RIP

12:18 PM PT -- The Jones family just released a statement to the NFLPA that Jacoby died "peacefully" at his New Orleans, Louisiana home.

"The family, including his mother, Emily and his son, Little Jacoby, are together and are asking for your prayers, privacy, and support as they navigate through this difficult time."

Former NFL star receiver Jacoby Jones -- who won Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens -- has passed away. He was only 40.

Ex-NFL quarterback Matt Leinart, and Jones' former teammate, confirmed the devastating news on Sunday, saying he's heartbroken over Jacoby's death.

"His laugh and just bigger-than-life personality will be something I'll always remember," Leinart said, "RIP brother."

Shifty Shellshock's loved ones are honoring him in a big way ... with plans for his celebration of life underway, TMZ has learned how they're going to show their love.

Ilya Krokav -- a close childhood friend of Shifty -- tells TMZ ... they're holding the celebration sometime in the next month or so in Los Angeles for friends and family ... but it will also be open to fans.

They're still searching for a venue, and looking at places that will hold a few hundred people. We are told they have not yet finalized what the musical tribute is going to look like.

2:46 PM PT -- We're told Richard Simmons fell in the bathroom in his home, though it's unclear if that's where the housekeeper found him.

LAPD's elite Robbery Homicide Division responded to his house because this is a high-profile death though they still do not suspect foul play.

2:10 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources say Richard took a fall last night, which may be connected to his passing.

Richard Simmons -- the legendary fitness guru -- has died at 76 ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police and fire responded to a call from his housekeeper just before 10 AM Saturday and pronounced him dead at the scene. We're told no foul play is suspected at this time, and cops are investigating it as a natural death.

Shockingly, RS posted multiple times on Facebook recently ... including thanking fans for all the birthday wishes he received.

Ruth Westheimer -- better known as the legendary TV sex therapist Dr. Ruth -- has died in New York City.

The German-born, Jewish Holocaust survivor passed away at her home on Friday, according to her rep, Pierre Lehu, who declined to give a cause of death.

In the '80's, Dr. Ruth had a huge following on NYC radio network WYNY with her first call-in show, "Sexually Speaking," which led to her success in television as well.

While Eminem's fans are celebrating the release of his 12th album, the family of slain "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is probably furious over him referencing her death.

The ninth track on "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)" is called "Fuel," and he closes the song with a verse that name drops Halyna, as well as Alec Baldwin, who is currently on trial for fatally shooting Halyna in 2021 on the set of "Rust."

Em leads up to the blistering line by bringing up guns -- "Clutchin' the nine millimeter, tuckin' the heat. Got the toaster like an English muffin. No, I mean, "Toast to" like you drink to somethin' But it's in a holster, I proceed to bust it."

The 2024 ESPYs paid tribute Thursday night to the many great athletes who passed away in the last 12 months ... but one name was notably left out -- O.J. Simpson.

The annual award show took place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles ... and as they do every year, ESPN officials ran their "In Memoriam" segment to reflect on the stars the sports world lost since the last iteration of the event.

Willie Mays, Jerry West, Larry Allen and Bill Walton, among others, were shouted out during the impactful portion of the show. Simpson, however, was not.

Prince Harry delivered a powerful speech at the 2024 ESPY Awards on Thursday night ... and in it, he paid homage to Pat Tillman's mom -- this despite her previous scathing criticism of him.

ESPN announced weeks ago the Duke of Sussex would get the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the annual show -- and days later, Mary Tillman ripped Harry and the network for the decision. She said she was "shocked" by the choice ... calling the royal, "a controversial and divisive individual."

But Harry took the high road when it came time to chat about the honor onstage at the Dolby Theater in L.A. ... taking several seconds out of his acceptance address to acknowledge Mary.

Dave Loggins, a country singer and songwriter who wrote the theme song for the Masters golf tournament, is dead.

Dave died Wednesday in Nashville ... according to an obituary in The Tennessean.

The cause of death is unclear, but Dave was said to be in hospice care when he passed.

Shelley Duvall, who famously co-starred in "The Shining," is dead after a painful battle with diabetes.

Dan Gilroy, Shelley's life partner for decades, tells TMZ ... he found Shelley unresponsive in their home in Texas at 7 AM Thursday. He says Shelley had been under hospice care, and bedridden, for the last few months while dealing with complications from diabetes. He says she died in her sleep.

Shelley had the unforgettable role of Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" -- she was on the other side of the door when Jack Nicholson smashes through the door with an ax, yelling ... "Here's Johnny!"

An alleged drunk driver in New York careened through a nail salon at top speed ... and, the unbelievable moment was caught on video.

The shocking clip -- published by the New York Post -- shows the car speeding out of a Long Island parking lot late last month, but instead of turning onto the main road, it dashes straight across the street toward a strip mall.

The car jumps the curb and keeps on moving, before eventually crashing into Hawaii Nail & Spa ... reportedly killing four people including an off-duty NYPD officer, and injuring nine others.

Riley Strain's mysterious death in Nashville is anything but cut and dry ... and the autopsy and video surveillance only add to the puzzle.

TMZ Studios has a new series, "Strange & Suspicious," now airing on a dozen FOX stations, where we explore unexplained and straight-up weird stories, and now we're looking into the circumstances surrounding Riley's death.

A college student visiting Nashville with his frat brothers, Riley left his friends behind at the bar and drunkenly stumbled through the streets before vanishing ... until his body was found floating in a river, without his shoes, pants or wallet.

Sean Burroughs -- the ninth-overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft -- died from a fentanyl overdose.

The late MLB player's official cause of death is listed as fentanyl intoxication and his death has been ruled an accident ... according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

As we reported ... 43-year-old Sean died back in May, when he was found unresponsive next to his car in a Long Beach parking lot outside his son's Little League baseball game. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

New footage seemingly showing a sleeping bag containing the dead body of Yazmeen Williams has surfaced ... and, it shows how callously at least one person treated her remains.

The horrifying clip shows an individual on a motorized scooter dragging what appears to be a large sleeping bag behind him on the street. According to CBS New York ... it's still unclear if it's the same sleeping bag with Williams' body in it, but they do look alike.

As previously reported, the sleeping bag itself was discovered tied to a dolly cart.

Benji Gregory -- best known as the child star on the sitcom "Alf" -- has passed away ... TMZ can reveal.

The actor's sister Rebecca tells TMZ her brother was found dead in his car at a Chase Bank parking lot in Peoria, AZ, on June 13.

His death certificate confirms that date, and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office tells us Benji's cause of death is still pending.

9:30 AM PT -- Josh Klinghoffer's attorney, Andrew Brettler, tells TMZ ... "It was a tragic accident. After Josh struck this pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, stopped the car, called 911 and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. Obviously, he's cooperating with the police throughout the traffic investigation. This was purely a tragic accident."

Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is being sued for wrongful death and for allegedly being behind the wheel of a car that ran over and killed a pedestrian.

According to a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Josh was driving a black GMC Yukon in Alhambra, CA back in March when he made a left turn and ran into a pedestrian who was using a crosswalk.

9:24 AM PT -- Opening statements are done ... court is breaking until 9:40 AM PT.

9:15 AM PT -- Alex Spiro finishes his opening statement by saying the prosecutors need to prove this death was foreseeable ... and Spiro says it simply wasn't.

9:10 AM PT -- Spiro's honing in on the broken firearm ... saying now no one can test the gun in the condition it was in when Halyna Hutchins was shot since law enforcement broke it during testing.

8:52 AM PT -- Alec Baldwin's defense team plays the 911 emergency call for the court. Spiro highlights how the caller says the shooting was accidental and blames AD David Halls.