Chester Bennington Widow is Engaged ... Honors Late Husband
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Chester Bennington's widow is moving forward with her life because we've learned she's now engaged ... and at the same time she's honoring her late husband with some pretty noble work in the field of mental health.
Our sources tell us Talinda Bennington got engaged in April to a Los Angeles County firefighter. She says, "I can find love after tragedy." She adds, "To all suicide loss survivors, you CAN be happy again. You CAN have space in your heart for grief, joy, happiness, sadness and love."
We're told Chester's relatives are super supportive of Talinda's new relationship. They think her fiance's a good guy and they're especially pleased he's involved with Chester and Talinda's kids. The family thinks Talinda's fiance will help provide stability for the children. We're told the kids are happy, especially because it makes their mom happy.
TMZ broke the story ... Chester took his own life in his Palos Verdes home back in 2017, while Talinda and their children were out of town.
Talinda has now made mental heath her life's work to honor her late husband. She's the executive director and co-founder of 320 Changes Direction, a mental health awareness org created in honor of Chester.
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Talinda's org is a partner with the World Health Organization, and she's working hard on different projects in advance of next week's Word Suicide Prevention Day.
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'Project Runway' Alum Chris March Dead at 56
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Chris March, a costume designer who appeared on "Project Runway" -- and dressed huge stars like Beyonce and Meryl Streep -- is dead ... TMZ has confirmed.
Sources close to Chris' family tell TMZ ... he died Thursday afternoon at 1:45 PM from a heart attack. We're told Chris had been in and out of the hospital for the last year, but the heart attack came as a surprise to doctors and relatives.
Despite his medical battles -- related to a nasty fall he suffered 2 years ago -- we're told Chris was still designing dresses until the end.
Chris was a finalist on season 4 of "Project Runway" ... he also appeared on "Project Runway All Stars" and had his own show on Bravo called "Mad Fashion." He also made cameos on "The Real Housewives of New York City" ... helping find elaborate costumes for Sonja Morgan.
Known for his avant-garde style, Chris had major A-list clients. He designed for Madonna, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Coolidge and, as we said, Bey and Streep. He was responsible for Meryl's 2010 Golden Globe and Oscars gowns.
Chris also designed costumes for Cirque du Soleil and a slew of Broadway performances.
He had struggled to fully recover from a June 2017 fall in his apartment where he'd hit his head. Chris laid there for 4 days, finally woke up and called 911 before being rushed to the hospital.
He had to be placed in a medically induced coma, and suffered organ failure ... including a collapsed lung.
Chris was 56.
RIP
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Gigi Hadid Tyler, Welcome to the Fam ... Grandma Would've Loved You
'Bachelorette' star Tyler Cameron is so in with Gigi Hadid ... he scored an invite to a family event ... sadly it was grandma's funeral.
Tyler and Gigi winged it to Rotterdam, Netherlands ... where Yolanda Hadid's mother, Ans van den Herik, was laid to rest.
Remember ... Gigi and Tyler have only been dating for a month ... this after the superfan model sought him out after he came up short on the reality show.
Tyler has made the most of it, and now he's embedded in the fam ... we're guessing he didn't deliver the eulogy ... but nice he was there to support his girl.
Anwar's also there with his new girl, British singer Dua Lipa. They've also been moving fast after just 2 months of dating ... they're supposedly moving in together.
Bella, on the other hand, is still fresh off her breakup from The Weeknd and went solo.
Gigi and Anwar weren't the only ones with a little arm candy. Yolanda walked hand-in-hand with her new man, Joseph Jingoli.
Yolanda penned a touching tribute to her mother after her passing ... calling Ans her guardian angel. She wrote, "On angel wings you were taken away, but in my heart you will always stay."
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Dog the Bounty Hunter Hard for Me to See Beth on New Show ... I Couldn't Do Any Editing
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Dog the Bounty Hunter is about to be a first-time viewer, just like Joe Q. Public, of his new reality show ... and he nearly broke down as he told us why.
We spoke to Duane "Dog" Chapman on "TMZ Live" about Wednesday night's debut of "Dog's Most Wanted" and he broke some interesting news. Dog says he has NOT seen the final edit of the of show -- which is not his normal process.
Dog said he usually weighs in on edits of the show, but after his wife, Beth Chapman, passed in June ... things changed for him.
Dog says it was too difficult to watch footage of Beth, and therefore ... he stayed out of how the show was cut. As far as what's documented though -- Dog tells us the show captures Beth's final days before she passed away in June, including one final ass-kicking moment in the field.
We also asked Dog for an update on the break-in at his Colorado storefront last month, in which crooks made off with some of Beth's personal belongings. The investigation is ongoing, but he opens up about what local police begged him to do ... or NOT do.
As we reported ... Dog had a hunch the crime was an inside job based on what a psychic told him, who claimed she'd spoken to Beth from the great beyond.
He admitted it wouldn't be pretty if he ends up getting a hold of the culprits.
Episode 1 of "Dog's Most Wanted" airs Wednesday night at 9 PM ET on WGN America.
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Jessi Combs Video of Land-Speed Record Attempt ... Led to Fatal Crash
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The "Fastest Woman on Four Wheels" was traveling at a breathtakingly incredible speed for well over a minute -- with no signs of trouble -- just before her fatal jet-car crashed.
This video of Jessi Combs' final ride -- obtained by TMZ -- shows the professional racer absolutely flying across the Alvord Desert in Oregon last week as she attempted to break the land-speed record she'd previously set in 2016.
Shortly after this footage ends, the vehicle started to come apart. As we reported, Combs' jet-powered car crashed and killed her. Photos of the wreckage show the 56-foot-long jet-car -- called the North American Eagle -- was destroyed with only a few parts even recognizable after the horrific accident.
According to the Harney County Sheriff's Office ... the cause of the crash is still unknown and under investigation.
Along with setting land-speed records that earned Jessi her moniker -- she was a TV personality with notable appearances on "MythBusters" and "Overhaulin'."
She was 39.
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Olympic Skier Blanca Fernandez Ochoa Dead at 56 Went Missing 2 Weeks Ago
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Spanish Olympic skier Blanca Fernandez Ochoa was found dead in the Guadarrama Mountains outside Madrid on Wednesday ... nearly 2 weeks after going missing. She was 56 years old.
The 1992 bronze medalist was last seen on August 23 and was reported missing by her daughter ... sparking a massive search operation with drones, helicopters and volunteers to find the world-class athlete.
There's a lot of questions about her death that have just not been answered yet -- including why she left home without her cell phone and credit cards ... and how she ended up at that location. We'll post more information as it becomes available.
Fernandez Ochoa's abandoned Mercedes vehicle was found on Sunday ... and an off-duty officer found her body early Wednesday morning.
Fernandez Ochoa competed in 4 Winter Olympics in the '80s and '90s ... becoming the first Spanish woman to take home a medal in the 1992 winter games in France when she won the bronze in the slalom.
#RIP
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Trina Mom 'Nessa' Dies from Cancer at 62
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Trina's mother has passed away ... TMZ has learned.
The 'Love & Hip Hop' star and legendary femcee's mom, Vernessa 'Nessa' Taylor, died Tuesday morning, according to Trina's rep. We're told she lost a battle to cancer.
Trina's camp tells us that Nessa was the rock that molded her daughter into the strong, successful woman she's become, and that she was also a pillar in her community in advocating for self-love, confidence and perseverance among women in general.
The rep tells TMZ ... "Thank you all for your kind words and condolences regarding Trina’s mother. It truly gives the family some peace and comfort knowing that 'Nessa' lived such a fulfilling life filled with love and abundance." Trina's team asks for privacy as the family mourns.
Trina mentioned her mother in her music, notably referencing her in a song similar to Pac's "Dear Mama." In her 2017 track -- simply titled "Mama (The One)" -- Trina raps about wanting to pass before her mother did 'cause of how attached she was to her.
Trina's lyrics go like this ... "Thinking 'bout you mama / Got me running to the liquor / Mama where you goin'? / I'm gon' have to beg to differ / I'd rather go first, so I wanna go with you 'cause I can't do this without you." Obviously, they were incredibly close.
Just last year, Trina and co. threw Nessa an extravagant rooftop birthday party, where photos and music were in abundance and a good time was had by all. Even in this clip though, you can see Nessa struggling a bit to walk -- it's clear she was ill at the time.
We're told Trina's inner circle is trying to keep her grounded during this difficult time, and that she's surrounded by loved ones as she works through the grieving process.
Nessa was 62.
RIP
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'American Idol' Contestant Haley Smith Dies in Motorcycle Crash
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Haley Smith -- a former contestant on "American Idol" -- died over the weekend after crashing her motorcycle in Maine ... TMZ has learned.
The singer passed away early Saturday morning in Millinocket, Maine in a one-vehicle crash after police say it appears she failed to make a sharp turn along a residential road that becomes a highway in certain sections. Police say she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her father, Mike Smith, tells TMZ ... Haley was riding on a country road and her family believes a deer might've caused the accident -- as he implied she was a good rider, and they doubt she simply lost control of her bike.
Haley's time on 'AI' was relatively brief in 2012, when she auditioned in Colorado during season 11. She didn't make it beyond the second Hollywood round, but Haley certainly left an impression on the judges at the time in her audition.
She sang Rufus and Chaka Khan's "Tell Me Something Good," putting a folksy twist on it that left Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler pretty impressed.
Steven even said it was an honor to hear her sing, 'cause he said she was out of his "era" with her look, sound and vibe.
Haley was 26, and her family says they were preparing to celebrate her birthday this upcoming November.
RIP
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Tigers Minor Leaguer Chace Numata Dead At 27 After Skateboard Accident
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Detroit Tigers minor league catcher Chace Numata died in a Pennsylvania hospital on Monday at the age of 27 … after sustaining serious injuries in a skateboarding accident last week.
According to police, Numata -- who played for the Tigers double-A and triple-A affiliate this season -- was riding his skateboard home early Friday morning around 2 AM when he appears to have fallen and hit his head.
Minutes later a motorist saw Chace on the ground -- unconscious and bleeding -- and called 911. Emergency responders transported Numata to the hospital … where he remained until passing away earlier today.
Numata was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 10th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He also spent time with the Yankees organization before signing with the Tigers organization before this season.
Numata -- in 77 games this season -- had a .244 batting average with 4 home runs and 28 RBI's. Over his career, Chace played in 575 minor league games.
The Tigers released the following statement on Chace's death, saying … “The Detroit Tigers are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chace Numata. Though this was his first year with our organization, Chace was beloved by many from our Major League club through all levels of our player development system."
"He had an engaging personality that quickly established him as a leader on and off the field, and his presence will be forever remembered in our organization and beyond. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, teammates and coaches.”
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'Beverly Hills, 90210' Cast Members Bring Back the Peach Pit ... Luke Perry Charity Event
The "Beverly Hills, 90210" reboot has been on the air for about a month now, and it looks like the big reunion is continuing off-screen with a revived pop-up from the show.
'90210' stars Brian Austin Green, Ian Ziering and Joe E. Tata were among some of the actors who showed up Friday to a Johnny Rockets in L.A. that had been transformed into the Peach Pit -- the same after-school hangout from the show, with the fictional owner to boot.
Looks like they did a pretty intricate job at reimagining the joint ... the menus were changed and everything, and even some of the grub appeared to be Peach Pit specials.
Now, the Peach Pit pop-up isn't entirely new -- the gang did the same thing earlier last month ahead of the debut of their new spin-off, 'BH90210,' which stars much of the OG cast.
This time, Brian and co. ran it back as part of a special event for a live episode of his podcast, "...with Brian Austin Green," which he recorded at Torrance High School (the filming site from way back in the '90s). The proceeds they raised this weekend was donated to charity in honor of Luke Perry -- who died this year before the new show launched.
Seems like the Peach Pit experience went off without a hitch. Here's hoping someone had a Made-to-Order-by-McKay burger to bring it all home.
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Valerie Harper Dead at 80
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Valerie Harper -- who starred on the classic sitcoms including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Rhoda" and "Valerie" -- is dead.
Valerie died Friday morning ... and while a cause of death has not been released, she's had tons of health issues over the years.
Harper was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009 and then, after beating that, announced in 2013 she had terminal brain cancer.
Doctors said she only had three months to live after the brain cancer diagnosis, but she responded well to treatment and actually competed on "Dancing With the Stars" later that year.
As we reported ... Valerie was rushed to a hospital in 2015 after suffering a medical emergency during a performance of a musical in Maine.
Valerie was born in New York and she enjoyed a successful career on Broadway before she landed the role of Rhoda on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," which then led to the spin-off show "Rhoda."
She came back to television several years later on the show "Valerie," but left after two seasons.
Harper also won four Emmys and one Golden Globe for her various roles.
Valerie was 80.
RIP
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Franco Columbu 2x Mr. Olympia Dead at 78
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Franco Columbu, a former Mr. Olympia and one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's closest friends, has died.
Franco died Friday, with reports out of Italy saying the legendary bodybuilder lost his life in an incident at sea in his native Sardinia.
Arnold said goodbye to Franco with a heartfelt message ... writing, "I love you Franco. I will always remember the joy you brought to my life, the advices you gave me, and the twinkle in your eye that never disappeared. You were my best friend."
I love you Franco. I will always remember the joy you brought to my life, the advices you gave me, and the twinkle in your eye that never disappeared. You were my best friend. https://t.co/X3GhZKlgAd
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) August 30, 2019 @Schwarzenegger
Franco won Mr. Olympia way back in 1976, the year after Arnold retired from the famous bodybuilding competition. Franco won again in 1981, the year after Arnold's comeback win.
In addition to his success as a bodybuilder, weightlifter and boxer, Franco also had a long career acting on TV and in movies.
One of Franco's most famous movie moment was in the 1977 documentary, "Pumping Iron" ... when he lifted a car to help the driver escape a tiny parking spot.
Franco also appeared in a string of Schwarzenegger movies in the 1980s ... including, "The Terminator," "The Running Man," and "Conan the Barbarian."
Franco and Arnold met in Munich 54 years ago, and instantly became pals ... in later years, Franco was known as Arnold's squire, and Arnold always told people Franco was the strongest man he ever knew.
Franco is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their daughter, Maria. He was 78.
RIP
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Prince Half-Brother, Heir ... Dead at 66
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One of Prince's six siblings who inherited the music legend's fortune died in his sleep ... TMZ has learned.
Alfred Jackson, Prince's older half-brother, passed Thursday morning at his home in Kansas City, Missouri. Alfred was found by his brother, Bruce Jackson -- who's not related to Prince. Bruce tells us he went to check on Alfred around 10:30 AM and found him unresponsive.
Law enforcement tells us no foul play is suspected, and police believe he died of natural causes.
Prince's half-bro was one of the iconic musician's first family members to speak out in 2016 following his death. Alfred, who had the same mother as Prince, said he hadn't spoken to his brother in years but followed his career and was proud of him.
He said at the time, "I miss my brother because my brother was everything in the world to me ... He's a legend, he really is."
Sources connected to the family tell us Alfred, an Air Force veteran, was able to purchase a new home after receiving his inheritance. Prior to that, he'd been living in VA housing for decades.
Alfred was 66.
RIP
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NASCAR's Kurt Busch On Jessi Combs' Death ... 'She Was Pushing the Limits'
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NASCAR superstar Kurt Busch says the death of racing star Jessi Combs was a "terrible accident" -- but at least she went "pushing the limits."
36-year-old Combs was a star in the racing world -- and died on August 27 while attempting to break the women's land-speed record she set back in 2016.
Combs was behind the wheel of a "jet car" in the Alvord Desert in Oregon trying to break the 600-mph barrier when something went wrong and she died. Officials aren't saying much about the incident other than "there was a fire involved."
Now, some of the biggest stars in racing are paying respects to Combs ... including Busch, who spoke to us briefly outside of "Good Morning America" in NY.
"It was a terrible accident, man," Busch said ... "We'll find out all the details later on but she was pushing the limits, man."
We asked if Busch respected that she was trying to break her own record -- "absolutely."
Jessi -- who appeared on shows like "Mythbusters" and "Overhaulin'" -- was surrounded by family and friends at the time of her passing, according to an official statement.
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'Fastest Woman on Four Wheels' Jessi Combs Dies in Car Crash
Jessi Combs -- the professional racer known for breaking land-speed records -- died in a car crash while attempting to go nearly 500 mph.
The "Fastest Woman on Four Wheels" died Tuesday in Oregon in a jet-powered car ... according to multiple reports. The Harney County Sheriff's Department was called to the scene of the fatal crash in the Alvord Desert around 4 PM.
Terry Madden, a member of Comb's crew, confirmed her death on Instagram Wednesday morning. He calls Jessi "the most amazing spirit that I have ever or will ever know." He adds that he was the first one on the scene of the "horrific accident" and everything possible was done to save her.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by authorities.
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Combs was reportedly trying to break her own land-speed record, which she set in 2016 by driving nearly 478 MPH in the same desert where Tuesday's crash took place. She had tried previously in September of last year.
She earned her nickname in 2013 when she broke a 48-year-old record by reaching 398 miles per hour in her North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger.
Jessi was also known as a TV personality, with notable appearances on "MythBusters" and "Overhaulin'." She was 39.
RIP
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Chester Bennington Has At Least $8 Million Fortune ... In Music Alone
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Chester Bennington's music is currently worth more than $8 million ... according to new legal docs filed by his widow.
Talinda Bennington submitted an appraisal detailing some of Chester's assets to the probate court overseeing his estate. The docs, obtained by TMZ, show his music rights are worth $8,140,719.
The biggest chunk of that are his cut of current and future music royalties ... worth $5.2 million. Another $1.5 mil is attributed to his net share of publishing rights, and $1.3 mil in songwriter performance rights.
Important to note, these numbers don't take into account Chester and Talinda's properties, bank accounts and other assets ... it's just a current appraisal of his music assets.
TMZ broke the story ... Chester hanged himself in his home in 2017. He was survived by his 6 children and Talinda.