Nick Bollettieri Legendary Tennis Coach Dead At 91 ... Trained Williams Sisters

Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri -- who trained superstars like Serena and Venus Williams, Andre Agassi and Anna Kournikova -- passed away on Sunday. He was 91 years old.

The International Tennis Hall of Famer was a pioneer in the sport ... creating the first year-round, live-in academy in Florida in the '70s, which would eventually become the famous IMG Academy.

Bollettieri coached 10 #1-ranked players over the years ... including Jim Courier, Boris Becker, Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Jelena Jankovic, and Marcelo Rios, in addition to the Williams sisters and Agassi.

He also trained Chris Evert, who shared a heartfelt goodbye on Twitter.

"Aside from being the greatest coach ever, you were so kind to me, my parents, and my siblings… that meant more to me than anything, you had a big heart and a zest for living…❤️❤️❤️."

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Tommy Haas added ... "Thank you for your time, knowledge, commitment, expertise, the willingness to share your skill, your personal interest in mentoring me, and giving me the best opportunity to follow my dreams."

"You were a dreamer and a doer, and a pioneer in our sport, truly one of a kind."

Christine McVie Personal Items Go for Big Money ... On Heels of Death

Christine McVie had some personal items of hers hit the auction block this weekend -- and in the wake of her death ... you better believe they fetched a pretty penny.

The event was held by Julien's Auctions on Saturday and Sunday in Beverly Hills, where upwards of 800 items belonging to three different Fleetwood Mac members -- including CMV -- were put up for sale to the highest bidder ... and Christine's stuff was in high demand.

Among the lots of hers up for grabs -- wardrobe that she once wore herself, not to mention Christine's very own musical instruments and stage gear ... so, yeah, rare collectables.

For starters, two different dresses of Christine's were sold ... one was the vintage maxi dress she donned for the hit album, 'Rumours,' (sold for $56,250) and her polka dot chiffon hippie dress -- which she wore to the 1976 Rock Music Awards (sold for $31,250).

There's more ... the singer's Leslie speaker and her very own mics raked in $37,500; her touring Hammond B3 organ fetched $28,125; her Yamaha electric baby grand piano sold for $22,400; and Christine's other stage-played organ went for $18,750. Nearly $200k all in all.

Other FM items were part of the auction too -- some of John McVie's belongings were also sold, such as his guitars and bass racked up practically a quarter of a million dollars on their own. Also, Mick Fleetwood's iconic wooden 'Rumours' balls snagged $128k on their own.

Pretty solid turnout, and you gotta imagine Christine's passing played a part in the interest.

As we reported ... Christine died Wednesday at the hospital after a short illness, while surrounded by loved ones. Her old bandmates sent a tribute in her honor. She was 79.

RIP

'Sesame Street' Veteran Bob McGrath ... Dead at 90

Bob McGrath -- one of the original human stars on 'Sesame Street,' and a longtime staple on the show for years -- has died ... this according to his loved ones.

The actor's family shared the sad news Sunday, writing on his official Facebook page ... "Our father Bob McGrath, passed away today. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family."

McGrath will best be remembered as a recurring cast member of the beloved children's series ... having made his first appearance when the show first aired in the '60s. He was featured in the pilot in 1969, playing himself, and went on to work in an additional 47 seasons. He stopped acting on 'Sesame Street' in 2017 ... his last episode was 'Having a Ball.'

His contributions to 'Sesame Street' can't be overstated ... not only did he provide educational lessons for children through his interactions with the puppets -- but he brought a musical element to the show too, with original songs like "People in Your Neighborhood," "Sing a Song," "If You're Happy And You Know It" and even the 'SS' theme song.

While Bob stepped away from appearing on-camera for 'Sesame Street' in recent years ... he continued to work with Sesame Workshop -- the company that runs the franchise -- by going to public events and serving as an advocate.

Bob starred in countless 'Sesame Street' productions over the years -- including standalone films, sing-alongs, holiday specials, video games and more. He was one of the longest-standing human adult cast members on the series. He's survived by his wife and kids.

BMG was 90. RIP

'Twin Peaks' Actor Al Strobel One-Armed Man, Dead at 83

Al Strobel -- an actor famous for his work in the "Twin Peaks" franchise -- has died.

The news came down Sunday courtesy of producer Sabrina Sutherland, who's worked with David Lynch on a lot of projects over the years. She took to Facebook to write, "I am sad to have to post that Al Strobel passed away last night. I loved him dearly."

No cause of death was provided, nor were any other details offered.

Strobel is best known for playing the one-armed man during pretty much every "Twin Peaks" installment -- including the original TV show from the early '90s, the spinoff movie thereafter and the reboot from 2017 ... for all of which he always reprised his role as Phillip Gerard.

Gerard was a traveling shoe salesman who'd occasionally get possessed by a spirit known as Mike -- who used to work with another shady character (also dead) named Bob ... the entity that inhabited Leland Palmer, who ultimately killed Laura Palmer -- the central character.

His character comes in and out of the plot a lot throughout the full 'TW' saga ... and was oftentimes featured in bizarre dream sequences that Kyle MacLachlan's character, Agent Cooper, would find himself in ... all in an effort to unspool the big murder mystery.

Through it all ... Strobel always nailed it in his performances, which were kinda campy -- but so good too. He was an amputee in real life ... having lost his arm in a car accident.

In addition to his "Twin Peaks" role, Strobel also acted in films like "Megaville," "Sitting Target," "Child of Darkness, Child of Light," "Ricochet River" and more.

Strobel was 83. RIP

Univ. of Idaho Murders Means of Death Don't Match Victim's Father Claims

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IT'S A NIGHTMARE
FOX News

There's another big twist in the unsolved Idaho quadruple murder case ... a mysterious discrepancy in the way at least 2 of the victims were killed.

Steven Goncalves, the father of slain Univ. of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves, said Saturday night, the fatal attacks on Kaylee and Madison Mogen, her best friend, were mysteriously different in nature. He said on "Lawrence Jones Cross Country," ... "I'll cut to the chase. Their means of death don't match."

He wasn't specific, but did say, "Their points of damage don't match."

What's especially odd ... authorities say Kaylee and Madison were sleeping in the same bed at the time of the attack, yet according to the father the stabbings were somehow different.

Four people were stabbed to death in the house, and authorities seem stumped. They have given conflicting information about the attacks ... going back and forth on whether it was targeted and if the rest of the community was at risk.

Kaylee's mom has wondered why certain people were cleared "very fast."

Steven was understandably emotional, saying, "I'm just going to say it. It wasn't leaked to me. I earned that. I paid for that funeral. I sent my daughter to college. She came back in a box."

Juice WRLD Day Festival Lineup Includes ... Trippie Redd, G Herbo, Cordae, Etc.

Juice WRLD would've turned 24 Friday, and while his memory lives on through his family, friends and fans ... there's a massive tribute show on the horizon in Chicago, his hometown.

December 8 marks the third anniversary of the rapper's death, and will also be the day the United Center will fill up with supporters passionately celebrating what's being deemed as "Juice WRLD Day."

TMZ Hip Hop has learned the lineup is jampacked -- DDG, Trippie Redd, G Herbo, Cordae, Lil Tecca, Ski Mask the Slump God, Lucki, Sleazyworld Go, Tana and Bankrol Hayden are all in ... repping for the 999 movement this year.

Bankrol tells TMZ Hip Hop, “Juice WRLD has always been a big inspiration to my music and helped me through my toughest times. Opening up for Juice in 2018 to now performing at the celebration of his legacy means the world to me.”

Juice’s personal friend and collaborator DJ Scheme also tells TMZ Hip Hop the event is truly important because it flips a negative situation into a positive occasion, saying, “On the day he passed away, we get to celebrate it in a positive way so his supporters never forget his main ideal ‘999.’”

Juice died from an accidental drug overdose of oxycodone and codeine in 2019 at just the age of 21 ... but his popularity remains unchanged.

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He finished 2022 with over four BILLION streams on Spotify alone.

Noodle the Pug TikTok Famous Dog Dies at 14

Noodle the Pug -- who took TikTok by storm over the past year-plus -- has died ... this according to his owner.

Jonathan Graziano announced the news Saturday, saying Noodle passed overnight while in his arms. He extends thanks to everyone who tuned in to watch his pooch on the platform and for welcoming both of them into their lives ... noting Noodle brought a lot of joy.

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JG added that Noodle had a helluva run, and mentioned this in his caption ... "It has been the privilege of my life to care for Noodle these past 7 years. The sweetest man there has ever been and will ever be."

The pug was famous for a "No Bones Day" gag that Graziano would do daily ... which basically amounted to seeing if the dog wanted to get up for the day and do stuff. He'd lift Noodle up and gauge whether he'd stand on his own or not -- if he flopped, it's "no bones." If he stayed up, it meant Noodle had bones for the day ... an indicator for the rest of TikTok.

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Naturally, the internet is in mourning ... with many pointing out just how pure Noodle's interactions were, and how well Graziano interacted with him for hilarious content. The pet owner is said to have adopted Noodle some 10 years ago, so they had a long relationship.

Noodle was 14.

RIP

Chinx's Widow His Murder Still Feels Raw ... New Rapper Deaths Are Triggering

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IT'S NOT THE MUSIC
TMZ.com

French Montana's late Coke Boys artist Chinx Drugz is still dropping new music 7 years after he was gunned down -- a fact his wife sees as a testament to the countless hours he spent recording.

Chinx's widow, Janelli Caceres-Pickens, and his former manager, Doug "Biggs" Ellison, painstakingly compiled verses, snippets and unfinished tracks to complete "CR6," his third posthumous project, and the sixth installment in the "Cocaine Riot" series.

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TMZ Hip Hop spoke to Janelli about the release and she admitted it was exhausting, yet rewarding.

She also touched on the rash of rappers who've been killed at an even more alarming rate than when Chinx was murdered.

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Janelli says she's been vocal about the recent string of tragedies -- such as PnB Rock and Takeoff both getting fatally shot in recent months -- and she insists it's misplaced to blame the pattern on hip hop culture.

Instead, she says it's criminals who are ruining the vibes ... although, she admits if she and Biggs weren't A&Ring "CR6," she'd be listening to R&B.

Nevertheless, Janelli is proud of the Chinx project, citing the song "Lonely" with Offset as one of her personal faves.

Some legends never die, they live on through streaming.

Greg Knapp Jets Honoring Late Coach ... Custom AF1s For Vikings Game

Awesome gesture from the New York Jets' coaches ... several assistants on the roster will be wearing custom Air Force 1s this weekend against the Vikings -- to honor the late Greg Knapp.

The feet heat will feature a depiction of Knapp, who coached in the NFL for nearly three decades before he was tragically killed in a bicycle accident last July, in a headset, with his nickname, "Knapper," written on it as well.

The shoes will also have a website link to Knapp's foundation -- an org. set up following the coach's death to try to stop people from driving distracted.

Mike Jordan, the cleat artist who designed the kicks, tells TMZ Sports ... the Jets were the ones who initially tapped him for the task earlier this year -- and he was pumped to take on the job.

And, he said he was thrilled with how they ultimately turned out.

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CUSTOMS FOR A CAUSE
TMZSports.com

Jordan also designed several other custom cleats for Jets stars for this weekend's "My Cause, My Cleats" game ... including ones for Sauce Gardner, who will wear American Cancer Society-themed spikes.

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson also copped Jordan cleats representing the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) ... while cornerback DJ Reed got a pair for multiple sclerosis, something his father died from in September.

"To help these guys support these charities and organizations that are close to them for one reason or another, like DJ Reed whose father passed away due to MS, is special," Jordan said.

Jordan -- who's been crafting cleats for 6 years -- says he spent a ton of hours on all of the custom shoes for Week 13 ... but at the end of the day, it was all worth it.

"It's a great event to be a part of and I'm really fortunate to do what I do with the Jets."

Carrie Fisher & Debbie Reynolds CA Ranch Sold ... After 3 Decades in the Fam

Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds' longtime family home in Central California has a brand new owner ... we've learned it just sold.

Real estate sources tell TMZ ... Debbie and Carrie's ranch in Creston -- which is about 3 hours north of L.A. in San Luis Obispo County -- sold Thursday for the asking price of $2.85 million.

The famous mother and daughter had owned the ranch for the last 30 years.

We're told Debbie's son and Carrie's brother, Todd, put the 7-bed, 8-bath home up for sale back in September.

The 44-acre estate comes with all the extras you'd imagine for Hollywood royalty, including a library, bar and a private screening room ... where the fam enjoyed its 5,000-movie library of Hollywood classics.

The living room features a showcase grand piano used by Debbie and all the great crooners who performed in her Las Vegas showroom.

There are 2 separate buildings from the main house that include a recording studio, office and storage space -- all totaling 17,000 square feet!!!

The property is tucked away in a private valley with native deer, a natural spring and access to geothermal and solar power.

As we've reported, a portion of Carrie's ashes were placed in a coffin and buried alongside Debbie in 2017 ... as they sadly passed away only one day apart.

Ian Chandler and Jen Kennedy of Home & Ranch Sotheby's International Realty held the listing.

Takeoff Arrest Made In Rapper's Death

UPDATE

2:56 PM PT -- Prosecutors say in court docs that Patrick Xavier Clark applied for an expedited passport right after Takeoff's murder by submitting an itinerary for a flight to Mexico. When he was arrested, prosecutors say he had received the passport and had a large sum of cash on him.

UPDATE

1:04 PM PT -- According to court docs obtained by TMZ ... prosecutors are asking for Clark's bail to be set at $1,000,000. If Clark is released on bail, prosecutors are asking the judge for an order that prohibits Clark from talking with a specific list of people - Takeoff's family, J. Prince Jr. and his family, as well as Shakur Stevenson and anyone from Shakur's "place of employment."

UPDATE

According to the docs, prosecutors are also asking the judge to place Clark under house arrest if he gets out on bail.

Houston PD says they've made an arrest in the shooting death of Takeoff.

The department's chief addressed the media Friday, announcing they arrested 33-year-old Patrick Xavier Clark and charged him with the murder of Takeoff.

As we reported, Takeoff was killed early morning November 1 after he and Quavo were partying at a local bowling alley. At some point, the celebration turned into an argument, which led to a physical altercation and a shooting.

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ANNOUNCING THE ARREST
Houston Police

Cops say Takeoff was not part of the argument and he was not armed, he was an innocent bystander who was hit by gunfire. What's more, investigators say nearly 30 people were at the scene when the shooting happened -- and almost everyone left without giving a statement to police. They still ask those who were in attendance come in and talk.

Takeoff was shot in the head and torso according to the coroner's report -- and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

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TEMPERS FLARE
TMZ.com

TMZ obtained video of the incident from 2:30 AM -- you can see and hear Quavo arguing with someone, and Takeoff is a few feet behind him. There's some sort of a discussion about basketball before shots start to ring out.

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FLASHING HIS GUN
TMZ.com

Another angle -- also obtained by TMZ -- showed a man dressed in black with a handgun in his right pocket just seconds before the gunfire, showing multiple people were armed at the event.

Originally Published -- 12:15 PM PT

Cruise Ship Terror 1 Killed, 4 Injured ... After Massive Wave Smashes into Ship

A terrifying ordeal on the water has left one cruise passenger dead and another 4 injured after a MASSIVE "rogue wave" smashed the side of the ship, busting out several windows.

Viking's Polaris cruise ship was heading towards Ushuaia, Argentina Tuesday night when the deadly wave hit the side of the boat during a storm. Viking says one guest -- who was reportedly a 62-year-old woman -- died because of the incident.

The company also says 4 other guests sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated by medical staff onboard.

One passenger on the ship during the huge wave crash told WRAL the massive blow felt like "we hit an iceberg." Several windows were left shattered, and Viking says the ship "sustained limited damage."

The company says its main focus remains on the safety of its passengers ... adding it's decided to cancel the Polaris' December 5 "Antarctic Explorer" voyage.

'Orange Is The New Black' Actor Brad William Henke Dead at 56

Brad William Henke, a former NFL player who later got into acting and appeared in "Orange Is The New Black," has died ... TMZ has confirmed.

Brad died in his sleep Tuesday, according to sources connected to his family. The cause of death is unclear.

Brad's most famous for playing one of the prison guards in 'OITNB' -- and he's in the scene where one of the show's main characters, Poussey Washington, is killed off -- one of the biggest scenes in the entire series.

He also had roles in TV shows like "Justified" and "Lost" ... appearing in movies including "Pacific Rim" and "World Trade Center."

Brad started acting after retiring from the NFL in 1994, hanging up his cleats due to ankle injuries. He played his college ball at the University of Arizona before being drafted in 1989 by the New York Giants.

A defensive lineman, Brad also played for the Denver Broncos and got on the field in Super Bowl XXIV against the San Francisco 49ers.

Brad first got into Hollywood by acting in commercials, then he started landing TV guest spots on series like "ER," "Arli$$," "Nash Bridges," "Silk Stalkings" and "Chicago Hope."

With over 100 acting credits to his name, Brad also appeared in "CSI," "Judging Amy," "Crossing Jordan" and "Dexter" ... among many others.

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THE LAST TIME WE SAW HIM
TMZ.com

His manager, Matt DelPiano, tells us, "Brad was an incredibly kind man of joyous energy. A very talented actor, he loved being a part of this community….and we loved him back. Our thoughts are with his wife and family.”

Brad was 56.

RIP

'Green Book' Actor Frank Vallelonga Jr. Found Dead ... Man Charged for Dumping Body

Actor Frank Vallelonga Jr., famous for his work in the Oscar-winning "Green Book," has died ... TMZ has confirmed.

The NYPD tells TMZ ... police responded Monday morning to a 911 call about an unconscious man in the Bronx, and when they got there they found a dead body in the street, which was later identified as Frank.

Cops say the Medical Examiner will determine an official cause of death. Meanwhile, police tell us a suspect has been criminally charged with dumping Frank's corpse. Cops also say the suspect told police Frank overdosed.

Frank's late father is "Sopranos" star Tony Lip, who played New York mob boss Carmine Lupertazzi in the HBO series ... and his brother, Nick Vallelonga, is the co-writer and producer for "Green Book," which won two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture.

In fact, "Green Book" is about Frank's father ... Tony worked as a bouncer and was hired to drive and protect pianist Don Shirley during an early 1960s tour through the Jim Crow South. In the movie, Viggo Mortensen portrays Tony and Frank plays his other brother, Rudy Vallelonga.

Cops say the suspect dumped Frank's body from a car owned by Nick -- but Nick told police the suspect did not have permission or authority to drive the car.

Frank was 60.

RIP

University Of Idaho Murders Police Backpedals Story ... Once Again Believes Killings Were Targeted

UPDATE

12:40 PM PT -- Moscow PD is changing its story once again ... giving an update Thursday, with a police spokesman telling CNN, "We remain consistent in our belief that this was indeed a targeted attack."

UPDATE

While the department's going back on its original belief, Moscow PD is still sticking to a part of Wednesday's statement -- the spokesman reiterated it's unclear if the victims or the home was a part of the possible targeting.

Idaho authorities seem to be back to square one ... they just reversed a key finding in their investigation into the slaughter of four college students.

The Moscow Police Department released a "clarification" on Facebook Wednesday night, saying they are now UNSURE if the victims or the murder house were targeted by the killer or killers.

The statement read ... "We have spoken with the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office and identified this was a miscommunication. Detectives do not currently know if the residence or any occupants were specifically targeted but continue to investigate."

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TARGETED ATTACK
NEWSNATION

Latah County prosecutor Bill Thompson sparked confusion during a recent interview with NewsNation, stating the assailant/assailants were "specifically looking at this particular residence." He added the use of the term "targeted" was likely a mistake because it implied one or more of the victims were in the killer/killers' crosshairs.

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TOO SOON TO TALK
ABC News

Thompson's words muddled the message from Moscow Police Chief James Fry, who has been adamant since the beginning of the probe that it was a "targeted attack," but he never explained why. Police have not identified the suspect/suspects or released a motive. Few details about the crimes are publicly known.

Four University of Idaho students were discovered fatally stabbed inside an off-campus home on November 13. Investigators believe the murder weapon was a combat knife similar to the one used by the Rambo character in the '80s film, 'First Blood.' But, the weapon has not been found.

With the killer/killers at large and little if no answers from police ... many university students -- out of fear -- have opted to attend classes remotely.

Originally Published -- 6:16 AM PT

'Catfish' Murders Killer Blacked Out Windows of New Home ... Purchased Days Before Killings & Abduction

We're learning more about the sickening triple murder of a 15-year-old girl's family and the possible fate she faced if her abductor would have gotten her back to his home across the country.

Real estate records reveal Austin Lee Edwards paid $80,000 for a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom house in Saltville, VA on November 14 ... just 11 days before killing 3 people in Riverside, CA.

We spoke with neighbors who tell us Edwards almost immediately blacked out the windows of the home with car tint ... we've obtained photos showing it was next to impossible to see inside the home.

One of the neighbors tells us they had a brief conversation with Edwards, who said he chose to move there to get out of Richmond, VA. They also say Edwards wore a trench coat when he went to the water department to turn on his utilities, which they thought was odd.

As for his possessions ... we're told Edwards didn't appear to have much -- barely any furniture. We know cops have been active on the property over the last few days, removing evidence bags as they searched his home.

Cops say Edwards killed the 15-year-old girl's mother and grandparents before setting their house on fire, and then abducted the young girl. He was later caught in a police chase -- after one of the grandparents' neighbors called 911 -- which ended in a shoot-out where Edwards was killed. Cops say Edwards connected with the girl after catfishing her, pretending to be a 17-year-old boy.

You have to wonder what sick fate the 15-year-old could have faced if Edwards was successful in getting her from California to Virginia -- especially given the fact he wanted to hide whatever was going to happen inside his new home.