Celebrity Death

El Ex-Scorpions y batrista de Kingdom Come, James Kottak, ha muerto tristemente... TMZ lo confirma.

La hija de Kottak, Tobi, nos dice que su padre falleció el martes por la mañana en Louisville. No hay detalles sobre las circunstancias exactas. Según Metal Sludge —que primero se enteró de la muerte del músico— fue descubierto sin respuesta en un baño.

Por el momento se desconocen las causas exactas de su muerte.

James es mejor conocido por estar en la banda alemana de hard rock Scorpions, uniéndose al grupo en 1996 y convirtiéndose en su miembro más longevo hasta que fue despedido en 2016 por su alcoholismo.

Había hablado de su batalla contra el alcohol a lo largo de los años, diciendo en octubre de 2022 que no había sido capaz de abandonar por completo el alcohol y que era un proceso en curso.

Antes de eso, era bien conocido por ser el baterista original de Kingdom Come, que tuvo un impacto significativo en los años 80 gracias a su música al estilo Led Zeppelin.

También giró en otras bandas como Krunk, Montrose, Wild Horses y Buster Brown, entre muchas otras.

Paralelamente a la música, James hizo algunas apariciones en reality shows de televisión, más notablemente en "Ex-Wives of Rock" de 2012.

Él estaba casado con la hermana de Tommy Lee —Athena— desde 1996 hasta 2010, con una amarga batalla por la custodia sobre su hijo Matthew.

Tenía 61 años.

Ex-Scorpions and Kingdom Come drummer James Kottak has sadly died ... TMZ can confirm.

Kottak's daughter, Tobi, tells us ... her father passed away Tuesday morning in Louisville, KY -- although further details about the exact circumstances weren't immediately available. Metal Sludge first reported rumblings of the musician's death.

His exact cause of death is unknown as of yet.

James is best known for being in the hard rock German band Scorpions ... joining the group in 1996 and becoming their longest-serving member until he was fired in 2016 for his alcoholism.

He had spoken of his battle with booze over the years ... saying in October 2022 he hadn't been able to completely ditch alcohol and it was an ongoing process.

Before that, he was well known for being the original drummer for Kingdom Come ... who made a significant impact in the '80s thanks to their Led Zeppelin-style music.

He also toured in other bands such as KrunK, Montrose, Wild Horses, and Buster Brown, among many others.

Alongside music, James made some reality TV show appearances -- most notably in 2012's "Ex-Wives of Rock."

He was famously married to Tommy Lee's sister Athena from 1996 to 2010 ... with a bitter custody battle ensuing over their son Matthew.

He was 61.

Sinéad O'Connor died of natural causes, British authorities announced Tuesday.

A rep for London's Southwark Coroner's Court tells TMZ ... she passed away from "natural causes" and "the coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death."

As we reported, cops in London responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at a residence ... arriving to find the 56-year-old singer already dead. Attempts were made to revive her, but they were unsuccessful.

Sinéad's 17-year-old son, Shane, died by suicide in early 2022 just 2 days after going missing from the hospital while on suicide watch. After his death, Sinéad called her son "the very light of my life" ... begging for him to be at peace.

She expressed more grief about Shane less than 2 weeks before her death, saying on social media, "He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him."

Sinéad has also struggled with her mental health in the past, telling Dr. Phil in 2017 she'd attempted suicide 8 times in a year.

She also was reported missing the year before, allegedly threatening to jump off a bridge -- but Sinéad was found safe and said the suicide claims were BS.

The singer's seen a ton of love from the community since her death ... including from Conor McGregor, who had her sing during his 2015 walkout at UFC 189 in Las Vegas. He told TMZ, "The world has lost a beautiful voice and an even more beautiful person."

Pink and Brandi Carlile also paid tribute to her, jumping on stage together to perform a moving rendition of Sinéad's hit song, "Nothing Compares 2 U."

Sinéad O'Connor falleció de causas naturales, anunciaron las autoridades británicas el martes.

Southwark Coroner, representante del Tribunal de Londres, dice a TMZ que murió de "causas naturales" y "el juez de instrucción, por tanto, ha cesado su participación en su muerte".

Como informamos, los policías de Londres respondieron a un informe sobre una mujer que no respondía en una residencia. Cuando llegaron encontraron a la cantante de 56 años ya muerta. Intentaron reanimarla, pero no tuvieron éxito.

El hijo de Sinéad, Shane, de 17 años, murió por suicidio a principios de 2022, dos días después de desaparecer del hospital mientras estaba bajo vigilancia por intento de suicidio. Después de su muerte, Sinéad llamó a su hijo "la luz de mi vida", rogando por que estuviera en paz.

La cantante expresó más dolor por Shane menos de 2 semanas antes de su muerte, diciendo en las redes sociales: "Él era la única persona que siempre me amó incondicionalmente. Estoy perdida en el bardo sin él".

Sinéad también había estado luchando con su salud mental en el pasado. En 2017, le dijo al Dr. Phil en 2017 que había intentado suicidarse 8 veces en un año.

También fue reportada como desaparecida el año antes. Supuestamente, habría amenazado con saltar de un puente, pero fue encontrada a salvo y dijo que las afirmaciones de suicidio eran mentira.

Sinéad ha recibido una tonelada de amor de la comunidad desde su muerte, incluyendo de Conor McGregor, que la hizo cantar durante su 2015 walkout en UFC 189 en Las Vegas. Le dijo a TMZ: "El mundo ha perdido una hermosa voz y una persona aún más hermosa".

3:49 PM PST -- The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office tells TMZ ... Cindy's roommate called cops to their Lake Worth Beach home on Dec. 30, 2023 -- saying she returned home from a holiday trip, knocked on Cindy's door in their residence ... but got no response.

The roommate told officers she smelled a strong odor emanating from inside and called 911, noting the last she'd seen CM alive was on Dec. 19. Cops went in and found Cindy dead in her room ... with no foul play suspected. An investigation is underway.

3:22 PM PST -- A county rep confirms to TMZ that Cindy died of "natural causes."

Cindy Morgan -- famous for her role in "Caddyshack" -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office confirmed the actress' passing in the area, but no further details about when she died or under what circumstances were immediately available. We've also confirmed her body is currently at a local funeral home there in Florida.

Morgan will likely best be remembered for playing Lacey Underall in the famous 1980 comedy opposite Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield -- portraying the country club owner's hot niece who captures the attention of pretty much every male character.

She had quite a few scenes in there ... and was memorable as the key temptress in the flick. There's one notable scene she shared with Chevy, where she tried seducing him at a party.

While she was great in "Caddyshack," Cindy had actually starred in several other big films throughout her career ... specifically, in "Tron" -- where she played 2 big roles, Lora and Yori. In addition to this, she also starred in "Galaxis," "Silent Fury," "Up Yours" and other movies.

Her TV resume was even more impressive ... CM had roles on hit shows like "The Love Boat," "CHiPs," "Bring 'Em Back Alive," "The Fall Guy," "Falcon Crest," "Matlock," "Hunter," "The Highwayman," "Manusco, FBI," "The Larry Sanders Show," "Under Suspicion" and more.

Cindy's resume included 37 acting credits, and it looks like she'd been active as recently as 2022 with a voice role in an indie flick. We've tried reaching out to her team ... but haven't had any luck in tracking down someone who currently reps her.

She was 69.

RIP

La difunta hermana de Nick y Aaron Carter, Bobbie Jean Carter, ha sido enterrada ... TMZ ha averiguado.

Fuentes con conocimiento directo nos dicen que Bobbie Jean fue enterrada el sábado por la mañana en Florida, en algún lugar afuera de la zona de Tampa. Nos dicen que fue una ceremonia pequeña y privada, con solo amigos y familiares cercanos entre los asistentes.

No está claro si el propio Nick estaba allí, pero nuestras fuentes dicen que la madre de Bobbie Jean, Jane, dio el discurso.

Aunque su hermano pequeño, Aaron Carter, fue enterrado en el sur de California, nos dicen que la tumba de Bobbie fue elegida para estar más cerca de Jane, para que pueda visitar a su hija con regularidad. TMZ también ha obtenido el obituario de Bobbie Jean y menciona a sus famosos hermanos, así como a su difunta hermana menor, Leslie, que también falleció trágicamente en 2012.

Fuimos los primeros en contar la historia, Bobbie Jean fue encontrada sin respuesta en su cuarto de baño el mes pasado y aunque estaba en libertad condicional por un cargo relacionado a las drogas, la policía dice que no encontraron narcóticos en la escena y no se sospecha de crimen violento. Se desconoce la causa de su muerte.

Bobbie solo tenía 41 años.

Nick and Aaron Carter's late sister, Bobbie Jean Carter, has been laid to rest ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us Bobbie Jean was buried Saturday morning in Florida -- somewhere outside of the Tampa area, specifically. We're told it was a small, private ceremony ... with only close friends and immediate family in attendance.

Unclear if Nick himself was there, but our sources say BJ's mother, Jane, gave the eulogy.

Whereas her little brother, AC, was buried here in Southern California ... we're told Bobbie's gravesite was chosen to be closer to Jane, so that she can visit her daughter regularly. TMZ has also obtained Bobbie Jean's obituary, and it mentions her famous brothers as well as her late younger sister, Leslie, who also tragically passed away in 2012.

We broke the story ... Bobbie Jean was found unresponsive in her bathroom last month -- and while she was on probation on a drug-related charge ... cops say there were no narcotics found at the scene, and no foul play is suspected. Her cause of death is unknown.

Bobbie was only 41.

Lamar Odom dice que la ketamina ha sido una herramienta exitosa para él y que lo ha ayudado a combatir sus problemas de adicción, esto después de que se revelara que el fármaco estaba en el cuerpo de Matthew Perry cuando murió.

Conversamos con Lamar afuera de Oxy Dental el jueves en Lomita, California (de su propiedad), y habló sobre la controversia en torno a la terapia de ketamina tras el informe del forense sobre la muerte de Matthew.

Lamar dice que la terapia de Matthew era similar a la suya y de acuerdo a su experiencia, funciona, pero hay serias condiciones. Para empezar, los usuarios no deben conducir.

La ketamina se ha utilizado para la depresión y la ansiedad, pero es más comúnmente utilizada como anestésico en los quirófanos.

Como informamos, Matthew fue encontrado en su jacuzzi en octubre, donde se declaró su muerte. El examinador médico del condado de Los Ángeles afirmó que tenía altos niveles de ketamina en su sistema, que lo dejaron inconsciente.

El Dr. Zaid Fadul, que ha prescrito la ketamina a sus pacientes, se unió a nosotros en "TMZ Live", el mes pasado y nos explicó por qué era engañoso que el forense apuntara con el dedo a la droga.

Lamar Odom says ketamine has been a successful tool to help him combat his addiction problems ... this after it was revealed it was in Matthew Perry's system when he died.

We got Lamar outside Oxy Dental, which Lamar owns, in Lomita, CA on Thursday, and talked about the controversy surrounding ketamine treatment therapy following the coroner's report on Matthew's death.

Lamar says Matthew's therapy was similar to his ... and according to him, it works -- but there are serious strings attached. For starters, users should not drive cars.

Ketamine has been used for depression and anxiety but is more commonly used as an anesthetic in operating rooms.

As we reported, Matthew was found in his jacuzzi in October and was declared dead. The L.A. County Medical Examiner claimed he had high levels of ketamine in his system, rendering him unconscious.

Dr. Zaid Fadul, who has prescribed ketamine to his patients, joined us on "TMZ Live," last month ... telling us why the coroner pointing fingers at the drug was misleading.

David Soul, famous for playing Detective Kenneth Hutchinson on the buddy cop TV series "Starsky and Hutch," is dead ... TMZ has learned.

The actor died Thursday at a hospital in London following a long term illness ... according to a family member. We're told David was surrounded by his family when he passed.

David suffered from a number of health issues in his life ... most notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He blames COPD on a half-century of smoking three packs of cigarettes daily.

His wife Helen Snell said the "beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family. He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend."

She added, "His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched."

David became a pop icon in the 1970s in his starring role as Hutch, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed detective opposite Paul Michael Glaser as Detective Dave Starsky. He appeared in all 92 episodes from 1975-79, covering four seasons on TV, and also directed a few episodes.

After "Starsky and Hutch," David landed roles in the 1979 TV miniseries "Salem's Lot" and the  1980 TV movie "Homeward Bound."

David and Paul also reprised their roles as Starsky and Hutch with a cameo appearance in the 2004 movie remake, "Starsky & Hutch," with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.

Before his Hutch fame, David got started in Hollywood in the mid-1960s with small TV roles on shows like "Flipper," "I Dream of Jeannie," and "Star Trek" -- and, interestingly, Clint Eastwood was an early supporter of David's talent ... as he cast him as one of the cops co-starring with him in the 1973 Dirty Harry film, "Magnum Force."

He was also a very successful singer/songwriter ... scoring a number-one hit in 1976 with "Don't Give Up On Us."

David moved to the UK in the 90s and began starring in West End stage productions and British TV shows. He eventually became a British citizen in 2004.

He's survived by his wife and 6 children from previous relationships.

David was 80.

David Soul, famoso por interpretar al detective Kenneth Hutchinson en la serie de televisión "Starsky y Hutch", ha muerto... TMZ ha averiguado.

El actor murió el jueves en un hospital en Londres después de una batalla contra el cáncer, de acuerdo con un miembro de la familia. Nos dicen que David estaba rodeado de su familia cuando falleció.

David sufrió varios problemas de salud a lo largo de su vida, sobre todo la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. El actor culpaba de esta enfermedad al hecho de fumar tres paquetes de cigarrillos al día durante medio siglo.

Su esposa Helen Snell declaró que su "querido esposo, padre, abuelo y hermano falleció ayer tras una valiente batalla por la vida en la cariñosa compañía de su familia. Compartió muchos dones extraordinarios con el mundo como actor, cantante, narrador, artista creativo y querido amigo".

Y añadió: "Su sonrisa, su risa y su pasión por la vida serán recordadas por las muchas vidas que ha tocado".

David se convirtió en un icono del pop en la década de 1970 por su papel protagonista como Hutch, el detective de pelo rubio y ojos azules, junto a Paul Michael Glaser, interpretando al detective Dave Starsky. Apareció en los 92 episodios de 1975-79, cubriendo cuatro temporadas en televisión y también dirigió algunos episodios.

Después de "Starsky y Hutch", David consiguió papeles en la miniserie de televisión de 1979 "Salem's Lot" y en el telefilme de 1980 "Homeward Bound".

David y Paul también retomaron sus papeles como Starsky y Hutch con una aparición en el remake de la película de 2004, "Starsky & Hutch", con Ben Stiller y Owen Wilson.

Antes de la fama de Hutch, David inició su carrera en Hollywood a mediados de la década de 1960 con pequeños papeles de televisión en series como "Flipper", "I Dream of Jeannie" y "Star Trek". Curiosamente, Clint Eastwood fue uno de los primeros en apoyar el talento de David, ya que lo eligió para interpretar a uno de los policías que coprotagonizaban con él la película de 1973 "Magnum Force", de Dirty Harry.

También fue un cantante y compositor de gran éxito, consiguiendo el número uno en 1976 con "Don't Give Up On Us".

David se trasladó al Reino Unido en los años 90 y empezó a actuar en producciones teatrales del West End y en programas de la televisión británica. En 2004 obtuvo la nacionalidad británica.

Le sobreviven su esposa —Helen Snell— y 6 hijos de relaciones anteriores.

David tenía 80 años.

Actress Glynis Johns, famous for her role as Mrs. Banks in the 1964 classic "Mary Poppins," has died ... TMZ can confirm.

The British actress passed away of natural causes at an assisted living home in L.A., her manager Mitch Clem confirmed to us Thursday ... adding she'll be buried next to her father in the UK.

Mitch paid tribute to Glynis in an emotional statement: "Glynis powered her way through life with intelligence, wit, and a love for performance, affecting millions of lives. She entered my life early in my career and set a very high bar on how to navigate this industry with grace, class, and truth. Your own truth. Her light shined very brightly for 100 years.

He added, "She had a wit that could stop you in your tracks powered by a heart that loved deeply and purely. Today is a somber day for Hollywood. Not only do we mourn the passing of our dear Glynis, but we mourn the end of the golden age of Hollywood."

Glynis was born in South Africa, but her family settled in England, where she worked as an actress for 20 years before scoring a starring role in Disney's adaptation of P.L. Travers' "Mary Poppins" novels.

During the rest of her 8-decade career on screen and stage, she earned a Tony for her role as Desiree Armfeldt in the original Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" ... where she sang "Send in the Clowns." Sondheim wrote the song especially for Glynis to perform.

Her role in the 1960 film "The Sundowners" earned her an Oscar nom ... and was just one of more than 60 films she starred in, along with "While You Were Sleeping."

Glynis' TV credits include "Murder, She Wrote," "Cheers" and "The Love Boat." Her final onscreen appearance came in 1999's "Superstar" ... where she played Grandma.

Glynis celebrated her 100th birthday in October ... quipping that she didn't feel any different after turning the milestone age -- adding that she looked good for every age.

La actriz Glynis Johns, famosa por su papel de la Sra. Banks en el clásico de 1964 "Mary Poppins", ha muerto... TMZ lo confirma.

La actriz británica falleció de causas naturales en una residencia asistida en Los Ángeles, su manager Mitch Clem nos confirmó la triste noticia el jueves, añadiendo que será enterrada junto a su padre en el Reino Unido.

Le rindió homenaje a Glynis en un emotivo comunicado: "Glynis se abrió camino en la vida con inteligencia, ingenio y amor por la interpretación, afectando a millones de vidas. Entró en mi vida al principio de mi carrera y puso el listón muy alto sobre cómo navegar por esta industria con gracia, clase y verdad". Tu propia verdad. Su luz brilló durante 100 años.

Tenía un ingenio que podía pararte en seco, impulsado por un corazón que amaba profunda y puramente". Hoy es un día sombrío para Hollywood. No solo lloramos la muerte de nuestra querida Glynis, sino que lloramos el final de la edad de oro de Hollywood".

Tras nacer en Sudáfrica, Glynis se estableció en Inglaterra, donde trabajó como actriz durante 20 años antes de protagonizar la adaptación de Disney de las novelas de P.L. Travers "Mary Poppins".

Durante el resto de su carrera de 8 décadas —que abarca la pantalla y el escenario— ganó un Tony por su papel como Desiree Armfeldt en la producción original de Broadway de Stephen Sondheim "A Little Night Music", donde cantó "Send in the Clowns", que fue escrito especialmente para ella por Sondheim.

Su papel en la película de 1960 "The Sundowners" le valió una nominación al Oscar y fue sólo una de las más de 60 películas que protagonizó, junto con "Mientras dormías".

Glynis actuó en televisión en "Murder, She Wrote", "Cheers" y "The Love Boat". Su última aparición en pantalla fue en "Superstar", de 1999, donde interpretó a la abuela.

Glynis celebró su cumpleaños número 100 en octubre... afirmando que no se sentía diferente y añadiendo que se veía bien a cualquier edad.

Forest Whitaker's ex-wife, Keisha Nash Whitaker, died from alcoholic liver disease ... TMZ has learned.

We obtained Keisha's certificate of death -- issued by L.A. County -- and the document says Keisha suffered from the disease for years before it ultimately killed her.

The certificate also says acute renal failure -- a symptom of anorexia -- was another significant factor contributing to her death.

TMZ broke the story ... Keisha died last month, and the death certificate shows she was at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in L.A. County when she passed.

Keisha was married to Forest for more than 20 years before he filed for divorce in 2018 ... and they had 3 daughters together.

She worked in Hollywood as a model, and her death certificate makes note of her career ... saying she worked 15 years in the modeling industry.

Keisha met Forest on the set of the 1994 film, "Blown Away," and the couple tied the knot years later ... in 1996.

She was only 51 at the time of her death.

La exesposa de Forest Whitaker, Keisha Nash Whitaker, murió de una enfermedad hepática alcohólica ... TMZ ha averiguado.

Obtuvimos el certificado de defunción de Keisha, emitido por el Condado de Los Ángeles, y el documento dice que Keisha sufrió de la enfermedad durante años antes de morir.

El certificado también dice que la insuficiencia renal aguda, un síntoma de la anorexia, fue otro factor importante que contribuyó a su muerte.

TMZ dio a la noticia, Keisha murió el mes pasado y el certificado de defunción muestra que estaba en Northridge Hospital Medical Center en el condado de Los Ángeles cuando falleció.

Keisha estuvo casada con Forest durante más de 20 años antes de que él solicitara el divorcio en 2018. Tuvieron 3 hijas juntos.

Trabajó en Hollywood como modelo y su certificado de defunción toma nota de su carrera, diciendo que trabajó 15 años en la industria del modelaje.

Keisha conoció a Forest en el rodaje de la película de 1994 "Blown Away" y la pareja se casó años más tarde en 1996.

Solo tenía 51 años cuando falleció.

Richard Romanus -- famous from his memorable role in "Mean Streets" -- has died.

The actor's son, Robert, broke the sad news this weekend, telling THR his father had passed away Dec. 23 at a private hospital in Volos, Greece. The exact circumstances of his death remain unclear, and an official cause has yet to be announced.

Romanus hadn't acted in much since the early 2000s, with his last credited role being in Disney's "The Young Black Stallion" from 2003. Still, his career was noteworthy ... especially his turn as the villain in one of Scorsese's first films.

Of course, he played Michael the loan shark in 'MS' ... his character grows impatient with Robert De Niro's Johnny Boy after constantly ducking/dodging him on a fat debt owed.

Fans might also remember him for playing Richard La Penna in a few episodes of "The Sopranos" ... not to mention roles in other big shows like "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe," "Foul Play," "Strike Force," "Hill Street Blues," "The A-Team," "Cagney & Lacey," "Johnny Bago" and more.

Outside of "Mean Streets," Romanus' movie credits include ... "Wizards," "Sitting Ducks," "Heavy Metal," "Pandemonium," "Strangers Kiss," "Protocol," "Murphy's Law," "Oscar" and many others.

He's survived by his son, his wife and his famous younger brother, Robert. Romanus was 80.