The Sam Simon Foundation tells us, "For those of us who knew him, his voice will forever echo in our minds; his sense of humor will continue to make us laugh; and his compassion and generosity will continue to impact our lives."

Adding, "Sam, you will be missed by many, but there is a particular sadness among our clinic staff. We have been together for so long, and your absence will forever leave a void in our lives."

Hank Azaria, who voices multiple characters on the show, just tweeted, "Rest in peace and thank you for The Simpsons, Sam Simon."

Sam previously announced he would be leaving his nearly $100 million fortune to his various charities.

Simon was 59.

It took him 5 years, but Corey Feldman is finally ready to honor his BFF Corey Haim in song -- recording a tribute to him to mark the upcoming anniversary of his death.

The song is called "Remember 222" and will be released March 10th. Haim died in 2010 from pneumonia and a bad heart.

The title refers to Haim's favorite number -- which, as Feldman has pointed out for years ... is eerily similar to his own fave digits ... 22.

Interestingly, the lyrics make reference to the Coreys' drug history: "Made the most of every day ... we altered our reality." It also features dialogue from some of their movies ... like "The Lost Boys," and "Dream a Little Dream."

It ain't "I'll Be Missing You" ... but it's the thought that counts.

R&B singer Charmayne Maxwell's death in her home appears to be an almost one in a million accident, and nothing sinister ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us detectives combed the scene where the ex-Brownstone singer fell on Friday evening -- and say all evidence points to her falling backward at the doorway between the house and the back patio ... while holding a wine glass.

We're told during the fall ... the wine glass shattered on the ground behind Maxwell's head, and when she landed shards of glass punctured the back of her neck in two places. We're told there was an injury to the back of her head, and it's possible she was knocked unconscious.

TMZ broke the story ... Charmayne's husband Carsten Soulshock came home and found her bleeding around 9 PM Friday. We're told cops interviewed him and several other family members ... and say there's no history of domestic violence. They do not suspect foul play.

Former "Sons of Anarchy" star Johnny Lewis -- who's been dead for more than 2 years -- just got sued by his own father for a huge chunk of cash the actor failed to pay back before his death.

If you recall, Johnny fell to his death off the roof of his Los Angeles landlady's home in September 2012 ... after he killed her and dismembered her cat.

According to the legal docs obtained by TMZ … 2 weeks before Johnny died, Michael Lewis loaned more than $60,000 to his son's company to cover legal costs, Screen Actors Guild dues, insurance, and moving expenses.

Michael says so far, he's only gotten back $23K from his son's estate -- so he's suing Johnny's estate to get back the unpaid cash.

A debt is a debt.

William Shatner made a surprising return to Los Angeles Sunday ... but was quiet about whether he would attend Leonard Nimoy's funeral.

Shatner tweeted on Saturday ... he would not be able to go due to a charity event he had scheduled in Florida -- however our photog shot Captain Kirk after his flight landed around 11:30 AM today.

He remained tight lipped about whether a backlash from fans made him change his mind about paying his last respects to Spock. We reached out to his rep ... but so far no word back.

Shatner did talk to us about Terry W. Virts ... the astronaut who paid tribute to Spock by giving Earth a Vulcan salute from space.

2:50 PM PST -- Nimoy's rep says the funeral was at 9AM this morning ... which means Shatner was still in the air during the service.

Charmayne Maxwell -- part of the 90s R&B group Brownstone -- died Friday night in L.A. after her husband found her bleeding from a cut to her neck ... TMZ has learned.

A family member tells us Charmayne had come home from her son's soccer game, and was home alone with him. Later in the evening ... around 9 PM her husband, music producer Carsten Soulshock, came home and found her unconscious and bleeding.

We're told it looked like Charmayne had fallen and cut her neck on glass ... she was bleeding profusely, but still had a pulse. Carsten called 911, and paramedics transported her to Cedars Sinai Hospital ... but she had lost too much blood. We're told she died on the way to the hospital.

LAPD went to the home ... and tell us it was a broken wine glass that cut Charmayne's neck. Detectives do not suspect foul play.

The group -- which was on Michael Jackson's MJJ Music label -- had its biggest hit with 1995's "If You Love Me." They earned a Billboard Music Award and a Grammy nomination for the song.

Captain Kirk says he won't be there when Mr. Spock beams up for the last time ... despite their decades of friendship.

William Shatner says he's in Florida for a Red Cross Ball -- a commitment he had made prior to Leonard Nimoy's death on Friday morning -- and, regretfully ... will have to miss the funeral service on Sunday.