RIP

Stephen A. Smith is owning up to a mistake he made as his LeBron James feud intensifies ... apologizing for claiming the Lakers superstar didn't attend the memorial service for Kobe Bryant.

The ESPN host incorrectly stated during his passionate rant on Thursday's "First Take" that James was nowhere to be found when the basketball community mourned Bryant's tragic death at the then-Staples Center following the Hall of Famer's tragic death in 2020.

According to multiple reports, James was, in fact, in the building ... but requested not to be shown during a livestream of the emotional event.

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy's bodies are still unclaimed -- more than a month after their tragic deaths, TMZ has learned.

TMZ reached out to the Office of the Medical Investigator in New Mexico, and they confirmed the list of unclaimed decedents is updated online every Monday. Gene and Betsy’s names appeared on the list on March 24, and they’re still there as of today.

Officials tell us it’s not unusual for bodies to remain unclaimed for a month after dying. It’s unclear why Gene and Betsy’s bodies remain unclaimed ... but it’s possible the family is still making funeral arrangements or finalizing plans.

Olympic skier Berkin Usta was tragically killed on Thursday after a fire erupted at a ski resort hotel in Turkey.

He was only 24.

The fatal incident occurred at the Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag, Bursa, when flames engulfed the structure in the early morning, destroying the ski resort.

Opening Day 2025 has arrived for the New York Yankees ... and while there's always excitement leading into a new season, the team's manager said the players will take the field with "heavy hearts" following the shocking death of former star Brett Gardner's 14-year-old son.

Aaron Boone spoke with the media ahead of first pitch at Yankee Stadium ... and he said the athletes will have Miller on their minds throughout the season.

"I talk to our guys a lot about perspective," he said. "While this matters so much to us, it's our livelihood, we pour so much into this, so many people care about it, it's baseball. I really think it's important we reflect on that every now and then when we get consumed with this."

9:56 AM PT -- Yella Beezy's lawyers, Toby Shock and John F. Gussio, are now speaking out about the case, telling TMZ ... they attended a court hearing today with Yella and, during the proceeding, the prosecutor entered the shooting video into evidence and introduced a couple of new arrest affidavits for codefendants. The prosecutors also asked the court to allow a witness to testify that Yella was one of the key people who allegedly supplied money to the accused shooter, Kewon White, to do the hit on Mo3.

The attorneys also said they were "gratified" the judge lowered Yella's bail to $750,000 from $2 million, citing a lack of evidence against him and other factors. They summed it up by saying ... "We look forward to fighting the case in court — Yella denies the charges."

Video of rapper Mo3's shooting death is surfacing for the first time ... and you see him being chased down in broad daylight by a hitman.

Prosecutors in Texas just released footage of Mo3's November 2020 killing, and the video picks up with Mo3 stopping his car in the middle of Interstate 35 in Dallas ... getting out of his ride and running for his life.

The masked gunman stops his car a few yards in front of Mo3 ... and with traffic whizzing by, both men get out and start running down I-35.

10:03 AM PT -- Clive's daughter Kate tells TMZ … "My father had been suffering with dementia for over three years.  My husband, and our 7-year-old daughter relocated from Redwood City to care for him in 2002. He actually completed his last motion picture in 2016 directed by Fernando Trueba which he enjoyed tremendously.

"As a professional, he was never short on time or generosity when speaking with younger people who wished to enter into the world of show business. He spoke at UT’s Theatre Under the Stars, Magic Con, and Wizard Con. He is also one of the last performers who worked with Billy Wilder and Irving Kirshner. Whether encouraging me through medical school or being a wonderful dad, he covered all the bases."

Actor Clive Revill — best known as the voice of the villainous Emperor Palpatine in one of the "Star Wars" films, has died.

Revill passed away at an assisted-living facility in Sherman Oaks, California, on March 11 while suffering from dementia, his daughter, Kate, told The Hollywood Reporter.

In "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back," Revill played the role of the hooded Palpatine who spoke in a creepy voice as a three-dimensional image to Darth Vader about their enemy Luke Skywalker.

The first trailer for Alec Baldwin's "Rust" is out ... more than three years after the tragic on-set shooting that took Halyna Hutchins' life.

The trailer’s packed with classic Western action -- horse ridin', shootouts, and plenty of drama -- while still honoring Halyna, with her name listed as cinematographer in the credits alongside her husband Matthew Hutchins, who served as EP on the flick.

Bianca Cline stepped in as cinematographer after Halyna's death, and from just the short trailer, it’s clear they both excelled -- because the film's visuals look fantastic.

Houston rapper Sauce Walka is grappling with mixed emotions after narrowly escaping a deadly shooting in Memphis on Saturday that claimed the life of his friend and artist Sayso P.

Sauce's attorney, Carl A. Moore, tells TMZ ... the rapper is mourning the loss of his friend but is grateful to be alive.

We're told the "Check Please" rapper has been released from the hospital after being treated for gunshot wounds to the leg ... and is on a "long road to recovery" but "is gaining strength daily."

David Hasselhoff’s ex-wife Pamela Bach’s cause of death has been revealed -- she died by suicide.

The Los Angeles County death certificate Tuesday reveals Pamela died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head using a revolver on March 5 -- which confirms what we reported earlier.

Law enforcement sources told us that at the time family members hadn’t heard from her, so they went to check on her at her house -- and that’s where they found her.

Cindyana Santangelo, an actress once described as "the Latin Marilyn Monroe," has passed away ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement tells us first responders were called Monday afternoon to Cindyana's Malibu home for a medical emergency ... and she was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

We're told Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies went to the hospital and learned Cindyana had recently received cosmetic shots in her home. Our sources say LASD's Homicide Division is now investigating her death.

12:15 PM PT -- The Arenas Del Mar tells TMZ Sports the Gardners did not eat at any of its restaurants for lunch or dinner the day before Miller's death ... but will continue to work with the family and officials on the tragic matter.

It also noted the establishment had an inspection on March 14 ... and received a passing 98.5 out of 100 score.

The cause of Brett Gardner's son's sudden death remains a mystery ... but Costa Rican officials said Tuesday they believe food poisoning might have played a role in the tragedy.

14-year-old Miller Gardner passed away Friday while on vacation with Brett and other family members in Manual Antonio ... and, initially, investigators thought he might have died from asphyxia, as his body was found with vomit on it.

But Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Police told CNN on Tuesday that after they discovered the teen's airways were clear, they now believe his body's unfortunate reaction to a meal was what sparked the passing.

Michael Moorer -- one of the few men who stood toe-to-toe in a boxing ring with George Foreman -- tells TMZ Sports he's heartbroken over the boxing legend's death ... making it clear the pugilist will be sorely missed.

We sat down with Moorer on Monday -- just three days after Foreman's family revealed the ex-heavyweight champ passed away at 76 years old -- and it wasn't hard to tell he was crushed to learn of the news.

Moorer called Foreman "a gentle giant" ... and added that he'll always remember him as "a great person."

3/24 5:49 PM PT -- Brett Gardner's 14-year-old son Miller died from asphyxiation at a resort in Costa Rica ... according to a new report.

Miller was staying at the property as part of a family vacation when he and others in the group fell seriously ill ... per Inside Edition.

Officials in Costa Rica are now reportedly working with the Gardners to return Miller's body to the United States.

Brett Gardner -- former star of the New York Yankees -- has just announced the death of his 14-year-old son ... adding it came suddenly after he became ill along with a group of family members on a trip.

The 14-year MLB veteran and his wife, Jessica, announced the news in a heartfelt statement, released through the Yankees social media channels ... explaining their son Miller passed away Friday.

According to the Gardners, Miller and a group of other family members got sick while on vacation ... adding they have far more questions than answers at this point.

Larry Tamblyn -- a founding member of the influential band The Standells and brother to actor Russ Tamblyn -- has died ... according to a social media post by a family member.

Dennis Tamblyn -- Larry's nephew -- announced the sad news in a Facebook post ... telling fans his uncle passed away Saturday and remembering his "incredible life."

Tamblyn particularly mentioned one memory of his uncle staying with him in Arizona several years ago ... adding his uncle was still making music well into his later years. He did not provide a cause of death.

Gene Hackman's daughter told the sheriffs who found her father dead in his home to cremate his dead dog and bury its remains with that of his wife Betsy Arakawa ... according to newly released police body cam video .

The footage -- released Friday by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office -- features a phone call between a deputy and Gene's daughter Elizabeth.

She tells police to cremate the dog at the county's animal shelter and bury the remains with Betsy. Elizabeth also tells police to kindly save the dog's collar.

"Little House on the Prairie" star Jack Lilley has died at 91, with his costar Melissa Gilbert confirming the heartbreaking news.

Gilbert paid tribute to Lilley on IG Friday, calling him one of her "favorite people on the planet" and recalling some really sweet memories with him, like when he taught her to ride a horse.

Lilley started out as a stuntman, and worked as actor Victor French’s photo double, as well as taking on a bunch of roles in 'Little House' from 1974 to 1983. Melissa also praised his "absolute brilliance" in the film "Blazing Saddles."