RIP

Harold Reid, a member of the enormously popular country group, The Statler Brothers, has died.

Reid's family revealed Harold passed Friday from his long fight with kidney failure.

Harold was the bass singer and comic. The Statler Bros made a name for themselves by opening for Johnny Cash way back in '64. They had a super big crossover hit the next year with "Flowers on the Wall."

The group followed up with more hits, including "Bed of Roses" and "The Class of 57," which scored a Grammy.

The biggest radio hit for the group -- "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine." That song went to #1 and was followed by more #1 hits -- "Elizabeth," "My Only Love," and "Too Much on My Heart."

In all, The Statler Bros had 66 singles chart on Billboard country. Pretty amazing.

The group also ventured into TV ... they had a variety show on TNN from 1991 to 1997.

The official statement reads, "He is and will always be loved by his family, friends and millions of fans. His singing, his songwriting and his comedy made generations happy. He has taken a piece of our hearts with him."

An incredible amount of rare Kobe Bryant memorabilia is heading to auction ... and the items will help the late Lakers legend's foundation.

TMZ Sports has learned ... Goldin Auctions has made more than 50 dope pieces from Kobe's 20-year NBA career available in its Spring 2020 catalog ... from signature shoe prototypes to game-worn jerseys, to his 2000 NBA championship ring.

On top of that, there's a score sheet from Kobe's 81-point game signed by the Black Mamba himself, a jersey with Kobe and Vanessa hand-painted, and Bryant's autograph on White House stationery.

The best part?? 5% of the winning bids will go towards Kobe's Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation ... which helps young athletes learn life skills through sports.

We know, 5% doesn't sound like a lot -- but the value of Kobe memorabilia has skyrocketed over the past few months, so there could be A LOT of money raised here.

Vanessa Bryant has kept the Foundation moving in the months since Kobe, Gianna and 7 others perished in that tragic helicopter crash on Jan. 26 ... and the NBA has made a $100k donation to help the cause.

As we previously reported, the sports memorabilia community has flooded with fakes since Kobe's passing ... but Goldin Auctions assures us all of the items in their auction are certified legit.

The auction runs through May 16 ... good luck!!

Washington State Cougars football player Bryce Beekman died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl and promethazine, officials say.

The 22-year-old defensive back was found dead in his apartment back on March 23 and people were baffled about the cause of death.

But now, the Whitman County Coroner's Office in Washington says an investigation shows "the cause of death was acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl and promethazine."

"The manner of death was accidental."

FYI, fentanyl is a powerful pain killer. Promethazine is mostly used to treat allergy symptoms.

As we previously reported, Beekman was a star on the WSU football team.

He started all 13 games at safety in 2019 and was one of top players on the WSU defense. He was 5th on the team in tackles last season.

Jerry Bishop -- famous for being the announcer on "Judge Judy" -- is dead.

Jerry died Tuesday of heart disease, according to the show, and Judge Judy says she's gonna miss him.

Judy remembered her longtime announcer in a statement, saying ... "Jerry Bishop has been the voice of our program for 24 years. Everybody loved him. He had a golden heart and generous spirit. I adored him and will miss him."

Jerry served as the announcer for "Judge Judy" since its first season way back in 1994, and his career spanned thousands of episodes.

Bishop was also a veteran of Los Angeles radio and his voice was beloved and recognized on the morning drive for three decades from the 1960s through the 70s. Jerry interviewed tons of celebs on radio, including Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen and Natalie Wood.

Jerry also lent his famous voice to commercials and did some voiceover work, including 15 years as the voice of Disney Channel.

Bishop was 84.

Comedian Grandma Lee -- who cracked the top ten on Season 4 of "America's Got Talent" -- has died ... according to her family.

Lee's son, Kelly, tells TMZ ... she died Friday afternoon at her assisted living facility in Jacksonville, FL, but it was not related to the coronavirus.

Kelly says his stand-up comic mom was doing shows up until November, but after a gig in Tampa, she fell in her hotel room and broke her hip. Sadly, he says she never fully recovered.

According to Grandma's family ... she passed with her 2 sons holding her hands after spending the past few days reading texts from friends and Facebook posts. They say there will be a service celebrating her life once COVID-19 conditiions allow for it.

Her family adds ... "Heaven just got a whole lot funnier."

Grandma Lee gained popularity in 2009 when she competed on 'AGT' and made it to the finale before being eliminated.

She said at the time that her material is based on truth, adding ... "I go up there and wing it ... but I had to clean it up for the show."

She was 85.

Dimitri Diatchenko -- famous for his role in "Chernobyl Diaries" is dead ... TMZ has learned.

Dimitri was found dead Wednesday at his home in Daytona Beach, FL ... the actor's brother tells TMZ. We're told Dimitri's death was not related to the novel coronavirus, and there are no signs of foul play.

Dimitri's family says they had not heard from him in a few days, so they called police Wednesday for a wellness check, and that's when his body was discovered. The fam believes Dimitri died late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

Our law enforcement sources tell us the coroner's office has Dimitri's body. We're told the cause of death is pending the medical examiner's investigation.

Dimitri's family is blindsided by his passing, because they say he was healthy and in good shape.

Dimitri is best known for playing Uri in "Chernobyl Diaries," and his other acting credits include roles in "Get Smart" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

He was 52.

Juice WRLD's family has dropped a posthumous track from him, and its lyrics sadly foreshadow his eventual demise.

The late rapper's family dropped "Righteous" Thursday night and the track goes into extreme detail about his heavy drug use and the state of his mental health. Juice WRLD was never one to hold back his feelings, so it's no surprise the new song is so brutally honest.

His opening lyrics are proof Juice was more than ready to open up: "I know that the truth is hard to digest (yeah). Five or six pills in my right hand (yeah). Codeine runneth over on my nightstand. Taking medicine to fix all of the damage. My anxiety the size of a planet (oh). Holes in my skull over time. My heart's over ice (whoa) ... we may die this evening. Coughing, wheezing, bleeding."

Juice also talked about feeling like he was drowning with "my demons 10 feet under me. Inhale, exhale, but I can't breathe. Too busy drinking codeine, doing high speeds ... take a pill for the thrill, have a relapse."

This isn't the first time Juice has appeared prophetic. In his 2018 track "Legend," Juice had lyrics that included, "What's the 27 club? We ain't making it past 21."

Tragic news for Dak Prescott and his family ... the quarterback's older brother, Jace Prescott, died suddenly at 31 years old on Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys announced.

No cause of death was given.

Dak had been super close with Jace, the oldest of the Prescott brothers ... and had even just filmed a national Campbell's Chunky Soup commercial with him in 2019.

At the time, Dak said Jace and his other older brother, Tad, meant the world to him ... especially after he tragically lost his mom to cancer in 2013.

"My brothers have always been champions," Dak said. "Them along with my mom ... So now, not having my mom and just having them two, they mean even more."

Dak added, "Family is everything. It's what keeps me grounded when everything else is changing around me I know that's one thing that's always consistent and certain. I'm thankful for them."

Jace was a former football player himself ... he played offensive live for Northwestern State in Louisiana from 2008 to 2010, starting 11 games in his final season.

"The loss of Tad and Dak's brother is devastating," the Cowboys said in a statement during Thursday's NFL draft.

Added team owner Jerry Jones, "We are so saddened that Dak has lost his brother. We want to help him get through this time."

Both Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy also shared their condolences for the QB after the draft.

RIP

Child actor and Hollywood heir Jason Davis's cause of death was fentanyl ... according to the Medical Examiner.

L.A. County Medical Examiner documents show Jason died from the "effects of fentanyl." No other factors are listed in the report ... but it does say it was an accident.

TMZ broke the story ... Jason was found unresponsive in his bathroom on February 16. Law enforcement sources at the time told us there were items nearby that were consistent with heroin or opioid use ... including burnt tin foil and other paraphernalia.

Based on the ME's report ... the opioid would be fentanyl, and not heroin.

Jason -- known in Hollywood as the voice of Mikey Blumberg on the long-running Disney Channel show, "Recess" -- had battled addiction in the past. In 2011, he was busted and charged for allegedly having heroin on him. Those charges were eventually dropped.

He went on to co-found a charity called Cure Addiction Now, an org he was heavily involved with running. The voice actor was also known for being the grandson of the late Hollywood billionaire moguls, Marvin and Barbara Davis.

Jason was 35.

RIP

The man suspected of killing the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris is now accused of going ballistic in jail last month ... allegedly attacking and biting officers in a fit of rage.

According to court records obtained by multiple media outlets this week, officials say Ibraheem Yazeed -- who's been charged with capital murder in the death of 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard -- acted out after he was being escorted back to his jail cell on March 23.

Officials say 3 corrections officers were handling Yazeed at the Lee County Detention Center in Alabama when he became combative.

Yazeed allegedly refused to enter his cell ... and when one of the officers attempted to tase the 30-year-old, he began swinging and kicking.

When other officers arrived to help subdue Yazeed ... he bit one of them in the leg, according to court docs.

Yazeed has now had a 2nd-degree assault charge added on to his case over the incident.

As we previously reported, Yazeed is accused of kidnapping Blanchard at an Auburn gas station in October and killing her.

Tragic news from Atlanta Braves star Freddie Freeman's family ... their beloved pet cat, Benji, was killed in a hit-and-run Monday night.

"He was struck by a car who didn’t even stop to check on him ... we found him too late. Our hearts are broken," Freddie's wife, Chelsea, said in an emotional post on Instagram.

"He was the best cat you could ever ask for, he was more like a dog or even a person," Chelsea said ... adding Benji was very close with their 3-year-old son, Charlie.

"He would run and greet us at the front door, chase baseballs and jump on the trampoline with Charlie... he and Charlie were best friends and he was a cherished child to us for the last 6 years."

The Atlanta Braves shared their condolences in the comments section, saying "We love you, Freeman family ❤️ Benji was the best!"

Chelsea ended the sad post with a heartbreaking line -- "I know Freddie’s mom and Grandma are loving on him in heaven but God does this hurt💔 We love you so much Benji💔"

Tarvaris Jackson lost control of his car while doing 70 in a 30 MPH zone -- slamming into a signpost and crashing into a ditch, this according to the police report obtained by TMZ Sports.

The former NFL quarterback was fatally injured in the April 12 crash in Montgomery, Alabama around 8:50 PM.

According to the police report, the road where Jackson crashed was not well lit -- and he lost control while going around a bend.

When emergency personnel arrived at the scene just a few minutes after the crash, Jackson was "unable to give a reason why he crashed his vehicle."

The 36-year-old was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The report also says Jackson was not tested for alcohol or drugs at the scene.

Officials also note Jackson WAS wearing his full shoulder and lap seatbelt at the time of the crash.

It was also noted the roadway way dry and the conditions outside of the poor lighting were normal.

They seem to blame the crash on Tarvaris driving at a "high rated speed."

Jackson was laid to rest of over the weekend -- but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mourners inside the church were limited to groups of 10 or less.

Former Playmate Ashley Mattingly -- a domestic violence victim at the hands of Lane Garrison, who struggled with substance abuse -- is dead ... TMZ has learned.

Ashley's sister, Christy, and twin brother Billy tell us she took her own life Wednesday at her home in Austin, Texas and she left a suicide note.

We're told Ashley was found unresponsive Friday after a friend called the Austin Police Department for a wellness check after Ashley went radio silent. We're told police took the note as part of their investigation.

Ashley's family tells us she had been living in Austin for the past two years, and she was struggling with substance abuse. We're told she had demons and battled alcohol abuse, but she was trying to get her life back on track.

The shelter-in-place order in Texas did not help Ashley, her family says, even though Ashley recently adopted a 9-month-old golden retriever puppy to help with her loneliness. We're told the pup, Miss Jean, is now with Ashley's family.

As we reported ... Ashley, who was Playboy's Miss March in 2011, was charged with DUI back in 2016 after allegedly plowing her golf cart into 4 parked cars while she was wasted.

As you know ... Ashley was a victim of domestic violence. Lane, her ex-boyfriend, was convicted of domestic battery in 2012.

The last time we saw Ashley, back in 2015, she seemed to be in good spirits.

Ashley's relatives also tell us they're thankful her friend called police for the wellness check ... and they hope her story can raise awareness about suicide.

Ashley was 33.