RIP

Anthony Bourdain's sudden and shocking death has stunned the culinary world.

Many fellow chefs, celebrities and athletes have taken to social media to share their experiences and some kind words about the star.

As we reported ... Bourdain was found in a French hotel room by friend and fellow chef Eric Ripert. CNN reported Bourdain hanged himself.

Bourdain's show, 'Parts Unknown,' gained tremendous success over the years ... he was traveling for the show at the time of his death.

Bourdain leaves behind a young daughter. He was 61 years old.

The last of the Lollipop Guild might have fallen this week with the death of 'Wizard of Oz' star Jerry Maren -- but there are still living Munchkins out there ... 'cause we talked to one.

Joan Kenmore was cast as one of the Munchkins in the 1939 film, but didn't have a speaking role in the "We Wish to Welcome You to Munchkin Land" scene ... when Dorothy met Jerry and all the other Munchkins.

She says she heard about Jerry's failing health last year from author Stephen Cox, who chronicled the little actors' on-set memories in his book, 'The Munchkins Remember.'

Technically Joan wan't a member of the Lollipop Guild -- she's not a little person, she was just a little 6-year-old during filming. She's a spry 86 now, and says her kids still get a kick out of watching her brief appearance in the timeless classic.

TMZ broke the story ... Jerry passed away over a week ago at a San Diego nursing facility. He was the last living dwarf actor from the movie.

Alan O'Neill -- one of the actors on "Sons of Anarchy" has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us O'Neill's body was discovered by his girlfriend in the hallway of her Los Angeles apartment Wednesday night. We're told the actor has a history of heart problems and was a heavy smoker. He's also got a history of alcohol and drug abuse.

We're told no foul play is suspected ... and an autopsy will be completed soon to determine the cause of death.

O'Neill's acting career dates back to the 1990s. He's perhaps most famous for his role as Hugh on seasons 6 and 7 of 'SoA,' as well as Keith McGrath in "Fair City." His other roles included a popular UK show called "Inspector George Gently" and he was announced as a cast member in an upcoming horror film.

The Irish-born actor was 47.

The world's oldest living 'Wizard of Oz' munchkin, Jerry Maren's organs were shutting down and he was fighting severe senility when he died ... TMZ has learned.

According to his death certificate ... Jerry's official cause of death was cardiopulmonary failure. However, he also suffered from cachexia -- a break down of the body's systems from chronic ailments -- and senile degeneration of the brain. As we first reported, Jerry suffered from dementia.

The doc, obtained by TMZ, says Jerry, real name Gerard Marenghi, died May 24 in San Diego County. He was buried this past Saturday in Hollywood. His occupation is listed as an actor with 75 years of experience. No mention of the Lollipop Guild.

Jerry Maren, who was the oldest living "Wizard of Oz" munchkin, will be commemorated with free whiskey ... if ya simply drop his name at an L.A.-area hotel with ties to 'Oz.'

The Culver Hotel tells TMZ it's giving away a free shot of Grant's whiskey to anyone who comes in Wednesday, and mentions Jerry's name.

We broke the story ... Jerry passed away more than a week ago, and was buried last weekend.

Jerry and some of the other munchkins stayed at the Culver Hotel while filming the 1939 classic right around the corner at MGM's Culver City studio. Legend has it, the little guys threw epic ragers while staying there.

Kate Spade's husband has finally spoken on the fashion designer's suicide -- confirming the two were living apart -- and saying her death came as a total shock to their whole family.

In a statement to the New York Times, Andy Spade says, "Kate suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. She was actively seeking help and working closely with her doctors to treat her disease, one that takes far too many lives. We were in touch with her the night before and she sounded happy."

He continues, "There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock. And it clearly wasn’t her. There were personal demons she was battling."

Spade confirms the two were living separately for the last 10 months, but says they still took vacations and had dinners together for the sake of their daughter ... he says they never discussed divorce.

Kate Spade's suicide note will make her death infinitely harder for Kate's daughter and family ... according to Sheryl Underwood, who sadly knows exactly what they're going through.

Sheryl had an extraordinarily emotional moment on Wednesday's episode of "The Talk." Her husband killed himself in 1990 after they'd been married for 3 years, and she bravely discussed how it's still affecting her.

Loki the Sphynx, who raked in some 79k followers on Instagram after being dubbed "The Grumpiest Cat in the World," is dead.

Loki died unexpectedly Tuesday night, according to his owner, Sara Kjelsvig. The feline had gone in for a routine dental cleaning at his vet earlier in the day and, while in recovery, staff noticed an increase in his breathing. Loki didn't make through the night and the vet suspects he had a preexisting heart condition they didn't know about which led to his death.

Loki, not to be be confused with the furrier "Grumpy Cat," was a male sphynx cat. The breed is hairless so wrinkles in their skin are super visible, which helped attribute to his famous title. He went viral after a photo of him wearing a rainbow fur coat surfaced.

Kate Spade was depressed over her business problems and separation from her husband, which was causing her to drink a lot ... this according to cops.

Law enforcement sources tell us, Kate was alone in her apartment when she tied a scarf around her neck, attached it to her closet door knob and hanged herself in her bedroom.

We're told her husband, Andy Spade, was not in the apartment. As we reported, the couple had separated and he was living in a nearby building. Sources say Andy told cops he was separated from Kate for a couple of months. Andy added he was at his apartment when he learned Kate had committed suicide.

Andy told cops Kate "was drinking a lot," and was depressed by business problems and their separation. As we reported, he wanted a divorce but she did not.

It puts her suicide note in a somewhat different light. In the note, she tells her 13-year-old daughter it was not her fault, adding, "Ask Daddy!" One interpretation is that she blames Andy.

Kate Spade was extremely depressed in her last days of life, because her husband wanted a divorce ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We've learned Andy Spade was not living at the family home ... he and Kate had separated and he was living in a nearby apartment.

Our law enforcement sources say after their interview Tuesday they were clear ... Andy wanted a divorce but Kate did not.

It makes her suicide note particularly interesting and possibly revealing. She wrote to her 13-year-old daughter, Frances Beatrix, "Bea - I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!" It's unclear what Kate meant by the words "Ask Daddy!" One interpretation is that he knows why she ended her life.

The couple married in 1994.

As we reported, Kate hanged herself in her bedroom.

Jerry Maren -- the world's last living 'Wizard of Oz' munchkin -- is now somewhere over the rainbow ... TMZ has learned.

We're told ... Jerry died over a week ago. His funeral was held over the weekend at Forest Lawn in Hollywood. The cause of death is unknown, but we're told he suffered from dementia. He passed away at a San Diego nursing care facility.

There were multiple reports he died back in March 2016 after a battle with pancreatic cancer ... but a close friend of Jerry's told us those reports were not true. Jerry still had a couple of years left in him.

Jerry had a bunch of small roles in Tinseltown ... but being a member of the Lollipop Guild was his most memorable.

Jerry was 98.

A bible Whitney Houston left behind when she moved out of her Newport Beach luxury rental is now being sold by her former landlord ... for a whopping $95k.

Whitney rented the home from 2009-2011. The owner says he found the bible in a box along with some clothes and CDs by the trash after she'd moved out. He says he had signed an NDA and contacted Houston's agent about the left-behind items, but was told he could keep them.

The bible, which is being sold through Moments in Time, has Whitney's handwriting all over it. There are pages documenting life events. For instance, under marriage Whitney scribbled in her name and Robert B. Brown and the date July 18, 1992, which matches up. Under births, it lists Bobbi K. Kristina and her birthday March 4, 1993.

The owner sold the home in 2012, and says he threw out all the other stuff Houston left behind except the bible because he thought it was "interesting." And a good investment, if he finds a buyer.

Kim Kardashian has a chance to use her influence for the good of the nation, just like Robert F. Kennedy did ... that is, if she heeds the advice of one of RFK's daughters.

We got Kerry Kennedy, Bobby's 7th child, on Capitol Hill Tuesday -- the eve of the 50th anniversary of her dad's assassination -- and asked what she thinks of the Kardashian sisters wading into politics.

It's a great question for Kerry, in particular, because she let out a hearty laugh when we raised this topic in 2013. Kerry was highly amused by our comparison of the Kardashians and the Kennedys back then.

However, on the heels of Kim's White House visit lobbying Prez Trump to commute Alice Johnson's prison sentence ... Kerry's no longer laughing. In fact, she offered the K fam guidance on how best to conduct themselves in the political arena.

You'll recall, Kourtney was also in D.C. recently working toward environmentally-friendly cosmetics.

Kate Spade's suicide note was addressed directly to her 13-year-old daughter ... TMZ has learned.

The note was found on a bed near her body and, according to law enforcement sources it read, "Bea - I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!" Their daughter's full name is Frances Beatrix.

We're also told the housekeeper found her tied with a red scarf to a closet door knob in the bedroom. She was unresponsive and cold to the touch.

The housekeeper ran downstairs to the building's main floor to tell the building's superintendent ... who, we're told ... rushed upstairs, cut the scarf and attempted CPR.

6:25 PM PT -- David shared a photo of Kate, whom he calls "Katy," at his book signing ... along with a heartfelt and encouraging message.

David Spade leaned on a friend hours after getting the tragic news about sister-in-law Kate Spade's death.

The actor and comedian was out in L.A. Tuesday afternoon, looking solemn as he left home. His brother, Andy, was married to Kate and ... as we reported, he was home when she hanged herself.

David wore sunglasses and kept his head down, but was seen getting a consoling hug from a friend.

Kate and David's bro launched Kate Spade Handbags together in 1993 and got married in 1994. They have a daughter together -- 13-year-old Frances Beatrix.

We broke the story ... Kate left a suicide note behind addressed directly to Frances that said, "Bea - I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!"

12:30 PM PT -- Our law enforcement sources confirm Kate's husband, Andy was home at the time she died.

11:45 AM PT -- Our law enforcement sources confirm the note Kate left behind was addressed to her daughter ... telling the 13-year-old the suicide wasn't her fault.

Iconic fashion designer Kate Spade was found dead of an apparent suicide Tuesday morning in her NYC apartment ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources confirm a housekeeper found Kate's body at 10:20 AM ET in her Park Avenue home. We're told she hanged herself using a scarf tied to her bedroom door knob. She was pronounced dead on the scene. We're also told she left a note.

Kate got her start in the '80s working for women's magazine "Mademoiselle" in Manhattan, when she moved in with Andy Spade -- David Spade's brother. She and Andy met while attending Arizona State University and working at a clothing store.

Together, they launched Kate Spade Handbags in 1993, and it blossomed into a full-scale clothing and jewelry line. Kate and Andy got married in 1994.

Kate sold her company in 2007 and took some time off to raise her daughter -- but got back in the game in 2016 by launching a new fashion brand called Frances Valentine ... named after her daughter, who's now 13 years old.

Kate was 55.