RIP

Jason David Frank was beloved for playing the hero on-screen -- but according to a friend, his true heroism happened in real life as he battled mental health issues for years.

Mike Bronzoulis, a prized MMA fighter and one of Jason's closest friends, tells TMZ ... since they became friends in 2010, Jason was always open with him about bouts of depression and mental health struggles -- though he kept it private from most people.

Mike says Jason had multiple family members die from suicide, and his mother also died a few years ago after battling cancer. These deaths took a heavy toll on him ... despite having tons of friends and getting love from thousands of fans, he often felt very lonely.

Jason kept a very busy schedule, but through all of it tried to find peace by motivating his fans ... whether it be meeting in person or posting videos on social media.

Mike says he last spoke to Jason roughly a week before his death. He even got a voicemail from Jason ... saying he needed to talk, and he was going through a lot. Mike didn't realize Jason left that voicemail until after he died.

As we reported, Jason died by suicide after getting into a heated argument with his wife in a Texas hotel.

Mike tells us he and Jason's other friends will always remember him as an incredibly giving person ... but one who also wrestled with inner demons.

Sean Taylor was honored by his old NFL team with a life-size memorial in his honor at their stadium -- but the big reveal left fans less than impressed ... and actually pretty pissed.

The Washington Commanders unveiled their Sean Taylor tribute Sunday at FedEx Field ... showing off a wire mannequin that was wearing ST's former number and vintage Washington uniform, from when he played with them back in the 2000s before he was tragically killed.

While it might look somewhat cool at first glance ... the more folks took it in, the more angry they became -- because many felt this was a shoddy commemoration of the late free safety, especially when you consider the attention to detail ... or lack thereof.

For starters, the gear's all mismatched -- a Nike jersey, Reebok pants and Adidas cleats (soccer cleats?). The fact the org couldn't even get all the same branding together here speaks volumes in the minds of football fans who were very much looking forward to this.

If you watch the video of the moment the drape was pulled off ... you can actually see Sean's family looking on toward the right side, and in our eyes -- they seem underwhelmed.

There's also the material that the mannequin itself is made of ... hollow wire, which a lot of folks also see as big time disrespect. Plus, there's not even face mask tape on the helmet, which was Sean's signature look. Frankly, many are saying this looks thrown together.

Freddie Roman -- an OG comedian from New York City, and a beloved figure in showbiz -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

The actor/writer/producer and all-around funny man passed away Saturday afternoon at a hospital in Boynton Beach, Florida, this after suffering a heart attack earlier this morning at his country club home ... according to his daughter, Judi Levin.

We're told he died in bed with his family around, including his wife of 63 years, Ethel, who was with him until the end.

Roman might perhaps best be remembered as a Friars Club staple -- he was once at the helm of the famed NYC club, which has afforded membership to tons of comics/celebs over the years. FR was the dean dating back to the '90s until Larry King succeeded him in 2014.

A well-versed and seasoned comedian himself, Roman had performed at countless high-profile venues over the years ... including Caesars Palace in Vegas and Harrah's in Atlantic City, among others. Roman has also been part of several big-time roasts via Comedy Central.

Some of the stars he's chided on the past ... Drew Carey, Rob Reiner, Hugh Hefner, Chevy Chase, Jerry Stiller and many, many others who've had a Roman joke thrown their way.

Roman has also starred in a handful of shows and movies, including "Red Oaks," "The Comedian," "Bittersweet Place," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Finding North," "Sweet Lorraine" and more. He's also famous for writing and starring in a well-known revue, "Catskills on Broadway."

Freddie continued to perform well into his later years, and was a fixture in New York comedy for a long, long time. He's survived by his wife and daughter ... Roman was 85.

Irene Cara, the singer behind huge '80s hits from "Flashdance" and "Fame" has died.

Cara passed away in her Florida home Friday, according to her rep. Details surrounding her death were not disclosed.

Irene won an Oscar for Best Original Song for "What a Feeling" -- the iconic song from "Flashdance" which made her a household name.

Irene also scored big with her monster hit, "Fame" from the movie of the same name. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for "Best Actress" for her work in the movie.

Cara went on to appear in other movies, including "City Heat," co-starring Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. She also played opposite Tatum O'Neal in "Certain Fury."

In 2004, Irene was honored with a Prestige Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Her rep said, "It is with profound sadness that on behalf of her family I announce the passing of Irene Cara. Irene’s family has requested privacy as they process their grief. She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films."

Irene was 63.

Donald Anthony St. Claire, one of the oldest contestants to ever appear on "The Amazing Race," has died.

Don's son Greg tells TMZ ... Donald collapsed and died at his home in Angels Camp, CA and the family believes he suffered some type of heart issue.

We're told Don, who appeared on "The Amazing Race" season 6 in 2004, had recently been feeling unwell. He was checked out by doctors and everything came back great ... so his death came as a shock to the family.

Don teamed up with his wife, Mary Jean ... they were eliminated in Germany, finishing in 8th place.

Outside his reality TV fame, Don was a renowned doctor in Northern California, practicing internal medicine in Palo Alto for 40 years and serving on Stanford University's clinical faculty.

Don and Mary Jean traveled the world together with their family, far from the lenses of CBS cameras. He once won an International Winemaker of the Year award.

Don was 87.

The man who fatally shot 6 of his Walmart co-workers was so angry at some of them he reportedly kept shooting them after they were already dead.

Walmart manager Andre Bing went on his Tuesday night killing rampage inside the Chesapeake, Virginia, department store ... but, for some reason he spared the life of one of his colleagues, Jessica Wilczewski.

Wilczewski gave an interview to the Associated Press, explaining she was in the employee break room when Bing entered with his semi-automatic handgun.

She said, "The way he was acting -- he was going hunting. The way he was looking at people’s faces and the way he did what he did, he was picking people out."

Wilczewski watched in horror as Bing committed overkill. "What I do know is that he made sure who he wanted dead, was dead," she said. "He went back and shot dead bodies that were already dead."

Wilczewski, who had only been working at the store for five days, said she crouched under a table to take cover when the gunfire erupted. At some point, Bing walked over to her and said, "Jessie, go home."

She then dashed out of the store before Bing killed himself with his own pistol. She later speculated Bing had spared her life because she was a new employee.

Aaron Carter's fiancée Melanie Martin just had her first holiday without him ... and she and her family found a way to honor the late singer.

Carter family sources tell TMZ … Melanie and Prince -- the son she shared with Aaron -- spent Turkey Day with her family. Prince just had his first birthday.

We're told Aaron used to be in charge of cooking the turkey, so this time Melanie and her fam tackled the chore in Aaron's honor ... doing their best to match his skills in the kitchen.

Melanie also kept up another of Aaron's Thanksgiving traditions ... he always liked watching 2 movies on Turkey Day -- "Home Alone" and "Iron Man" -- so Melanie and the brood watched both.

Obviously, the first holiday after the death of a loved one is super tough ... Melanie's sister, Jennifer, brought a four-legged friend to the family get-together ... Aaron's dog Zelda.

TMZ broke the story ... Jennifer and her fiancé Max took in Zelda, the 3-and-a-half-year-old German shepherd, the day after Aaron passed. Melanie was excited to see the pooch.

Melanie made it through a tough Thanksgiving, and she's dreading December, which is filled with holidays and milestones. December was Aaron's birthday month and their anniversary.

The Walmart manager who fatally shot six people inside the Virginia department store kept a manifesto on his phone -- complaining about his job and other coworkers.

Andre Bing reportedly wrote in his manifesto that he was upset about a recent, unspecified change in his employment status. He also claimed he was being harassed about the change by his fellow employees ... according to NBC News affiliate WAVY.

The report, which cites a law enforcement source, stated cops found the manifesto in Bing's phone after he killed himself following Tuesday's massacre. First responders also discovered an apparent "hit list" near Bing's body with the names of employees the killer presumably wanted to eradicate.

One of Bing's colleagues told WAVY she believes he planned the shooting, claiming he had issues with other workers.

Other colleagues told CNN Bing allegedly said he would retaliate and be remembered if he ever got fired. They described Bing as "condescending" and "quite mean" to other employees. They also said Bing was paranoid the government was watching him.

As we reported ... Bing was armed with a pistol when he entered the employee break room of the Walmart in Chesapeake, VA. He opened fire at the other workers before turning the gun on himself.

The Moscow PD just gave a much-anticipated update on the brutal killing of the 4 University of Idaho students ... and while a lot is still unanswered, cops used the time to shut down rumors that have been floating online.

Moscow PD Captian Roger Lanier spoke to the public Wednesday -- saying his team has started to cross names off the suspect list -- as many online begin to point fingers at multiple people surrounding the incident.

Captain Lanier says investigators are officially ruling out the 2 surviving roommates as suspects, same goes for the man seen in the food truck video that's been circulating on social media.

Also removed from PD's watch -- the drivers who took the victims home from their events hours before the slaying, and the friend who received frantic calls from 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves before her death.

Lanier also said they have yet to determine if Kaylee ever had a stalker -- but adds they are still looking into these claims. Rumors about victims being tied or gagged were also found by police to be false, too.

Moscow Mayor Tyler Palmer spoke during the press conference ... but began to get emotional, having to pause when talking about the 4 students.

Jason David Frank's martial arts legacy will live on through his students — who'll continue to train at his academy … TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us .... Jason's Rising Sun Karate school will continue operating, with no plans for a shutdown in the wake of his death. We're told Sam Sprague -- who co-founded Rising Sun with Jason in the 2000s, and who's also a senior instructor -- will carry on the torch.

Our sources tell us everyone from students to staff at RS is devastated over the loss of Jason … but insist they’ll stay open and honor Jason's memory by passing on his teachings.

Rising Sun has three locations between California and Texas -- 2 in the former, and 1 in the latter. The school teaches a technique called Toso Kune Do ... which is a mash-up of several fighting styles, and one that Jason crafted himself.

We're told the Rising Sun community plans to honor Jason in some capacity company-wide, but there aren't many details at this point.

When word of Jason's passing surfaced, Rising Sun posted a tribute to him — saying they'd lost a master instructor, a student and a friend … adding he'd be sorely missed.

TMZ broke the story … the "Power Rangers" star died by suicide this weekend, news that rocked his former costars and the internet alike.

Another mass shooting has claimed the lives of at least 7 people -- including the gunman -- this time at a Walmart in Virginia.

The shooter was an employee, possibly a manager, who entered a break room in the department store in Chesapeake, VA, Tuesday night, a law enforcement source told ABC News. He reportedly opened fire at other people before turning the gun on himself.

When the smoke cleared, 6 victims had been shot dead by the pistol-packing assailant, police said. At least 4 others are now being treated for injuries at local hospitals. Their conditions are not known.

Chesapeake Police Chief Mark G. Solesky gave a briefing Wednesday morning ... he said officers discovered the carnage at around 10:12 PM after responding to a call for an active threat situation. The scene was deemed secure about one hour later.

Solesky confirmed the shooter used a handgun to take his own life. Detectives executed search warrants at the man's home.

Investigators have not identified the victims or the shooter, whose motive is unclear.

U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) tweeted about the bloodshed ... "Sickened by reports of yet another mass shooting, this time at a Walmart in Chesapeake. I'll be monitoring developments closely."

Michael Armand Hammer, the father of Armie Hammer and business titan, has died ... TMZ has learned.

Michael passed away Sunday, sources connected to the family tell TMZ. We're told he had been quite ill for some time, battling cancer.

The American businessman worked at an investment banking firm in NYC ... before getting involved with Occidental Petroleum, the company his grandfather, Armand Hammer, helmed for years.

Michael moved Occidental's HQ to Los Angeles in the '80s ... becoming VP of the company and landing a seat on the Board of Directors.

Over the years, Michael reigned over Hammer Productions, the Armand Hammer Foundation, Hammer Galleries, and the Hammer International Foundation.

Michael and then-wife Dru Ann Mobley gave birth to Armie in 1986, and Armie's brother, Viktor, 2 years later.

As you know, the Hammer family was heavily featured in the docuseries, "House of Hammer."

The family has a mausoleum in the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park, where Armand and a number of other family members were laid to rest.

Michael is survived by his wife, Misty, as well as Armie and Viktor.

He was 67.

The entire 'Power Rangers' fandom is reeling over the death of star Jason David Frank, and we've learned about the sequence of events in the hours leading up to his suicide.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Jason and his wife, Tammie, checked into a Texas hotel Friday. We're told the two -- who are in the middle of a divorce -- got separate rooms, but at some point the estranged couple got into an argument in Tammie's room. We're told staffers were called to calm things down, and peace was restored.

Our law enforcement sources say at some point either late Friday night or early Saturday morning, the two got into another argument and Jason locked Tammie out of his room.

Our sources say Tammie was apparently concerned for his safety and called the cops around 5 AM Saturday morning. When officers couldn't make contact with Jason, we're told hotel management let them in and they discovered the actor hanged himself in the bathroom.

TMZ broke the story of the 49-year-old's death ... we're told Jason died by suicide.

Jason is survived by his 4 kids. His rep told us, "He loved his family, friends and fans very much. He will truly be missed."

The savage killer/killers of 4 Idaho college students spared the life of a dog at the house where the frenzied attack unfolded.

The Moscow Police Department released a statement Monday night, explaining the pooch was found uninjured the night the University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed with a combat knife. The dog was initially placed in the care of Animal Services, and then handed over to a "responsible party." Further details about the canine were not disclosed.

Meanwhile, police dismissed media reports theorizing that the quadruple homicide might have a connection to the recent killing -- and skinning -- of a mini Australian shepherd named Buddy, miles from the crime scene.

Dead animals were also discovered on another residential property, but they were victims of "wildlife activity," cops said.

Moscow PD investigators have been working with the FBI and Idaho State Police to identify the still-at-large assailant/assailants. They opened an FBI tip line requesting anyone with information on the slayings to contact them immediately.

As we reported, police found the bodies of the students inside the home after responding to a 911 call on November 13. Two surviving roommates were also present, but they were apparently asleep and not involved in the attack.

They later called friends to the house because they thought one of the victims had fallen unconscious and wouldn't wake up. Multiple people inside the house spoke with the 911 operator, using one of the roommates' cell phones.

A drag queen is one of the heroes who saved an untold number of lives after a gunman opened fire at a Colorado gay nightclub ... stomping on the gunman with her high heels.

Army vet Richard Fierro -- who'd gone to Club Q in Colorado Springs with his family Saturday -- pounced on suspected shooter Anderson Lee Aldrich when the bullets started to fly ... this according to the NY Times.

Fierro clearly knew the drill -- subdue and disarm. As he struggled with Aldrich on the ground, he screamed for backup.

That's when a drag queen at the club ran over and began pummeling the shooter with her high heels. This gave Fierro a clear path, beating Aldrich with his own gun and repeatedly punching him into submission.

Fierro told the NYT he thought he killed him.

Cops swooped in and took Aldrich into custody. Fierro was also taken into custody amid the chaos, but was released an hour later. By all accounts, he's a hero, as is the drag queen.

And there's a tragic twist ... Fierro's daughter's boyfriend Raymond Green Vance, was killed in the massacre.

James Winburn, the stunt double for the Michael Myers character in the original "Halloween" film, has died.

James' manager, Peter DeLorme, tells TMZ ... James died Saturday in a Los Angeles hospital after a short illness.

It sounds like a sudden health issue because we're told just about 3 weeks ago James traveled all the way to the United Kingdom for a convention.

James was in Manchester, England during the "For The Love of Horror" convention last month, and the company that put on the event says he "was an absolute pleasure to work with and shared some amazing stories with everyone over the weekend."

A veteran stunt performer, James doubled for Nick Castle's version of Michael Myers in 1978's "Halloween" ... including the famous scene at the end of the horror movie, where Dr. Loomis shoots Michael 6 times, sending Myers falling backwards over a balcony.

James also did stunt work on "The Fog" and "Escape from New York" among other films ... and even wrote and directed a handful of movies.

He was 85.