RIP

Michael Madsen's health was cleared by doctors just days before his sudden death -- this according to his longtime friend and assistant, Dougie Smith.

Dougie tells TMZ the 'Kill Bill' star was doing a routine hospital visit at UCLA last Friday to get his rotator cuff looked at, citing complications from a fall off a horse about 2 years ago. Michael was apparently considering getting surgery ... but due to his upcoming schedule, he decided to put it in a brace for the time being.

Michael had also suffered a minor brain bleed from the fall, so he received a PET scan to ensure everything was looking A-okay ... and according to Dougie, Michael got the all-clear from docs.

Michael Madsen's death is sending shockwaves through Hollywood ... and a bunch of celebs are remembering him with heartfelt tributes ... including his famous sister.

"Sideways" star Virginia Madsen says of her late older brother, "He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw."

Virginia says Michael was a father, son and brother "etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark." She says he's not a public figure but a "myth ... flesh and blood and ferocious art."

Michael Madsen -- famous for his roles in "Kill Bill," "Reservoir Dogs" and "Donnie Brasco" is dead.

The veteran Hollywood actor was found unresponsive in his Malibu home early Thursday and was pronounced dead at the scene ... TMZ has confirmed.

According to law enforcement sources ... someone called 911 and Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies responded and found Michael dead. The cause of death is unclear, but we're told Michael's death is being treated as natural causes. His rep Liz Rodriguez tells us he suffered cardiac arrest.

'Star Wars' actor Kenneth Colley, who played an Imperial officer in command of Darth Vader's ship in the hit movie franchise, is dead.

Ken died peacefully in his home Monday after contracting COVID and developing pneumonia ... according to his agent, Julian Owen.

He famously played Admiral Piett in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi."

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died in a car crash ... and Cristiano Ronaldo is baffled by the loss as he leads the tributes to the late soccer star.

Taking to his Instagram to express his shock over the sudden loss, Ronaldo -- who played with Jota for Portugal -- admits it "doesn't make any sense," adding ... "Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you were married."

Jota married his partner Rute Cardoso less than 2 weeks before the fiery crash. They shared 3 children.

Chicago-based rapper Mello Buckzz is mourning the loss of her boyfriend and 3 closest friends after they were senselessly killed during a drive-by shooting at her album release party Wednesday evening.

Police say the deadly assault occurred just after 11 PM at the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue as a crowd stood outside what's reported to be Artis Lounge nightclub, where the party took place.

Law enforcement says someone opened fire on the unsuspecting crowd -- killing 4 and injuring 14 -- before fleeing the scene.

Adult-film star Kylie Page has died in Los Angeles from a suspected overdose ... TMZ has learned.

Kylie died on June 25 ... she was found in her Hollywood residence after a concerned friend called police to check in on her, law enforcement sources tell us.

Unfortunately, when the fire department arrived at the scene, she was pronounced dead. We're told officers found fentanyl and drug paraphernalia in her home ... as well as sexual photos of her with different men scattered around the apartment.

Tupac went up in smoke ... at least according to Suge Knight, who says Pac's friends and family rolled his cremated remains into a blunt and started puffing.

Suge laughed recalling the smoke sesh in an interview with PEOPLE ... telling the outlet he was one of the only ones in 2Pac's circle who didn't hit the blunt.

The Death Row Records mogul says he was on probation at the time and told Tupac's mother he would love to smoke on Pac's remains but feared he would get in trouble if he took a hit.

The family of Wess Roley --  the man accused of sparking the horrifying Idaho tragedy that left two firefighters dead and another clinging to life -- is speaking out.

In a statement issued by the family's attorney, Justin Whittenton, the family says they are offering their "most heartfelt condolences" to those who lost loved ones and to the greater community of Coeur d’Alene.

They add ... "There are no words that can suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by those affected by this shooting. ... Our hearts and spirits are broken for the lost and hurting, and for our own loss as well."

Infamous televangelist Jimmy Swaggart has died, his family has announced ... the reverend was 90 years old.

Swaggart's family posted a tribute on Facebook Tuesday morning ... "Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ."

The cause of the reverend's death was not immediately released.

The man accused of sparking a forest fire and then ambushing firefighters in a calculated sniper-style attack in Idaho has been identified as 20-year-old Wess Roley, TMZ can confirm.

A law enforcement source tells TMZ Roley's body was not taken to the Kootenai County Coroner’s Office in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, because they don’t actually hold bodies. Instead, his remains were transferred to the Spokane, Washington Medical Examiner’s Office, which handles cases from Kootenai County just across the state border.

Since his ID, a haunting photo has surfaced -- showing Roley staring straight into the camera with a chilling, almost sinister glare.

Firefighters in Northern Idaho responded to a brush fire Sunday ... and, now two people have been shot and killed.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said firefighters responded to the reports of a brush fire this afternoon around 1:30 PM local time at Canfield Mountain. The shooting began about 30 minutes later, authorities say.

The two people who have been shot and killed are firefighters, CNN reports. Despite the shooting starting more than four hours ago, no one is in custody at this time.

A neighborhood in Philadelphia was blown apart by an explosion early Sunday morning ... and, pictures taken at the scene captured the devastation.

The Philly Fire Department shared pictures from the scene in Nicetown–Tioga -- a North Philadelphia neighborhood -- where the acting PFD chief Daniel McCarty said a trio of row houses "exploded in on themselves" at around 4:30 AM ET.

Photos show firefighters dousing the houses in water while the smoking, smoldering remains of houses litter the streets.

Aidan Zingg -- a young up-and-coming motocross star -- was killed in a racing accident this weekend ... according to multiple reports.

The racer was competing in the 2025 Mammoth Motocross event in Mammoth Lakes, California Saturday where he sustained his fatal injuries.

According to the motocross focused outlet DirtbikeLover, Zingg was participating in the event when he crashed and was "run over by multiple bikes." It's unclear what caused the accident.

Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz all paid their respects at the funeral for Melissa Hortman -- the Democratic lawmaker shot and killed earlier this month -- and her husband Mark.

The former president, his VP and the governor of Minnesota sat in the front row of the proceedings held at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis Saturday and were pictured standing together solemnly.

Biden walked through the rotunda of the building during the day ... and crossed himself in a religious gesture himself when he stopped before the caskets. He stood quietly for a time, then kneeled, crossed himself again and moved on.

Dave Parker -- a 19-year MLB veteran who was voted into Cooperstown just months ago -- has died ... according to the league office.

MLB announced the news Saturday afternoon ... saying Parker passed away after a long bout with Parkinson's disease.

Parker -- who played for the Pirates in 11 of his 19 total seasons in the league -- was honored with a scoreboard tribute at PNC Park, where the Pirates are taking on the New York Mets.