RIP

3:11 PM PT -- The Clayton County P.D. tells us ... Buster was at work at the time of the kidnapping and was unharmed in the incident.

We're also told Buster's mistress had gone to Buster's workplace right BEFORE the kidnapping -- and told him she was MAD that Buster and his wife were going on a vacation together.

Cops say Buster insists he had no idea Brown was homicidal -- and didn't think the situation would escalate, which is why he did not call police.

Barnett is not a suspect or a person of interest.

The mistress of a former NFL player went berserk in Georgia -- kidnapping the man's wife and then killing her and herself after a high speed car chase ... this according to police.

Cops say the killer was the mistress of Buster Barnett -- a former tight end for the Buffalo Bills from '81 to '84.

Barnett's mistress, Lisa Brown, kidnapped Buster's wife, Sandra Barnett, and sped off in a Dodge Durango ... officials told 11Alive.com.

The Durango was spotted by police and a chase ensued -- through Georgia and into Alabama ... until the car suddenly stopped -- and that's when cops say Brown opened fire on Barnett and then herself.

No word if Buster was harmed in the incident.

Tupac’s homie and Outlawz rapper, Hussein Fatal, wasn't at the wheel during the car accident, and the woman who was ... has been arrested for homicide and DUI.

We’re told Fatal was the passenger in a Dodge Challenger driven by Zanetta L. Yearby -- and he was ejected and killed in an absolutely horrific crash early Friday morning in Gainesville, Georgia. Two car seats and one wheel are about all that's left of the vehicle.

Zanetta was arrested at the scene and charged with DUI, reckless driving, and first degree vehicular homicide. She's still in custody.

Joan Sebastian -- a beloved Mexican singer known as "El Rey Del Jaripeo" -- passed away on Monday at his family's ranch in Juliantla, Guerrero, Mexico. He was 64.

Sebastian had been battling bone cancer since 1999.

He was a staple on the Mexican music charts since his career began back in 1977. In 2006, Sebastian was inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame.

Sebastian won seven Latin Grammy Awards and five Grammy Awards, the most of any Mexican performer.

Hussein Fatal, one of the members of rap group The Outlawz -- a group founded by Tupac -- died in a car accident this weekend ... the group confirms.

Details surrounding Fatal's death are unclear at this point -- but the group posted a message on social media saying, "Rest in Paradise our brother Hussein Fatal. He passed away in a car accident. Pray for his family & kids at this time!"

Fatal performed on a bunch of songs with Tupac -- but most famously rapped the second verse on "Hit 'Em Up" ... the one that starts, "Get out the way, yo, get out the way, yo. Biggie Smalls just got dropped."

Fellow Outlawz member Napoleon went to Facebook to remember his friend ... writing, "He was my old group member and friend for over 20 years and he will be missed."

R.I.P.

Roger Rees, best known for playing Nicholas Nickleby on Broadway and TV ... died in New York on Friday.

Rees' rep says the Tony Award winning star was at his home when he passed after a brief illness. He had been performing up until May when he left his show Broadway show "The Visit" to undergo a medical procedure.

Rees was also famous for film and TV roles -- co-starring in "Frida," "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," "The West Wing" and "Cheers."

He played Robin Colcord on "Cheers" ... a British millionaire who dated Kirstie Alley's character, Rebecca Howe.

Rees was 71.

Omar Sharif -- legendary star of movies like "Doctor Zhivago" and "Lawrence of Arabia" -- has passed away.

According to his agent, the actor suffered a heart attack in Cairo. Earlier this year, he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Sharif earned an Oscar nomination for his role in "Lawrence of Arabia" and won Golden Globes for that role and for 'Zhivago.'

Fun fact: The Egyptian born actor was also known as one of the best bridge players in the world.

Omar was 83.

Christian Audigier -- the fashion designer behind the successful clothing lines Ed Hardy and Von Dutch -- has passed away. He was 57.

His longtime publicist, Michele Elyzabeth, told the website LATF USA, "I just heard the news and I am truly devastated. Christian was an incredibly brilliant man. He will be missed."

As TMZ first reported, Audigier was diagnosed with cancer in January. He told us it was MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome), the same bone disease "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts was diagnosed with back in 2012.

Audigier has a net worth of nearly $250 million and has worked with Guess, Levi's, Diesel, American Outfitters, Bisou Bisou, and XOXO.

His own brands are currently available in over 40 countries.

Christian is survived by his 4 children.

Ken Stabler -- who led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in 1977 -- died yesterday at age 69 ... his family confirms.

According to the family, Stabler passed due to complications associated with Stage 4 colon cancer, which he had been battling since February.

Ken's family says, "He passed peacefully surrounded by the people he loved the most, including his 3 daughters and longtime partner, as some of his favorite songs played in the background, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Sweet Home Alabama' and Van Morrison's 'Leaves Falling Down.'"

Stabler was an absolute STUD QUARTERBACK -- from college, where he led Alabama to an undefeated season in 1966 ... to the NFL where he became a 4-time Pro Bowler.

Stabler spent 15 seasons in the NFL -- playing for the Raiders, Oilers and Saints ... but was most well known for being leader of those bad ass Raider teams in the '70s.

Stabler was never enshrined to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton ... but probably should've been.

Jerry Weintraub died after a 30-hour hospital stay that ended with a bowel rupture that triggered 2 heart attacks ... family sources tell TMZ.

We're told Weintraub was staying at the Biltmore Hotel in Montecito over the weekend. He attended a 4th of July bbq Saturday night, and began feeling ill shortly thereafter. He thought he had contracted food poisoning, but things got worse as the evening progressed ... and at 3 AM Sunday his partner, Susie, called 911.

Our sources say doctors quickly determined Weintraub had a bowel obstruction. Weintraub got a CT scan shortly after he was admitted, but we're told doctors determined there was nothing alarming.

Weintraub laid in the hospital bed for 30 hours, but we're told doctors were still not able to identify the problem. Weintraub -- who hated hospitals after nearly dying 6 years ago from an infection after back surgery -- insisted at around 4 AM Monday that he be discharged. We're told the staff told him he could not be discharged and continued to monitor him.

Just after 6 AM Monday Weintraub had a heart attack, and a 2nd CT scan revealed he had suffered a bowel rupture. Doctors don't know when the rupture occurred, but it sent poison throughout his body. Weintraub was taken to ICU, where he suffered a 2nd heart attack, 2 hours after the first.

We're told prior to the initial heart attack, Weintraub was not only conscious ... but joking with people in the room.

As we reported, Weintraub died at the hospital at 12:45 PM Monday.

Amanda Peterson -- star of the flick "Can't Buy Me Love" -- has died at her home in Greeley, Colorado ... TMZ has learned.

We spoke with Peterson's father who tells us ... the family hadn't heard from 43-year-old Amanda since July 3rd and became concerned. Her body was finally discovered in her home on July 5.

As for cause of death, Peterson's father tells us they don't know the official cause of death -- but notes, "She had some illness and a sleep apnea problem that may have contributed."

We're also told Peterson had been dealing with several medical issues over the past 2 years -- including pneumonia, sinusitis and sleep apnea. Peterson's father also says she had been living in a home with mold issues ... but moved out about a year ago.

Peterson became a superstar playing Cindy Mancini opposite Patrick Dempsey in the 1987 romantic comedy ... but she left the entertainment industry altogether in 1994 and had been living in Colorado for years.

We're told she went back to school several years ago -- but dropped out around 2010. Recently, we're told she had been trying to make it as a writer.

Jerry Weintraub ... the producer behind the "Ocean's 11" remakes, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley died today at the age of 77 ... TMZ has learned.

Weintraub had been in Santa Barbara with family -- and multiple sources tell us he died around 12:45 PM while at a hospital in the area. His reps are saying he suffered cardiac arrest.

Weintraub's been a giant in music and movies for decades -- producing, promoting, and managing for everyone from Sinatra to Led Zeppelin ... to Bob Dylan, Elvis and John Denver.

One of the biggest feathers in his cap was luring Ole Blue Eyes out of retirement. Sinatra actually reached out to Jerry in 1968 ... after seeing the success he had guiding Elvis' career.

In addition to the 'Ocean's' movies, starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney -- Weintraub produced all the "Karate Kid" flicks and the Chevy Chase classic, "Vegas Vacation." He was also working on the new "Tarzan" movie, due out next year.

Jerry won 3 Emmy awards during his career, dating back to 1975. His most recent was for producing "Behind the Candelabra" with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon.

Clooney said, "Today our friend died. To his family and friends, Amal and I send our love. And to those who didn't know him we send our deepest sympathy. You would have loved him."

The last time we got Jerry was back in March, and the legendary producer of major sequels ... gave us his take on the "Fast and Furious" franchise.

BMX Hall of Famer Scot Breithaupt -- known as the "Godfather of BMX" -- was found dead in a tent in Indio, CA this weekend ... cops confirm.

The 57-year-old was a god in the BMX world ... and helped establish bicycle motocross as an international sport. He also served as a BMX commentator for ESPN back in the day.

According to law enforcement, Breithaupt's body was found in a tent in a vacant lot. Officials are investigating the death but say it does not appear Scot was murdered.

Story developing ...

Burt Shavitz -- the co-founder of the natural cosmetics company Burt's Bees, which bore his name and likeness -- died Sunday in Maine. He was 80.

A spokeswoman for the company said Shavtiz died of respiratory complication, surrounded by family and friends. The company's website says Shavitz "has left for greener fields and wilder woods."

Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby founded the company in 1984. They made $20,000 in their first year and the company was eventually bought by Clorox in 2007 ... for $925 million.

90s Major Leaguer Darryl Hamilton was killed by his girlfriend in what police are calling a murder-suicide -- and right before the shooting ... she begged her ex-husband to call cops.

The 911 call was placed by Monica Jordan's ex Sunday around 4:45 PM outside Houston. He tells the operator Monica sounded distraught, and wanted him to get over to her house immediately.

Monica was living with Hamilton, who retired after the 2001 season ... and had played for the Mets, Giants, and several other teams.

The ex husband said he didn't think there were any weapons in the house. He was wrong. When police arrived they found Hamilton's body with multiple gunshot wounds -- and Monica's body with one self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The $100 homeless man who became famous for his generosity has died ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Kenni Thomas Nickel -- featured in a YouTube video that generated 40 million views -- was found dead in an L.A. alleyway. The L.A. County Coroner's Office tells us Nickel died from chronic alcohol abuse. He passed away last month.

You'll recall, a stranger gave Nickel $100 and then followed him around with a hidden camera to see how Nickel spent it. To everyone's surprise, Nickel used the cash to dish out food and other necessities to homeless people.

Nickel was 56.

R.I.P.

Dick Van Patten, best known for playing the dad on the classic TV show "Eight Is Enough," died Tuesday morning in Santa Monica.

Van Patten's rep released a statement Tuesday, saying, "I am sorry to report this sad news. His family will not be doing any press at this time."

He reportedly died of complications from diabetes.

Van Patten started acting when he was just 7 -- often appearing on Broadway. Besides his huge TV role ... Dick also had memorable roles in the Mel Brooks movies "Spaceballs" and "Robin Hood Men in Tights."

He was 86.