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Stefan Karl Stefansson -- the actor who played Robbie Rotten on the popular children's show "LazyTown" -- will have a performing arts academy built in his honor ... TMZ has learned.

The Stefan Karl Academy & Center for the Performing Arts will be constructed and launched next year in Switzerland. It's the actor's dream project.

Stefansson died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer ... and we're told he was hammering away at curriculum details for the academy during his final hours.

The project will be a celebration of Stefan's life and contributions to the world of humor and human expression. The academy will focus on training young people in the history and skills of expression across multiple genres. The campus will include a theater, which will host live performances.

Stefan dreamed of opening a performing arts center for years. He envisioned humor as the center piece of the academy's mission.

Stefan's wife, Steinunn Olina, will provide creative leadership in opening the academy.

The actor who played Robbie Rotten on the popular kid's show "LazyTown" has died after a long battle with cancer ... TMZ has learned.

A spokesperson for the family of Stefan Karl Stefansson tells us the actor died Tuesday surrounded by friends and family. We're told Stefan had battled bile duct cancer for two years before his death.

The 43-year-old from Iceland was a fixture on "LazyTown" over the course of 10 years ... starring alongside Julianna Mauriello, who played Stephanie. Stefansson's last episode on the show was its finale in 2014.

Stefansson was first diagnosed with cancer in 2016 but after surgery it appeared he was on the path to recovery. However, it returned in 2018 and was inoperable.

In a statement in March, Stefansson said, "It's not until they tell you you're going to die soon that you realize how short life is. Time is the most valuable thing in life because it never comes back. And whether you spend it in the arms of a loved one or alone in a prison-cell, life is what you make of it. Dream big."

He is survived by his wife and 4 children.

Bam Margera was 7 months sober ... until he got robbed and needed a drink.

Bam just HAD to crack open a cold one after being jacked at gunpoint in Cartagena, Colombia.

The "Jackass" star says he got robbed of $500 during a shady taxi ride from the airport. He was traveling alone ... and sounds fortunate to be alive.

Bam had been on the wagon since checking into rehab in January following his DUI arrest in Los Angeles.

12:02 PM PT -- According to legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- cops discovered a lunch box in the vehicle that contained weed. The docs say Davidson's friend also had a "white/yellow substance in a clear plastic bag" that tested positive for marijuana.

Pete Davidson was pulled over by cops in Upstate New York ... but even though he was behind the wheel it was his boy who ended up going to jail.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Pete and his friend were driving in Syracuse around 4 AM last weekend where Pete was filming "Big Time Adolescence" with Machine Gun Kelly. It's unclear why, but cops ordered him on the side of the road. We're told officers smelled weed ... triggering a search.

Sources say Pete passed a field sobriety test, so he was in the clear. His friend, however, wasn't so lucky.

According to an arrest report -- obtained by TMZ -- the friend was booked for felony possession of a controlled substance and cited for unlawful possession of weed. As for the controlled substance ... cops aren't saying what they found.

Here's what we don't know ... there were drugs in the car, but we don't know why cops fingered the passenger.

Matt Groening has a new Netflix show out called "Disenchantment" ... but he's got an enchanting way of appeasing autograph seekers -- he comes prepared.

We got "The Simpsons" creator at LAX Friday, and he showed up with a bag full of signed cartoon drawings to give away ... which he calls his new strategy for pleasing his fans.

Our cameraman even got an original Elfo! (He's one of the stars of Groening's new show.)

Then our guy hit Matt with some jarring news -- a 3D artist on Twitter posted his imagining of what a real-life Homer Simpson would look like ... and he basically replied with an "Ay, Caramba!"

Nick Jonas and his fiancée Priyanka Chopra were all about each other as they celebrated their engagement.

Nick and Priyanka were front and center at their engagement party in Mumbai, India Saturday as they followed tradition for the roka ceremony.

Nick posted a simple message ... "Future Mrs. Jonas," "my heart" and "my love."

Nick wore the formal sherwani outfit for the occasion, as the couple prayed together. A number of rituals were performed and Nick followed the script to a T.

Priyanka's mom and brother proudly posed with the couple, as did Nick's parents.

Nick and Priyanka got engaged late last month. So far no wedding date has been set ... at least they've haven't publicly hinted at it.

Ed Westwick is back in circulation, after the D.A. rejected 3 sexual assault cases.

Westwick was leaving Craig's in WeHo Friday night, when we asked how he felt about the outcome. He clearly feels the D.A. did what had to be done -- reject the cases.

Two of the cases were dismissed for lack of evidence and the third because the alleged victim failed to cooperate. Westwick has maintained he did not sexually assault anyone.

Shonda Rhimes hasn't had a misstep in her career, which is more than can be said about a world-renowned physician who tripped and fell in front of her house, and now the good doc is suing her.

Dr. Kuo Chao claims in a new lawsuit, he was jogging past Shonda's Hancock Park mansion in L.A. back in June 2017, when he tripped over a buckling sidewalk in front of the 8,400 square foot home.

He says he broke his wrist, damaged cartilage and lost range of motion and function in his wrist and arm, which has caused limited mobility and loss of strength and stamina. He also says he has lost "fine motor skills." He says he was unable to work for a long time and it still affects his ability to work.

Dr. Chao says he is a prestigious interventional neuroradiologist -- he treats stroke and aneurysm patients. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Yale.

As for why Dr. Chao says Shonda's responsible, he says she had an obligation to fix the sidewalk, which buckled due to pipes, tree roots and botched repairs. He's also suing the City of L.A.

Dr. Chao is asking for unspecified damages.

Nichelle Nichols is spry and lucid, and doesn't need to be controlled by a bunch of people who don't have her best interests at heart -- including her son-- so says a woman claiming to be her close friend.

According to new legal docs filed by Angelique Fawcette ... the 'Star Trek' icon's son, Kyle Johnson, doesn't really care about Nichols' well-being ... she says he's trying to use her health issues as an excuse to gain possession of her riches.

Fawcette claims Nichelle even wrote a note to her son in March 2017, letting him know she wants to amend her will because he allegedly told her ... "I can't wait to get rid of this sh*t and sell [your] house and property."

As for Nichols' recent dementia diagnosis ... Fawcette says it's not credible because the doctor who diagnosed is not a psychiatrist and lacks necessary qualifications. And, Fawcette says she's consistently observed Nichelle performing daily activities with no issues ... she just needs occasional reminders to pay her bills.

We broke the story ... Johnson claimed his mother needed court-ordered protection because people were taking advantage of her. A judge signed off on a conservatorship.

Fawcette claims it's all a ruse set up by Nichols' son, so he can get his hands on her money. She says Nichelle's doing just fine and wants to keep living her life and handling her own business ... and her 2013 video interview with Nichols is more proof.

Dana White once hated Tito Ortiz's guts so much that the two men almost had a real-deal boxing match in 2007 -- but we're told the two are actually on good terms now.

It's no secret that White and Ortiz clashed -- but things got so bad back in the day that Dana says the guys were gonna duke it out FOR REAL in a boxing match until, at the 11th hour, Ortiz got cold feet.

White tells Harvey Levin the story about how he brought in a boxing coach and a team to prep for the fight and it'll all be featured on "OBJECTified," which airs Sunday on FOX News Channel.

What's really interesting ... White is CONVINCED he would've won the fight over the UFC Hall of Famer, telling Harvey he had real boxing experience back in the day and felt he is a superior striker.

"I absolutely would've won that boxing match."

Kris Jenner still loves Kanye West ... even if he does fantasize about getting with her daughters, despite being married to Kim.

We got Kris and her mom leaving Nate'n Al deli in Beverly Hills Wednesday, and asked if she has any thoughts on Kanye's new track ... in which he revealed he wants to "smash" all 4 of his sisters-in-law.

Kris seems to find it all kind of funny, and says she's got nothing but love for Ye ... so, not your typical mother-in-law response.

There's a bunch of camera activity at the famed 'Brady Bunch' house -- maybe the most its seen in more than 40 years -- as HGTV begins pre-production for a new TV show about the groovy pad.

The network started shooting Tuesday at the crib in Studio City, CA ... capturing establishing shots of the exterior, and using a drone for aerial pics.

Although HGTV's production crews probably aren't getting a warm welcome from pissed off neighbors -- it's full steam ahead with chronicling the redesign of the iconic home. We're told filming notices have been distributed around the block.

As we reported ... HGTV beat out Lance Bass in a bidding war for the property.

We've also learned the house hit the market because the owner died and her family wanted to sell to the highest, most qualified bidder. Kelsey McCallister, the granddaughter of the previous owner, will help produce the show and even hopes to be one of the hosts.

Nick Jonas' rumored fiancee, Priyanka Chopra, seems to have just put the speculation to bed -- 'cause she's got a big rock on THAT finger ... which may or may not have been meant to be seen publicly.

Actress Raveena Tandon posted a shot of her with Priyanka Tuesday with Priyanka's left arm wrapped around her neck -- placing her ring finger on full display.

Yep, that's an engagement ring alright ... and it looks like the youngest Jo Bro shelled out big time based on how big it is. Now, we're not jewelers or anything -- but this bling doesn't appear to be as elaborate as the one Joe got for Sophie late last year.

Whatevs though. Dude put a ring on it -- and that means Priyanka's officially off the market. Sorry, fellas.

The White House didn't work out for Omarosa ... but she might be a better fit in a different house.

D'Andra Simmons, one of the stars of 'Real Housewives of Dallas,' is certain Omarosa could be the next big thing on her series, which returns Wednesday night.

We caught up with Simmons in NYC, and she tells us Omarosa would be "an amazing Housewife" cast member -- mainly because she's proven she's not afraid to mix it up with people ... just ask President Trump. Remember, she told us he's trying to start a race war.

Nick Cannon promises his new show about the Bay Area will be dripping in authenticity 'cause he's got Oakland legends, E-40 and Too Short, on board as producers.

Nick tells TMZ he's psyched about his drama crime series, "The Yay Area," because it's going to chronicle Northern California's drug culture, and its connection to Silicon Valley, biker gangs and even the Black Panthers.

Nick's thinking "The Wire" meets "The Sopranos" -- and now that he has Short and 40 involved, he thinks things will move quickly. We're told several networks are interested, and Nick's sinking tons of his own dough into it.