RIP

Princess Diana was clearly in the hearts and minds of Englanders Wednesday as they marked the 20th anniversary of her death ... and if anyone forgot there were plenty of visuals to jog their memories.

Kensington Palace -- where Diana lived -- was festooned with banners, posters and flowers commemorating her death.

Diana died when she was only 36. Her children, Princes William and Harry, honored their mother by visiting the Kensington Palace White Garden -- which was planted in her honor.

Prince William and Prince Harry honored Princess Diana by visiting a new garden dedicated to her ... where members of the public had already left tributes and flowers for their mother.

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, joined her husband and Harry at the White Garden at Kensington Palace in London Wednesday ... on the eve of the 20th anniversary of Diana's death.

The trio toured the grounds -- formerly known as the Sunken Garden -- to pay tribute to the Princess of Wales ... who died in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997. William and Harry were 15 and 12 at the time.

The White Garden -- inspired by memories of Princess Di -- has been open since spring and includes some of her favorite plants.

Olympic runner David Torrence -- who made the finals in the 5,000 meter race in the '16 Games -- was found dead at the bottom of a pool at an Arizona apartment complex.

The 31-year-old grew up in L.A. -- but competed internationally for Peru. In fact, he set the Peru record for the fastest mile in 2017 with a time of 3 minutes 53 seconds.

Torrence's body was found around 7:30 AM on Monday morning. Unclear what happened. Cops are investigating.

The runner had moved from L.A. to Arizona a few weeks ago to train for more races.

Chester Bennington's suicide will not be used as inspiration for would-be copycats if his family has anything to say about it ... 'cause they're putting together a plan to stop that.

Sources close to Bennington's family tell TMZ ... they're planning on establishing a suicide awareness org in hopes of preventing Chester's fans, especially young people, from suffering the same fate as the Linkin Park lead singer.

We're told the family worries in the wake of 2 huge rock stars recently committing suicide -- Chester and Chris Cornell -- fans of theirs might want to glorify or somehow honor their deaths by doing the same. They're also worried trouble people might view this as an appropriate way out.

Chester's fam wants to raise suicide awareness and provide resources to those contemplating it. They feel Chester's biggest downfall was being alone, especially in his final moments ... so they want to stress the importance of surrounding yourself with loved ones.

They're still in the early stages. No word on when the new org will be up and running.

Meek Mill insists he had nothing to do with 2 people dying outside the place he performed ... and the venue claims the people suing are a bunch of racists.

The rapper filed new legal docs defending himself in a wrongful death suit filed against him ... alleging his "thug" fans incited the violence at his December concert outside the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT.

In docs obtained by TMZ, Meek calls BS on the allegation his murderous lyrics incited the violence. Live Nation, which runs the Oakdale, is also being sued -- claims the victim's family has stooped to racial stereotypes by calling the fans "thugs."

As we reported ... a hail of bullets killed 2 and injured 2 outside the Oakdale Theatre.

Jay Thomas who starred in roles on "Murphy Brown," "Cheers," "Mork & Mindy" and "Ray Donovan" has died after battling cancer.

Thomas' agent, Don Buchwald, confirmed the news, saying, “Jay was one of a kind, never at a loss for words and filled with so much fun and wonderfully whacky thoughts and behavior.”

Thomas caught his first big break as Remo DaVinci on "Mork & Mindy" from 1979-1981. However, he was best known for playing Jerry Gold on "Murphy Brown" for nearly 10 years.

Thomas' wife and two sons were reportedly by his side when he passed.

Jay was 69.

RIP

TMZ Sports has obtained the Dallas McCarver 911 call -- made by a friend who found the 26-year-old bodybuilder passed out in his apartment ... after apparently choking on food.

The friend tried like hell to help McCarver -- performing CPR and other lifesaving maneuvers -- but he wasn't able to bring him back.

The friend says McCarver had been taking Insulin -- and suggested he may have collapsed because of a medical condition related to the medicine, which usually treats diabetes.

McCarver had collapsed onstage at a bodybuilding event back in March. It seems the friend believes McCarver may have experienced a similar situation while eating, which led to the fatal choking episode.

McCarver was transported to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead early Tuesday morning.

R.I.P.

WWE superstar Dana Brooke is devastated over the death of her boyfriend, Dallas McCarver -- but says she knows the bodybuilder will be her guardian angel for the rest of her life.

The 26-year-old bodybuilding phenom passed away early Tuesday morning after apparently choking on his food at a Florida home. He had spoken to Brooke on the phone just before the accident and told her he loved her.

Now, Brooke is opening up about the tragedy ... saying, "Aug 22 the lord received another angel, who happens 2 be my LIFE- MY Dallas the one WHO ONLY UNDERSTOOD ME!"'

"Dallas was an exceptional body builder, but I didn't see him for that .. I saw him for HIM AND HIS HEART!! He is the best individual I have ever met-- my ying to my yang."

"You were my life, you are my life, I still smell u and feel ur presence, NEVER LEAVE MY SIDE."

Brooke says she plans on starting a charity to honor McCarver's memory -- and posted several hashtags to pay tribute to Dallas ... #rip #myangel #mydallas #dallasmccarver #dteam #raw #ifbb #bodybuilding #losingalovedone #myheart #wwe #justkeepswimming #soulmate #swolemate #bestfriend #love #pray #faith #staystrong

Bodybuilding superstar Dallas McCarver -- aka "Big Country" -- has died after apparently choking on food at his Florida home, TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke with McCarver's girlfriend, WWE superstar Dana Brooke, who says the 26-year-old was found unconscious just after midnight Tuesday morning by a friend at his home shortly after they spoke on the phone.

McCarver was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports there appears to be no signs of foul play.

Brooke says McCarver told her he was about to make dinner and the last thing he said to her was, "I love you. Goodbye."

Brooke says the cause of death is believed to be choking on food ... and it does not appear McCarver was trying to harm himself.

McCarver had worked out earlier in the day on Monday and seemed to be doing just fine ... no signs of a medical problem while hitting a chest press with 160 lbs dumbbells.

McCarver burst on to the bodybuilding circuit when he was 21 and immediately began winning big competitions. He was a 6'1", 300-lb beast who was crazy strong in the weight room.

Just last year, McCarver placed 8th in the 2016 Mr. Olympia competition.

McCarver had a health scare back in March when he collapsed onstage at the 2017 Arnold Classic Australia ... but he appeared to be doing much better recently.

Brooke tells us the message to McCarver's fans is to stay strong -- that's what he would want.

R.I.P.

Jerry Lewis died from heart failure ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Clark County Nevada Coroner, the cause of death was ischemic cardiomyopathy ... an effect of coronary artery disease in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body to sustain it. It typically occurs when the blood vessels narrow.

Jerry died at his Las Vegas home Sunday, surrounded by family.

We're told there will be no autopsy on the body because he was under doctor's care.

He was 91.

Jerry Lewis still had his sharp wit and comedic edge 7 months before his death ... as seen here in his final on-stage performance ever.

Jerry was performing at the Southwest Florida Event Center in Bonita Springs this past January, and it just so happened to be his final stand-up gig in front of a theater audience ... for which he stayed seated, presumably due to his age.

Right out of the gate, you can see the legendary comedian hadn't missed a step with his timing, as some females from the crowd shouted a classic line of his from "The Ladies Man" ... and he dished a punchline right back.

As we reported ... Lewis died Sunday at his Las Vegas home due to natural causes, according to his family.

Jerry ended his set with a joke that quite possibly epitomizes his iconic career. This much is clear ... even at 90, the guy loved what he did. David Letterman can attest to that.

7:15 PM PT -- The White House has issued a statement on the death of Jerry Lewis, saying ... "Jerry Lewis kept us all laughing for over half a century, and his incredible charity work touched the lives of millions. Jerry lived the American Dream -- he truly loved his country, and his country loved him back. Our thoughts are with his family today as we remember the extraordinary life of one our greatest entertainers and humanitarians. Thank you, Jerry. You will be missed."

Jerry Lewis -- the legendary comedian, actor, singer, director and philanthropist -- has died.

Penn Jillette just tweeted, "Jerry Lewis just died. When I met him, I feel apart, just sobbed. I guess it's time for that again."

Another tweet from Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter John Katsilometes says Lewis died peacefully from natural causes at his home in Vegas ... attributing a statement from his family.

Lewis was one of the greatest comedians in the history of comedy. He was known for his slapstick routines and became enormously famous when he teamed up with Dean Martin in 1946.

Jerry starred in more than 50 films, including classics like "My Friend Irma," "The Nutty Professor," "The King of Comedy," "The Bellboy," "The Ladies Man," and "Cinderfella." Jerry starred in a bunch of TV shows as well, including "The Colgate Comedy Hour" alongside Martin, and lots of others leading into the 21st century. He also starred in the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees."

Jerry has 2 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ... one for TV and another for film.

Lewis also was known to millions for decades as the emcee of the "Muscular Dystrophy Telethon" held every labor day weekend, where Lewis would raise money for 24 hours straight. He raised nearly $2.5 billion by the late 2000s through his telethons -- he was also nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for his efforts in raising awareness and money for the disease.

Lewis got a lifetime achievement award in 2009 by the Academy of of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

Comedy greats have poured in to express their condolences and memories of a comedy legend himself.

He was 91.

JAY-Z paid homage to the late Chester Bennington Saturday by performing "Numb" at a UK concert.

JAY and Linkin Park have history ... they re-did the band's hit "Numb" back in 2004, so the mogul had reason to pick that song out to honor his good friend, who committed suicide a month ago today.

You hear JAY at the VFest event fire an order to the crowd, "Let's show some love for Chester tonight!"

Dick Gregory -- comedian, actor, writer and famed civil right activist -- died Saturday night in Washington D.C. ... according to a statement from his family.

Gregory began his career as a comedian while serving in the the military in the '50s.

He broke color barriers by becoming the first black performer to perform at a white club in 1961, when Hugh Hefner eyed his talent and gave him a regular gig at the Playboy Club in Chicago. He was a hit.

Gregory's talent was laced with political rhetoric. He once said/joked, "Segregation isn't all bad. Have you ever heard of a collision where the people in the back of the bus got hurt?"

He was invited to perform on "The Tonight Show" in the days of Jack Paar, but refused unless he was able to have a seat on the couch.

Gregory became a prominent civil rights leader who was arrested a number of time during marches in the '60s. He marched in lockstep with some of the biggest civil rights leaders of the decade.

Dick was also a writer known for the documentary "Joe Louis: America's Hero... Betrayed." Comedy Central named him #82 on the all-time list of greatest stand-up comedians.

The comic and civil rights legend was recently hospitalized for a urinary tract infection, according to his son, Christian. Dick later died from heart failure, according to his rep.

He was 84.

RIP

Famed producer Joel Silver is being sued over a drowning at Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's honeymoon celebration.

The family of Carmel Musgrove, Silver's personal assistant, claim in the lawsuit, Silver flew Carmel and others to the Four Seasons Hotel in Bora Bora in August, 2015, to celebrate the marriage of Jen and Justin.

The suit alleges Carmel and a Martin Herold, Silver's personal chef, partied on August 19 and consumed heavy amounts of alcohol along with cocaine and weed. Carmel went missing and her nude body was later discovered floating in a lagoon 500 yards from her bungalow.

According to the lawsuit, the cause of death was alcohol, cocaine, fatigue from overwork, heat stroke and a midnight swim in choppy waters.

Carmel's family claims Silver or one of his people supplied Carmel with cocaine and booze, and overworked her.

Sonny Landham -- who played Billy the self-knifing military badass in "Predator" -- has passed away in a Kentucky hospital at the age of 76 from congestive heart failure.

Landham was part of Arnold Schwarzenegger's band of special forces soldiers in the 1987 flick -- and starred in the famous scene where he tried to go one-on-one with the alien armed only with a knife.

He lost ... but he went down in a frickin' blaze of glory.

Landham also appeared in "48 Hours" -- in which he also played a guy named Billy.

Before going mainstream, Landham starred in a bunch of low-grade porn flicks -- including "Slippery When Wet" -- but regretted it and said he needed the money at the time.

He later got into politics -- running for several offices in Kentucky, but never got elected.