Celebrity Death

5:45 AM PT -- New Jersey State Police tell TMZ ... "Troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash at 8:19 PM on County Route 551 North, milepost 11.1 Oldmans Township, Salem County. Based on a preliminary investigation, two pedalcyclists, John M. Gaudreau, a 31-year-old male from Carneys Point, N.J., and Matthew R. Gaudreau, a 29-year-old male from Pedricktown, N.J., were traveling north on County Route 551, close to the fog line of the roadway. Sean M. Higgins, a 43-year-old male from Woodstown, N.J., was traveling north on CR 551 in a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and SUV."

"Higgins attempted to pass the slower-moving sedan and SUV, entered the southbound lanes of travel, passed the slower-moving sedan, and attempted to re-enter the northbound lanes of travel when the SUV in front of Higgins moved to the middle of the roadway, splitting the north and south lanes to safely pass the two pedalcyclist traveling north on the right side of the roadway. Higgins then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the two pedalcyclists in the rear. As a result of the collision, the two pedalcyclists sustained fatal injuries."

They concluded ... "Through further investigation, Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, charged with two counts of death by auto, and lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility. This crash remains an active investigation, and no additional information is available."

Julian Ortega -- star of the viral Netflix show "Elite" -- has died ... after collapsing on a beach in Spain, despite lifeguards' best efforts to save him.

The actor passed away Sunday afternoon, according to officials in Spain.

Initial reports indicated the actor drowned -- but authorities tell TMZ the 41-year-old actually went into cardiac arrest on the shore.

Spain's Directorate-General of the Civil Guard tells us he died predictably due to a heart attack in Barbate, a town on the Atlantic Coast.

Rob "The Rabbit" Pitts -- star of Netflix’s "Tex Mex Motors" --  has died after a battle with stomach cancer ... TMZ has confirmed.

The car salesman said farewell in a YouTube video titled "This Is Goodbye (RIP 7/27/79 - 8/25/24)" ... and his videographer confirmed his death in the comments, writing, "I am with him now in Hospice. He just passed at 21:45 on 08/25/2024. He will be missed and we will never forget him!"

In his text-based farewell video, Rob shared he felt "off," and started experiencing symptoms like weight loss and acid reflux while filming "Tex Mex Motors" season 2 ... which his doctors finally diagnosed as stomach cancer.

Al Attles -- a longtime member of the Golden State Warriors organization -- has passed away, the team announced Wednesday. He was 87 years old.

According to the organization, he died surrounded by his family in his East Bay home.

Nicknamed "The Destroyer," Attles spent his entire professional career with the same team -- being drafted to the Philadelphia Warriors in 1960. On March 2, 1962, he shared the court with Wilt Chamberlain when the center dropped 100 points -- contributing 17 of his own.

Fitness guru Richard Simmons' falls while at home contributed to his death ... something the coroner reportedly shared with Richard's brother.

Lenny Simmons says he got a call from the L.A. County Medical Examiner's Office, and they told him, "Richard's death was accidental due to complications from falls and heart disease as a contributing factor" ... according to Simmons family spokesperson Tom Estey.

TMZ confirmed the info with Estey -- lining up with the story we broke last month about Richard's final days. As we reported, he fell in his bathroom the evening of his 76th birthday, and when his housekeeper came to help him up .. he refused medical care.

Johnny Wactor’s coworker -- who was with him the night he was murdered -- is overcome with emotion about his alleged killers getting arrested, but says the actor's family won’t find peace until the suspects receive the maximum punishment.

Anita Joy told TMZ she felt a mix of joy and relief knowing 3 people have been arrested and booked on murder charges -- but adds, the real justice will be seeing these guys get serious convictions.

Johnny's friend says she’s feeling optimistic about that happening, because all the suspects have been held on high bail amounts. She was initially worried the suspects would not be tried as adults -- based on what she saw the night of the murder, she thought they were possibly underage.

John Aprea, one of the stars of "The Godfather Part II" and "Full House," is dead of natural causes ... TMZ has learned.

His manager Will Levine tells us ... the actor passed away on August 7, at his home in Los Angeles, with family members by his side.

John called his role as young Salvatore Tessio his greatest career achievement. He had originally auditioned to be Michael Corleone in the OG 'Godfather,' which of course went to Al Pacino. But, Francis Ford Coppola called back Aprea for the 1974 sequel.

The two physicians charged in connection with Matthew Perry's death not only still have their medical licenses, but they can still -- SHOCKINGLY -- prescribe medication to any of their patients, TMZ has learned.

Last week, Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia were charged with illegally conspiring to supply ketamine to the late "Friends" star.

TMZ then broke the story ... the California State Medical Board launched an investigation into both doctors, but kept their medical licenses active without disciplining them.

Perry Kurtz -- a comedian who appeared on "America's Got Talent" and "The Late Late Show with James Corden" and had ties to several comedy legends -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Perry was involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Tarzana, an L.A. neighborhood, after a collision around 11:20 PM Thursday ... when a gray Honda Civic struck and killed him. The Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced him dead at the scene.

Our law enforcement sources tell us cops have arrested a suspect on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing death.

BeatKing, a beloved Houston rapper and producer, has died ... and TMZ has learned what caused his death.

A rep for the rapper tells us ... BeatKing passed away in a Houston hospital Thursday after suffering a pulmonary embolism. We're told the rapper was doing a morning takeover at the Urban One/Radio One station, when he fainted and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

He passed away later that same day with his 2 daughters by his side.

Jack Russell, the former front man for the rock band Great White, is dead.

Jack died Thursday, surrounded by his family ... including wife Heather Ann and son Matthew Hucko, plus his cousins and some friends ... according to his band.

Russell family spokesperson K.L. Doty tells TMZ … Jack died as a result of Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy.

Matthew Perry's family is still grappling with his death ... but they're grateful to learn justice is being served after 5 people were arrested in connection to the actor's ketamine death.

The "Friends" star's loved ones -- including stepdad and "Dateline" correspondent Keith Morrison -- spoke out after U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada confirmed multiple people were booked for supplying MP with ketamine prior to his sudden passing in October 2023.

The family noted in a statement ... "We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously. We look forward to justice taking its course."

"General Hospital" star Johnny Wactor's murder case has been solved, at least according to cops, because cops have served search warrants early Thursday and are in the process of making "multiple arrests" ... TMZ has learned.

LAPD has ID'd members of the Florencia 13 gang in connection with Johnny's murder outside Level 8 in downtown L.A., where he worked.

We're told fingerprints found at the scene helped crack the case.

Rock legend Greg Kihn -- the guy behind "Jeopardy" and "The Breakup Song" -- has died after a fight with Alzheimer’s.

The tragic news was shared on his official blog ... revealing he died Tuesday ... with the tribute, "Rest in peace, dear Greg. Your music, your voice, your stories, your spirit and your passion will forever echo in our hearts and inspire countless souls."

Born in Baltimore, Greg made his mark in the SF Bay Area music scene ... really hitting it big in the ’80s with his unique mix of rock, folk, blues and pop with The Greg Kihn Band.

Gena Rowlands, who famously played Allie in "The Notebook," is dead ... TMZ has learned.

The retired actress died Wednesday afternoon at her home in Indian Wells, CA ... where she was surrounded by family, including her husband, Robert, and her daughter Alexandra Cassavetes.

We're told her son, director Nick Cassavetes, had also been at the home frequently this week.

Ángel Salazar -- famous for playing Al Pacino's trusted sidekick "Chi Chi" in "Scarface" -- was filming an indie spin-off of the iconic gangster movie when he died ... and we've got the first look at him in action.

Director Eric Spade Rivas tells TMZ … Ángel seemed fatigued when shooting scenes in New Jersey back in April, but he was still getting ready to film more scenes later this year in Miami.

The movie is called "The Brooklyn Premiere" ... and it also features Steven Bauer, who plays Manny Ribera in the OG "Scarface." The film's about a Brooklyn film director facing a midlife crisis who sets out to make a "Scarface" parody comedy to revive his career.