RIP

Kyle Busch's wife is opening up on the NASCAR legend's tragic death ... saying the love his fans have sent to their family has gotten them through the worst days of their lives.

Samantha went to Instagram minutes ago to say thank you to the 41-year-old's supporters ... sending the emotional note alongside a heartbreaking family photo.

"The prayers, messages, flowers, meals, hugs, and countless acts of kindness have carried us through the most heartbreaking days of our lives," Samantha said minutes ago. "While our hearts are absolutely shattered, we have felt God’s presence and arms wrapped tightly around us through each and every one of you."

Actor Anthony Head, who shot to fame playing Rupert Giles on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" before playing Rupert Mannion on "Ted Lasso," is dead.

According to his daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, Anthony died of complications from pneumonia. They say he went peacefully, surrounded by family.

Emily and Daisy told the Press Association in a statement ... "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father, Anthony Head."

They went on to say ... "It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many."

Emily and Daisy say their grief is "far greater than the hole he has left behind" ... and their father's legacy lives on through his work and the impact he had on audiences.

They conclude ... "How lucky we are to know we are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us."

Anthony recently appeared in "Ted Lasso" as former football club owner Rupert Mannion, and also had roles in "The Iron Lady," "Persuasion," "The Inbetweeners" and "Manchild" ... among others.

He was 72.

A longtime Hollywood character actor is dead after a shocking stabbing ... and cops say the man accused of killing him is his girlfriend's son.

According to LAPD, 81-year-old actor James Handy -- whose credits include "Top Gun: Maverick," "Jumanji" and "Arachnophobia" -- was found Wednesday morning in front of a Tarzana home with a stab wound to the chest. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police say the suspect -- 44-year-old Michael Gledhill -- made a bizarre 911 call before officers arrived ... allegedly telling dispatchers, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin."

2:25PM PT -- Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Homicide Bureau detectives have posted a second update, saying they've "determined that Mr. Whiten is the biological father of Ms. Savannah Whiten and Ms. Sienna Whiten, and co-parent to Ms. Hyer."  

The statement adds ... "The investigation revealed that Mr. Whiten committed these heinous acts and then took his own life. The investigation continues."

A Florida realtor, her ex-husband, and their two young daughters are all dead ... in what police are calling a murder-suicide.

Law enforcement responded Tuesday to a welfare check at a Doral home and found Melanie Hyer, Ryan Whiten and their daughters Savannah and Sienna dead, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.

MDSO says all four had stab wounds and they believe the tragic incident is a murder-suicide ... but no word yet on who did the stabbing.

Tanya Brown, the sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, wants the NFL to make a major change ahead of a painful milestone ... bench O.J. Simpson's iconic No. 32 jersey number and turn the focus back to Nicole and Ron Goldman.

Speaking to TMZ ahead of the June 12 anniversary of Nicole and Ron's murders, Tanya says the number remains deeply tied to trauma for many people connected to the case.

"It's also the 32nd year of Nicole and Ron's murders," Tanya tells us. "Every time I see someone on the field with that number, it brings me back and I have trauma."

Karl-Anthony Towns' mom wasn't physically in the stands for game 1 of the NBA Finals, but the Knicks star says he felt her presence in a real way ... and it helped KAT lead N.Y. to a huge victory!

"I just felt a calm and a peace that had to be coming from the woman above," Towns told the "Inside the NBA" crew after the thrilling game.

"It felt like I was a kid getting ready to go play my Saturday AAU games and Sunday AAU games. In a way, I felt like I was seeing her in the stands. It was fun. It was really fun, and it was really comforting."

Claude Lemieux's body was transported from Florida to North Carolina ... where the late hockey legend will be laid to rest, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ Sports.

Lemieux, who was 60, was found deceased on May 28 by one of his adult children at a warehouse owned by the family.

As we previously reported, the longtime hockey star took his own life.

Missing government worker Melissa Casias has been found dead ... with her body "skeletonized" and a gunshot wound to her skull, a report says.

According to New Mexico State Police, a hiker found "human remains" at McGaffey Ridge area of the Carson National Forest ... who authorities have ID'ed as Melissa. They also said a gun was found "alongside the remains."

NMSP hasn't announced cause or manner of death, but investigator Thomas McNally -- who'd been looking into the case for Melissa's parents -- told DailyMail that her body was "skeletonized," sitting against a tree with a gunshot wound in her skull.

Matt Brown's autopsy is shedding a little light on his tragic death. According to the Okanogan County Coroner, the "Alaskan Bush People" star was high on meth when he took his own life, TMZ has learned.

The coroner's office tells us Matt died by suicide, and the official cause of death is a "single penetrating gunshot wound to the head."

The autopsy also says he was under the influence of methamphetamine ... stating "subsequent immersion in water (river)" contributed to his death. The coroner's office plans to release Matt's body to his family for final arrangements.

Duane Ollinger, the star of Discovery Channel's "Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch," has died at 68, TMZ has learned.

A family source tells TMZ Duane died yesterday at a Texas hospital following a battle with ALS.

The Texas oilman became a fan favorite on the reality series, which follows Duane and his son Chad as they hunt for a legendary cache of lost Aztec gold believed to be hidden beneath their sprawling Utah property.

An art-world influencer known for roasting the rich and powerful was found dead in Brazil after going under the knife ... and police have opened a suspicious death investigation.

Hilde Lynn Helphenstein -- better known online as "Jerry Gogosian" -- was found dead Sunday inside her hotel room at the 5-star Rosewood São Paulo, where she'd been recovering from plastic surgery.

The cause of death is unclear ... and it sounds like cops think something stinks here.

According to reports, the influencer's plastic surgeon discovered her dead body after becoming concerned when she stopped answering her phone. Investigators reportedly discovered an empty vodka bottle, a broken glass, and unidentified pills in the room.

Larry Fitzgerald is opening up after the death of his father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., paying homage in a heartfelt tribute that'll have you reaching for the box of tissues.

"My father was a man of strength, love and encouragement. He opened countless doors for me and my brother," the soon-to-be first ballot Hall of Famer wrote on social media.

"He believed in us and pushed us to pursue every opportunity with conviction, he was the rock of our family. He taught us that perseverance, hard work, and unwavering commitment are the foundations of a meaningful life and personal success."

Actor Owain Rhys Davies -- best known for his role as Agent Wilson in "Twin Peaks," has died under mysterious circumstances, according to his family.

Davies passed away "suddenly, naturally, and peacefully," but there are "questions that remain unanswered regarding the circumstances of his death," his brother, Rhodri, wrote Sunday on Instagram.

Davies played Agent Wilson in the 2017 reboot of David Lynch's famous "Twin Peaks" TV series from the 1990s. He also landed a role in the Netflix science fiction drama, "The OA," as well as parts in several movies, including "Alice Through The Looking Glass," and "A Serial Killer's Guide To Life."

A popular Mexican content creator cherished by millions online has died ... and fans are now mourning her loss.

Paola Márquez, a social media influencer with more than 2 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, was found unresponsive inside her apartment in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, on Saturday. Emergency responders were called to the scene, but she was pronounced dead upon their arrival.

Authorities are reportedly investigating her death as a possible suicide. An official cause of death has not been announced.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond Berry -- a favorite target of Johnny Unitas -- has died at the age of 93.

The family of the Baltimore Colts great released a statement saying he passed away peacefully at his Tennessee home on May 25, surrounded by his loved ones.

Berry, out of SMU, was drafted in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL Draft ... and went on to play 13 seasons in the league, catching 631 passes (a record back then) for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns. He led the NFL in receptions on three occasions.

"Euphoria" was full of surprises this season, but last night's series finale was the biggest shocker of all -- with Zendaya's character dying of a drug overdose!

Sunday's "Euphoria" Season 3 finale saw Zendaya's Rue Bennett ingesting Percocet pills laced with fentanyl, which were purposely left out for her by crime lord Alamo Brown, causing her to overdose.

Alamo wanted Rue dead after finding out she was a snitch, knowing she would pop the pills if he left them out because of her serious drug habit.