RIP

Malcolm X's family is going after the federal government in a new lawsuit ... alleging the feds played a key role in the civil rights leader's 1965 assassination.

Three of Malcolm X's daughters filed the suit Friday on their own behalf and on behalf of his estate, claiming the CIA, FBI, DOJ and NYPD all participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy behind their father's shooting death.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, the family claims these agencies also engaged in a decades-long coverup after Malcolm was gunned down on February 21, 1965 at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan.

Jim Carrey's older sister Rita has died ... this according to her husband of 16 years, Alex.

Rita's husband posted the update on Facebook Friday morning, where he shared the radio personality passed away "peacefully and quietly" on Thursday.

As he continued, Rita's husband remembered her as his "bestest friend," "lover" and "beautiful wife."

Diddy and Kim Porter's twin daughters are sharing an emotional tribute on the anniversary of their late mother's death ... and they still can't believe she's gone.

D'Lila and Jessie honored Kim with a social media post Friday, saying ... "We can't believe it’s been 6years without you. We think about you every single second of the day. We love and miss you so much words can’t even explain."

Diddy's family is obviously going through a lot as he sits in jail in New York awaiting his criminal trial, and the twins say they wish Kim was here with them, but know her "spirit will be around forever!!"

Liam Payne sought out the hotel employee accused of delivering him drugs very shortly before his death ... and their interaction is captured in this newly discovered surveillance footage.

TMZ exclusively obtained the video showing Liam briefly stepping out of an elevator in the basement of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires... chatting with one of the 3 people charged in connection with his death.

Our sources at the hotel tell us the staffer who shakes hands and chats with Liam in the video is Ezequiel David Pereyra ... a bellboy at the hotel who police say delivered drugs to Liam in a soap box. While police have not yet confirmed it's Pereyra in this video, we know they have the footage.

Piff the Magic Dragon is confirming he actually spent almost $60K to clone his late dog, Mr. Piffles ... telling TMZ he's "so glad" he did.

We caught up with the magician after the sad news his longtime performing companion and beloved Chihuahua had died ... with the "America's Got Talent" alum revealing he created a contingency plan for this inevitable day back when his pup first started getting older.

Though word of Piff's decision to clone the pup broke a while back, the British comedian assured us he "genuinely cloned" Piffles ... and even had Mr. Piffles 2.0 join him on camera for a quick hello.

George Lemore, who starred in the 1995 film "Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh," doesn't think anyone should pick up the villain's famous hook in the aftermath of Tony Todd's death.

We caught up with the actor a week after his former costar died of natural causes at the age of 69, prompting George to advocate to the powers that be to leave the 'Candyman' franchise alone.

As George put it ... the horror series, which dropped its first film back in 1992, should be left as a classic and shouldn't be rebooted again ... declaring it's comparable to other greats in the popular genre.

Quincy Jones' cause of death has been revealed ... the legendary music producer died from cancer, TMZ has learned.

According to the death certificate released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, obtained by TMZ ... the official cause of death is pancreatic cancer -- which happens to be the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in the country.

According to the doc, there were no other contributing factors to his death.

Peanut the Squirrel is officially in the clear, testing negative for rabies after his death, but get this -- it's also emerged that both he and Fred the Raccoon were set for the chopping block days before they were seized in a raid ... and their owner is absolutely livid over it.

Mark Longo didn't hold back, telling TMZ it's hard to stomach the bombshell revelation that 4 different agencies had already given the green light to euthanize his pets 7 days before they were even taken from his Upstate New York property on October 30.

The New York Post reports state officials advised the county to euthanize the animals a week before the raid was launched. This news contradicts the New York Department of Environmental Conservation's claim that Peanut had bitten an agent during the raid ... supposedly necessitating the rabies test. Animals must be euthanized to properly test for rabies.

Sergio Mendes' cause of death has been revealed -- the Brazilian musician died from respiratory failure.

According to the death certificate, obtained by TMZ, the official cause of death is acute hypoxemic respiratory failure ... a condition that occurs when there's not enough oxygen in the body.

The condition can be brought on by pneumonia ... and Sergio's death certificate says aspiration pneumonia is an underlying cause here. This specific type of pneumonia is a lung infection resulting from food, liquid or other substances being inhaled into the lungs.

Fernando Valenzuela's cause of death has been revealed -- the Los Angeles Dodgers legend died of septic shock.

TMZ Sports has obtained the 1981 World Series champion's death certificate ... which listed decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis as underlying causes.

The medical examiner also suspects Valenzuela suffered from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ... a rare brain disorder.

Fitness influencer Jaxon Tippet -- who amassed a large online following -- tragically passed away this week while on vacation. He just turned 30 years old last month.

Tippet's family made the sad announcement on his Instagram page ... saying the Australian fitness coach, who also modeled, died on November 10 while visiting Turkey.

Tippet's family says they've been told he died from a heart attack.

Marco Angulo -- an up-and-coming midfielder in the MLS -- has passed away from injuries he suffered in a car crash in his home country of Ecuador last month.

Angulo's club, FC Cincinnati, addressed the heartbreaking news on Tuesday ... saying, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Marco -- a husband and father, a brother and son, a friend and teammate."

"He was a joyful, kind young man who lit up every room he entered. Our entire club grieves this tragedy, and we are thinking of and praying for his family."

One of Liam Payne’s homes in South Florida, where he was living before his death, is back on the rental market.

Real estate sources tell TMZ, a massive 5-bed, 6-bath mansion in Wellington, FL went back up for rent at the end of October for $9,950 per month. The former 1D star had signed a short-term lease for the property before ultimately moving out in July.

We’re told the place got a refresh with new paint, décor, and more since the original listing pics were taken -- so it's rocking a much fresher, renovated vibe.

9:53 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources in Buenos Aires confirm to TMZ ... Liam Payne's father, Geoff, asked for the missing Rolex watch after he was given Liam's possessions when he flew to the city last month, saying the watch has sentimental value. Police confirmed the Rolex has disappeared.

Security camera video reportedly shows the watch on Liam's wrist hours before he died -- but authorities say Liam was not wearing the watch when he fell from the balcony, and they officially state it was not stolen after he fell.

Police in Argentina are trying to locate Liam Payne's Rolex watch after his drug-fueled fatal fall from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room, TMZ has confirmed.

One of the 3 people charged in Liam Payne's death probe is speaking out for the first time, saying he did nothing wrong in connection with the singer’s tragic death last month.

Braian Nahuel Paiz, who has been accused by Argentinian authorities of allegedly supplying drugs to the 1D star, spoke to local news outlet Telefe Notifica -- admitting to having 2 hotel meetings with the singer -- but he denies ever supplying Payne with drugs or receiving any money from him.

Paiz told the outlet he first met Liam at the restaurant where he worked as a waiter on October 2. He claimed Liam didn’t eat anything because he was already under the influence of drugs, and says Liam later invited Paiz to his Buenos Aires hotel room, where they took a few whiskey shots together.