Celebrity Death

Cissy Houston, a Grammy-winning singer and the mother of late singer and actress Whitney Houston, is dead.

Cissy died Monday surrounded by family in her New Jersey home, where she was under hospice care as a result of Alzheimer's disease ... her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed to TMZ.

She's being remembered by Pat as "a strong and towering figure" and "a woman of deep faith and conviction."

TikTok star Taylor Rousseau Grigg, who's amassed over 1.4 million followers on the platform, has died ... this according to her husband.

Cameron Grigg, the 25-year-old influencer's husband, shared the news on his social media Saturday ... saying her passing was, "so sudden and unexpected" -- adding, "This past year Taylor has dealt with more pain and suffering than most people do in a lifetime."

Taylor's husband didn't provide a cause of death, but noted the plan is for her organs to be donated. He signed off by saying they weren't able to financially prepare for the hardship that would come with her passing -- linking to a GoFundMe for fans who are able to help.

Richard Simmons is up in heaven with his trademark tank top and shorts, working up a sweat ... at least that's what his brother said at Richard's celebration of life.

The late fitness guru was remembered Saturday in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana ... and his brother, Leonard, compared him to Clark Kent during a touching eulogy at St. Louis Cathedral.

Leonard says Richard was like Superman in that he always had his tank top and shorts on under his outfit -- like Clark keeping his superhero getup under his civilian clothes.

LeVar Burton is paying tribute to John Amos following news of the actor's death ... crediting the late star for making history in Hollywood.

We caught up with the actor outside ABC Studios in NYC Friday, where LB had nothing but good things to say about the late TV legend. As LeVar put it ... John's legacy is to be celebrated, especially regarding his work as James Evans on "Good Times."

He noted ... "For me, personally, John's legacy will be that he changed the way Black men were perceived on television in America. James Evans was a householder and, prior to that, Black men were really portrayed as absentee fathers, deadbeat dads, that sort of thing. Only good for prison and jail. John Amos changed that."

Rich Homie Quan's first posthumous album, "Forever Going In," was released Friday -- a month after his death ... the day the star rapper would have turned 35.

The album looks to capitalize on RHQ's growing streaming numbers while also memorializing his life -- it clocks in at 35 songs!!!

2 Chainz, Lil Tjay, Sukihana, Skilla Baby and more help round out the guest list -- RHQ's family dedicated the project to all the supporters.

John Amos' daughter Shannon is claiming her brother, K.C., colluded with 2 others to take advantage of the declining actor ... alleging his will was changed before his death.

Shannon appeared on "TMZ Live" Thursday, where she was joined by John's former business manager, Paul Baldassarre, her daughter Quiera Colston, and John's God-daughter Amy Goudy ... to sound the alarm over their unanswered questions about the shocking circumstances surrounding the "Good Times" star's death.

According to Shannon, John was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2016, prompting K.C. to move in with their dad -- and she says K.C. then proceeded to isolate the TV legend from his other loved ones ... even monitoring his phone calls.

Ron Hale, the actor arguably best known to soap fans as Mike Corbin on "General Hospital," has died, TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Ron died of natural causes at his home in St. George, South Carolina on August 27. A specific cause of death was not disclosed.

Throughout his decades-long career, the veteran actor appeared in several TV series ... including starring in the popular '70s soap "Ryan's Hope" -- in which he played Dr. Roger Coleridge.

John Amos' death is exposing a family rift ... and it sounds pretty messy.

The late actor's family is now accusing John's son, Kelly Christopher Amos, AKA K.C., of isolating the "Good Times" star from his loved ones before his death.

In a family statement, John's relatives say ... "Over the past year, John Amos was isolated from his family and close friends by Kelly "KC" Amos, Eugene Brummet and Belinda Foster."

John Amos died of congestive heart failure, according to his death certificate, and he was cremated more than a month ago ... fueling speculation that a family feud was raging at the time he died.

TMZ has obtained the death certificate filed with L.A. County, and it shows the "Good Times" star died August 21 at 5:18 PM at an Inglewood hospital.

The death certificate says there were no other significant medical conditions other than heart failure.

Late "American Pickers" star Frank Fritz is being remembered by the network that made him famous ... the History Channel is broadcasting a bunch of his shows, a couple days after his death.

Honchos over at the History Channel tell TMZ ... the network is running a TV marathon today featuring Frank's episodes of "American Pickers."

The marathon started at 7 AM and ends at 4 PM ... and History Channel is adding an In Memoriam image every hour to remember Frank.

John Amos' daughter Shannon is grieving alongside fans following the death of the "Good Times" actor ... revealing she too just learned her famous dad passed away.

The medicinal healer, who John welcomed with ex-wife Noel Mickelson, issued a statement after word of the actor's passing broke Tuesday ... claiming she and her family learned about his death more than a month after it occurred.

Alongside a video of herself smiling and laughing with John, Shannon wrote she was "without words" upon the "heartbreaking" discovery that her dad had died on Aug. 21.

One of Pete Rose's closest friends and former teammates could tell the Hit King wasn't his usual playful and talkative self the day before he passed ... with Tony Perez explaining members of the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds didn't fully enjoy their last experience together.

The Hall of Famer joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs on FS1) to discuss his final meet-up with Rose ... a signing session at the Music City Autograph Show with Fiterman Sports Group featuring Rose, Perez, Dave Concepcion, George Foster and Ken Griffey Sr.

The former first baseman admitted it "wasn't a good time" because Rose was "not himself" ... and the guys didn't take part in their usual banter during the show, a far cry from how things were when they were last together about six months ago.

Rich Homie Quan died from a toxic mix of several different drugs, including fentanyl ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner in Georgia, the late rapper died from the combined effects of fentanyl, alprazolam, codeine and promethazine ... and his death is being ruled an accident.

The Medical Examiner's report, obtained by TMZ, also notes Rich Homie Quan showed no signs of trauma when his body was found dead and examined.

12:09 PM PT -- A rep for Frank Fritz tells TMZ … he died from the effects of a stroke he had several years ago -- and he had Crohn’s disease for decades, which may have played a role.

Frank was in a Quad Cities hospice facility (on the Iowa-Illinois border) and was surrounded by friends, including Mike Wolfe, when he passed.

"American Pickers" star Frank Fritz has died ... his longtime costar and friend, Mike Wolfe, confirmed.

Fritz's costar posted on social media Tuesday, sharing the tragic news with fans ... confirming the reality TV veteran died Monday evening.

He wrote ... "It’s with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night. I’ve [known] Frank for more then half my life and what you’ve seen on TV has always been what I have seen, a dreamer who was just as sensitive as he was funny. The same off camera as he was on, Frank had a way of reaching the hearts of so many by just being himself."

John Amos, who led "Good Times" as patriarch James Evans, has died ... his son Kelly Christopher Amos announced.

Per John's son, the Emmy-nominated actor died of natural causes in Los Angeles back on Aug. 21.

He continued ... "It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor."

Ken Page, a veteran voice actor and Broadway star, has died ... TMZ has learned.

Ken's rep, Lance Kirkland, tells TMZ ... the 'Nightmare Before Christmas' actor passed away "very peacefully" in his home in St. Louis Monday. We're told Ken sat down in his chair and passed away in his sleep.

Kirkland continues ... "He was a beautiful, talented man who was larger than life. Ken was loved and adored by so many and will be missed so much."