RIP

Skier Kai Smart -- son of Olympian John Smart -- has passed away from injuries he suffered after being buried in an avalanche in Japan earlier this month.

He was only 23.

Kai's father -- a Canadian Ski Hall of Famer -- shared the heartbreaking news on his Instagram page days after Kai was hospitalized and placed in a coma.

"We are beyond heartbroken, and there are no words to describe the pain we are feeling losing him so young," John said on Tuesday.

Chip Taylor, beloved uncle to Angelina Jolie and the man who wrote the classic song "Wild Thing," is dead.

Chip died Monday night in hospice care, according to a social media post from Grammy-winning singer Billy Vera. The official cause of death is unclear.

Chip's songwriting catalog is impressive ... he wrote "Wild Thing" for The Troggs in the 1960s, plus "Angel of the Morning" for Merrilee Rush.

Kevin DiCicco -- the creator of "Air Bud," who had fallen on hard times in recent years -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Kevin's brother Mark tells TMZ ... Kevin passed away Saturday after spending some time in hospice.

We're told Kevin smoked a lot, and he developed advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He died in San Diego, California.

Adult-film actor Seth Peterson has died, his fiancé confirmed Saturday on social media.

Cyrus Stark -- who also makes adult content under the name Kobe Marsh -- announced Seth's death on X, writing ... "It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my Fiance and best friend Seth. I’m truly at a loss for words, and my heart is broken."

He signed it Kobe and shared a link to the GoFundMe he created in Seth's memory ... where he shared that Seth was "found in our home earlier today."

Tom Brady is still saying sorry -- and this time, he’s really laying it on thick.

The G.O.A.T. opened his latest newsletter Tuesday morning with yet another apology to Tim McCarver's family after an awkward tribute remembering the MLB legend as if he had just passed away … even though McCarver actually died in 2023.

And now, Brady’s giving the full behind-the-scenes breakdown of how things went so sideways two weeks ago.

According to Brady, the original piece -- titled “Leading Through Likability” -- was meant to reflect on McCarver’s legacy and the leadership trait he admired most: likability. In that tribute, he praised McCarver as “insightful, analytical, passionate, and immensely likable,” using him as a jumping-off point for a broader lesson on leadership.

The problem? The version that hit inboxes didn’t read like a reflection -- it read like breaking news.

Mel Schilling -- the host of "Married at First Sight UK" -- has died.

Schilling's husband, Gareth Brisbane, announced the sad news in an Instagram post, writing she passed away peacefully Tuesday "surrounded by love."

The death follows a terminal cancer diagnosis, which Schilling revealed on March 12. At the time, Schilling said she had been battling the disease for about three years. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 and had it removed the following year ... but later "small nodules" were found in her lungs.

In his post honoring his late wife, Gareth wrote ... "In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life. It took all of her remaining strength ... Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.”

OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky died days before the world found out ... so says his friend Andy Bachm, CEO of Creators Inc.

Andy, whose company works closely with OF creators, told The New York Post Leo passed "a few days" before the news became public ... and there was "no interruption to the business" as a result.

As we told you ... Leonid passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer, with the news coming out Monday. Andy says the businessman, who was born in Ukraine, had time to prepare for his death ... though Andy did not reveal what preparations were made.

Bluegrass singer and country songwriter Ronnie Bowman -- who wrote hits for Chris Stapleton and Kenny Chesney -- has died.

According to reports, the musician was severely injured in a motorcycle crash in Ashland City, Tennessee on Saturday.

Bluegrass Today wrote Bowman suffered "a number of serious brain bleeds" and was on life support at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. He succumbed to his injuries Sunday.

Valerie Perrine, famous for her work in multiple "Superman" movies, is dead.

The actress died Monday at her home in Los Angeles ... according to her close friend, filmmaker Stacey Souther.

The cause of death is unclear, but Stacey tells us Valerie had been fighting Parkinson's disease and was bedridden for the past decade.

Valerie starred in 1978's "Superman" and 1980's "Superman II" as Eve Teschmacher ... Lex Luthor's personal assistant and love interest. Gene Hackman played Lex in those flicks.

Dancer Joshua Allen had a mixture of drugs and alcohol in his system when he died ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ... their investigation shows Allen tested positive for ethanol, cocaine, and ketamine.

Allen was also wearing a black ankle monitor when the M.E. observed him ... it's unclear why he was wearing it.

President Donald Trump was quick to react to the news of former FBI Director Robert Mueller's dead ... saying, "Good, I'm glad he's dead."

The President continues his post on Truth Social with, "He can no longer hurt innocent people!"

Things between Robert Mueller and Donald Trump were seriously icy during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election ... with Trump blasting it nonstop as a “witch hunt.”

Robert Mueller -- the former FBI director who served as special counsel during an investigation into the 2016 election -- has died.

His family announced the news in a statement to the New York Times ... telling the paper of record he passed away Friday. They did not share where or how he died.

Mueller began his career in public service when he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1968 ... attaining the rank of captain and becoming a decorated soldier during the Vietnam War.

Pro wrestling icon Dennis “Loverboy” Condrey has died at the age of 74, according to fellow wrestling star Dax Harwood, who shared the news Friday.

Harwood took to Instagram with an emotional tribute, calling Condrey "a true Pioneer of Professional Wrestling" and revealing the two would text after every match, and Condrey would always tell him what he liked and what needed improvement ... something Dax says will "never be lost" on him.

Harwood goes on to include that Condrey’s wife gave him the green light to set up a GoFundMe in order to help cover funeral costs and bills she’s now left to handle on her own.

Sarah Michelle Gellar is paying tribute to her late costar Nicholas Brendon in an emotional tribute ... saying "I know you are at peace."

The "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star took to Instagram early Saturday morning to honor Brendon, sharing a throwback photo of the two and a quote that Brendon's character famously said on the hit show ... "They’ll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn’t chosen. To live so near to the spotlight, and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody’s watching me"

SMG ends her tribute with "I saw you Nicky. I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky."

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Nicholas Brendon has died.

Per a family statement to The Hollywood Reporter ... "We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes. Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years."

The statement continues ... "In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was. While it’s no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing. Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.”

Investigators say the death of American college student James "Jimmy" Gracey -- who went missing for days in Spain -- was most likely a tragic accident.

On Friday, Mossos d’Esquadra police told the New York Post ... "Everything points to it being an accidental death."

Jimmy's body was found in a Barcelona marina Thursday and was identified hours later.

In a statement Friday, police said ... "The relevant arrangements have been made with the victim's relatives, who are in Barcelona."

The University of Alabama student disappeared while leaving Shôko -- a popular nightclub nearby -- around 3 AM Tuesday ... and never returned to his Airbnb.

According to DailyMail, a witness told cops they spotted the Illinois native "walking towards a rocky outcrop" the night he went missing.

Gracey was 20 years old.