TV

Walter Mercado -- a Spanish TV icon who served as an eccentric astrologist with his own syndicated segments -- has died.

Mercado passed away late Saturday at a hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico due to kidney failure, according to the facility's spokesperson, Sofia Luquis, who told AP. It's unclear how long he'd been hospitalized there and what exact ailment he'd been battling.

Nonetheless, a major loss in the Spanish community -- as Mercado was a staple in many Latino homes through the '80s, '90s and onward. He got his start on TV in his native land of Puerto Rico, establishing himself with daily horoscopes, advice and predictions.

Eventually, he got his own show on Univision, where he had a home for years before parting ways in 2010 and moving on to other Spanish networks. He was known for his lavish outfits, which often included robes, capes, jewelry, makeup and other extravagant accessories.

While he never came out and announced his sexual preferences, Mercado was a bit of a hero in the LGBTQ community ... with many viewing him as a trend-setter on Spanish TV, which had often leaned more conservative. He had no children,  and no known partners.

In 2012, Mercado was rushed to a Cleveland area hospital for cardiac problems -- after which, he claimed he'd seen death ...  wanting to devote himself to philanthropic causes.

Mercado had a known catchphrase he'd always end his horoscope segments with. It went like ... "Que reciban de mi siempre pas, mucha pas. Pero sobre todo, mucho, mucho, mucho amor." It translates to, "May you always receive peace from me, but above all else ... lots and lots of love."

Brian Tarantina has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us that the veteran actor was found dead early Saturday morning in his Manhattan apartment from what we're told appeared to be a fatal drug overdose to the officers and first-responders who came out.

Our sources say Brian's niece went to check in on him at his Hell's Kitchen residence at around 12:30 AM, and discovered her uncle unresponsive on the couch. We're told the niece told cops she'd last talked to him late Tuesday night. Upon finding him, she called 911, and we're told when officers and paramedics arrived ... they found a white powdery substance near his body, believed to be alleged narcotics. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

It's unclear at this point what the white substance might've been. We're told the NYC medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy to determine an official cause of death.

Brian has been working in the biz for a long time, often playing supporting characters through the '80s and '90s, and even into the 2000s and onward. He's perhaps best known for tough guy roles in flicks like "Jacob's Ladder," "Uncle Buck," "The Jerky Boys," "Summer of Sam," "Knight and Day," "Carlito's Way," "Donnie Brasco," "City By the Sea" and others.

He's got a much more extensive resume than that though. The guy's been in tons of stuff over the years ... shows like "Law & Order," "Miami Vice," "Spin City," "Oz," "NYPD Blue," "ER," "The Sopranos," "Gilmore Girls," "Heroes," "The Black Donnellys," "The Blacklist," "Madame Secretary," "Blue Bloods" and most recently in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" playing Jackie.

He was 60 years old.

RIP

Rudy Boesch, who was on the debut season of 'Survivor' has died ... TMZ has learned.

Rudy was the retired Navy SEAL who had an alliance with the ultimate winner, Richard Hatch. A member of Rudy's family tells us he died Friday night of complications from Alzheimer's Disease.

During his time on the show, Rudy was 72 ... the oldest contestant by far.

The show was called "Survivor: Borneo" and was a ratings smash hit and was the trigger for a number of similar shows, including "The Amazing Race." 'Survivor' is now in season 38.

As for Rudy ... he joined the Navy in 1945 and quickly volunteered for "secret hazardous duty." In 1962 Rudy became one of the first 50 officers of the original SEAL Team Two.

Rudy served in Vietnam and earned the Bronze Star Medal for heroic action. He retired from the military in 1990 ... 10 years before making his debut on 'Survivor.'

After the debut season of 'Survivor,' Rudy made an encore on "Survivor: All-Stars" in 2004.

Rudy's wife, Marge, passed away in 2008. He is survived by 3 kids.

Eddie Murphy is deep into filming "Coming to America 2" and it's gettin' everyone plenty excited.

Eddie was on set in ATL in full Prince Akeem garb. He's proudly wearing a New York Mets bomber jacket, with proclamations of his love of the Big Apple. You see Eddie hold a wad of cash ... presumably from scalping tickets.

Above you can see Arsenio Hall, who plays Semmi, and Paul Bates, who plays Oha, is also on-hand.

The movie is maybe the biggest remake in the works this year. People have been clamoring for the flick for years. It's scheduled to open wide in theaters in December 2020. Lots of people says it's gonna be worth the wait.

Rob Kardashian looks great ... and this picture proves he's turned things around.

Kylie posted this pic of her, Rob and Kendall, with the caption, "5am birthday adventures with my two fav people." Kendall's 24th birthday is Sunday.

As we reported, Rob's emerged from what seemed like self-imposed captivity for a long time. Check out the pic below, where Rob is posing with Kris Jenner. He's Papa Troll Doll, and she's in Dia de los Muertos gear ... in case you can't translate, it means Day of the Dead.

He showed up at Delilah nightclub in WeHo earlier this week celebrating Halloween with other members of fam along with friends. Before hitting up Delilah he was a karaoke bar -- Blind Dragon -- so he's hitting the town again.

There was a lot of buzz when Rob put his arm around Kylie's BFF, Stassi, but we're told they're just friends.

We're guessing we may see Rob again tonight for Kendall's official 24th.

Louis C.K. should start his 14-city international tour by doing one thing right off the bat -- apologize for mocking Parkland shooting victims ... so says survivor Aalayah Eastmond.

Aalayah tells TMZ ... a simple apology from the comedian would go a long way nearly a year after he denigrated survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Aalayah -- who played dead under another student's dead body to avoid coming face-to-face with gunman Nikolas Cruz when he shot and killed 17 people in February 2018 -- says Louie has no right to joke about someone else's tragic experience ... especially as painful as surviving a mass shooting.

The shooting, of course, sparked outcry and survivors like Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg became strong proponents of gun control ... taking their fight to Capitol Hill. Louis joked about survivors turning into activists in a stand-up set, audio of which later leaked online.

Louis kicks off his tour Saturday in Richmond, Virginia and ends in January 2020 in New Orleans. Stops include Tel Aviv, Rome and Bratislava, Slovakia. He mostly went into hiding after his 2017 confession of admitting he'd exposed himself to several women and masturbated in front of them over the phone.

That didn't deter fans from going bonkers over him when he attempted a comeback ... getting a standing ovation at a comedy festival just 6 months after his Parkland rant.

The set of "Madam Secretary" damn near turned into a WWE Royal Rumble ... after a background actor's hangry side got the best of him.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops on the show's set in Whippany, NJ broke up a fight Friday between a craft services employee and a background actor. We're told there were several hundred background actors filming a scene where Téa Leoni gives a speech.

When they went to break, a horde of extras swarmed the snacks/coffee table. It was at this point, law enforcement sources tell us, an actor cut the line and was told by a female craft services staffer to get to the back.

Sources say the actor pushed the female employee, and that's when her husband -- who also works craft services -- flew in like a bat outta hell and socked the background actor in the face.

We're told the actor landed on the snack-filled table, and then the husband got on top of him and punched him several more times in the face ... leaving him bloodied. Our sources say cops had to peel the employee off the actor, who was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries.

Felicity Huffman ain't letting probation life slow her down ... especially when she's got a classic Porsche.

The "Desperate Housewives" star and her hubby William H. Macy were spotted riding around town Friday in his classic Porsche. He was behind the wheel while she enjoyed the comfort of riding shotgun.

If nothing else ... Felicity seems content with putting jail life behind her as she moves on to the next phase -- probation. As we previously reported ... Felicity and William were spotted last week heading into a downtown L.A. building to meet with her probation officer.

The visit, of course, came on the heels of her getting outta jail after serving 11 days behind bars at FCI Dublin in Northern California for her role in the college bribery scandal.

IT'S RAINING (LARGE) MEN, HALLELUJAH!!!!

The fat guy who slid on the Washington Nationals dugout after the World Series is BLOWING UP!!!

He just got invited to do the weather for FOX 5 in Washington D.C. ... and man, he crushed it!!

In fact, the Nats super-fan -- real name Jason Turner -- channeling his inner Hulk Hogan on live TV, tearing off his shirt and chest bumping FOX 5's Tucker Barnes!!

Turner almost bumped Barnes off the set -- and then turned to the cam and shouted out the MLB champs!!

Of course, Turner's quick rise to social media stardom started Thursday night when he hit up Nationals Park in D.C. to watch a live screening of Game 7 of the World Series, which took place in Houston.

As the Nationals made the final out, Turner tore off his shirt and belly flopped across a dugout in the rain. It was awesome!

Taylor Kinney is helping one young fan in her battle with cancer ... lifting her spirits with a very special FaceTime call from the set of her favorite TV show, "Chicago Fire."

Presley Long is one of Taylor's biggest fans -- she's never missed an episode of Taylor's hit show -- but she's just 15 years old and battling a very aggressive form of cancer.

So, you can imagine the boost to her system when she got a surprise FaceTime call from Taylor this week ... and the video from their intimate chat is super emotional.

Presley, who suffers from a gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor (or GNET), got in touch with her favorite celeb thanks to her mom's friend and the producers at "Chicago Fire." Her mom dialed up an old pal who runs a cancer foundation -- the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation -- and they put her in touch with the show's producers to set up the call.

As you can see in the video ... Taylor gives Presley the inside scoop on the day's filming, then tells her the cast and crew are keeping her in their thoughts and prayers. Taylor's even pulling strings to get Presley on set!!!

Taylor left quite an impression on Presley and her fam ... her mother was crying tears of joy throughout the convo.

Presley's also a huge fan of Ellen DeGeneres ... and we're told she's hoping to meet Ellen too.

Ian Ziering is calling it quits on his marriage ... he says he's splitting from his wife, Erin Ludwig, and she says he's already asked her for a divorce.

The "Beverly Hills, 90210" star made the announcement Thursday on social media, saying "It is with a heavy heart I tell you Erin and I are splitting up,” after more than 9 years of marriage.

Ian doesn't make it sound like it's a nasty split, though ... he added, "With our hectic work schedules we could not be busier, and over the last few years have grown apart. She is one of the most incredible women I have ever met and the best mom to our kids.”

Erin and Ian have 2 daughters and he says they will continue raising them together and be "examples of successful co-parents.”

However, Erin makes it sound like there's been trouble in paradise for sometime now. As she puts it, "After 9 1/2 years of marriage Ian asked for a divorce. After having asked multiple times I knew it was time to give up."

It's unclear if either of them has filed divorce docs yet.

Erin says, "Knowing that I am not the person to make him happy makes the situation feel more peaceful. The girls and I are doing great and finding gratitude and love in our new life together and rebuilding."

Fox Nation host Britt McHenry is taking a big step toward filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against her former cohost, Tyrus and Fox.

Britt's beef with Tyrus made headlines earlier this year when she complained to the network about the former pro-wrestler sending her lewd texts -- but now she's raised the stakes by filing a sexual harassment complaint with New York State's Division of Human Rights.

In docs, obtained by TMZ, Britt details those alleged text messages, and several incidents she certainly considered creepy. For instance, in October 2018 she claims her "UN-PC" cohost sent several texts saying how much he loved her hair and legs, and specified sexual acts he wanted to do to her. In November, he allegedly sent one saying, "I'll show you what it mean to be bad Britt McHenry// D**k pic coming in 5 sec!!!!"

Britt says after that she tried to maintain a cordial working relationship with Tyrus ... so they went out to dinner in November 2018, after a taping. She claims he drank excessively and while walking after the meal, he "grabbed my hand in an aggressive and sexual manner." She says she pulled away and went to her hotel room, leaving him in lobby.

Then, a couple months later on New Year's Eve, she says her boyfriend came to NYC and Tyrus flipped out -- allegedly sending her angry texts. She claims the tormenting continued into January 2019, and she finally went to the executive producer of "UN-PC" to report Tyrus ... but she claims nothing changed.

Britt, who's hired celeb attorney Lisa Bloom, says she went back to the EP after an April 12, 2019 incident where Tyrus allegedly screamed at her on set. She claims the EP told her to quit complaining because she was "replaceable" and Fox "never wanted" her in the first place.

She says Tyrus was never disciplined and ended up getting his own show -- while Fox stopped promoting her and stopped inviting her as a guest on other Fox News programs.

All of this is a clear precursor to a lawsuit for 2 reasons. First, the filing with NY State has to be made before filing a lawsuit. Secondly, she's hired Bloom.

We've reached out to Fox News and Tyrus' reps for comment.

Amber Portwood has a chance to avoid jail time in her domestic violence case after striking a plea deal ... TMZ has learned.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ ... the "Teen Mom OG" star has agreed to plead guilty to 2 felonies -- domestic battery and intimidation. As part of the deal, she'll get 906 days of probation and if she successfully completes it ... the domestic battery charge will be dismissed and the intimidation charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor.

Amber must also take 26 weeks of a Batterers' Intervention Program, submit to random urine and breath testing. She's also been ordered not to contact her ex-BF, Andrew Glennon, EXCEPT for arranging custody exchanges of their 1-year-old son, James.

TMZ broke the story ... Amber was busted back in July in Indianapolis after Andrew claimed she attacked him while he was holding their son. Andrew said she came after him with a machete during the attack.

Niecy Nash is pulling the plug on her 8-year-long marriage, but says she and her now-estranged husband are parting ways on the best terms possible.

Niecy and Jay Tucker say they've realized, at this stage of life, they're "better friends than partners in marriage. Our union was such a gorgeous ride."

The soon-to-be-exes posted a joint statement, if you will, addressing a Wednesday report that they were breaking up. The "Claws" star and Jay, an electrical engineer, certainly make it seem like there's zero bad blood.

They added, "As we go our separate ways now, we feel fortunate for the love we share -- present tense." They did not say whether either has actually filed divorce docs yet.

Jay and Niecy had a big splashy wedding in front of 200 friends and family members. It was even a TV special on TLC.

Just a few months ago, Niecy was dishing marriage advice in an Essence interview. She told the mag, "A BJ a day keeps the divorce attorney away."

Good tip ... for the next marriage?

Alex Trebek feels he found out about his own pancreatic cancer too late, and he doesn't want others to do the same ... so he's out campaigning to raise awareness.

The "Jeopardy!" host released a PSA Wednesday, announcing a partnership between him and the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition ... in which Alex has vowed to help spread the word across the globe on the risks and symptoms of the often-deadly disease.

The reason ... the fact that pancreatic cancer is the only major cancer with a 5-year survival rate in the single digits in nearly every country, more than enough reason to get behind this cause -- is it sounds like Alex wants to help folks try and get ahead of it.

He says it rather matter-of-factly here ... he himself wishes he'd known sooner, and realized that the persistent stomach pains he felt prior to his official diagnosis were a symptom.

There are other symptoms too, that Alex outlines here ... mid-back pain, unexplained weight loss, new-onset diabetes and the yellowing of the skin and eyes, among others.

Trebek is asking for the public's help with his newfound campaign, asking people to wear purple on World Pancreatic Cancer Day ... which falls on November 21. Of course, Alex is in the middle of his own cancer fight after announcing his diagnosis earlier this year.

He's currently undergoing a second-round of chemotherapy, and has suggested he would step away and give up his hosting duties if his skills start to diminish noticeably.

Luckily for him (and viewers) ... we're told there's no sign of that happening anytime soon.

Paul Feig stands firmly with the block of filmmakers who say Netflix's plan to let you slightly speed up content, for faster viewing, is a crappy idea ... one that's sparking a Hollywood turf war.

We ran into the director Tuesday in NYC, and asked him to weigh in on reports that certain Android users could slow down or speed up -- as fast as 1.5x -- the regular playback of Netflix programming.

Paul's mind is made up ... he says there's NO benefit to letting users watch something in a distorted form like that. He stopped short of using the word boycott, but he's clearly pissed, and he's not alone.

When Judd Apatow, Aaron Paul and several other creative types caught wind of the Netflix feature they threw down the gauntlet. Judd is threatening to get every director and producer to back his stance, which is ... "Don't f**k with our timing."

Watch Paul ... there's no doubt he's team Judd.

It does appear Netflix big wigs are listening to all the gripes, and they're trying to temper things. They've said the slow/speed-viewing is just a test ... and an optional one at that.

Netflix published a blog post to their site admitting that, yes, they've been testing speed changes on mobile platforms, but that doesn't mean it's going into effect permanently.

As for why they're even doing it ... Netflix says it's gotten this request from a lot of users who want to watch some content at different speeds for a variety of reasons -- language barriers, crucial scenes or dialogue, etc ...

Ultimately, Netflix could have a tough decision -- give the people (who pay for the content) what they want, or give the filmmakers (who make the content) what they want.