RIP

Esta TerBlanche left behind a bunch of animals -- including some very unique pets -- when she died last week, and they had to be collected by a third party ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops got called to the "All My Children" star's home last week when her assistant went to her house to check on her because she hadn't heard from Esta ... who had just returned to the States from a trip overseas.

Our sources say the assistant found Esta Friday on the ground in her bathroom, called 911 and first responders pronounced her dead on the scene.

Keanu Reeves is sharing his candid thoughts on mortality, and the fact is ... "the end" is something that's top of mind for him right now.

The actor joined author China Miéville on the BBC to promote their new novel, "The Book of Elsewhere," which follows an immortal character who is eager to die -- which explains why the morbid topic was brought up in the first place.

As Keanu put it ... at 59 years old, he's "thinking about death all the time," especially since he described himself as "young-old."

New body cam footage shows the moment a white police officer in Illinois shot and killed a Black woman named Sonya Massey ... who actually called 911 for help.

The footage was released by authorities in Springfield, IL Monday -- which depicts Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson facing off with Massey earlier this month after she called the cops over suspicions of a prowler near her home.

In the video ... you see Grayson and his partner in Massey's house, where they're asking her to provide her ID -- and eventually, they tell her to get a boiling pot of water off the stove.

Sandy Posey -- who hit it big time in the '60s with her music career -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

The late pop singer's husband, Wade Cummins, tells us his wife passed away Saturday morning at her home in Tennessee -- this following complications from dementia, we're told.

Wade tells us Sandy had been battling dementia for a while now, with a slow decline over the past seven years. Aside from that, he says she was in relatively good health ... with no issues like high blood pressure or problems with any other organs.

The manager for Yo Gotti's CMG Records artist EST Gee is dead after a shooting that happened on the heels of the label's homecoming concert -- an event where cops anticipated potential violence.

Louisville police spokesperson Aaron Ellis told local outlets they found 31-year-old EST Big Beach -- real name, Devontae Beach -- with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle close to where the "Sky Dwella" rapper performed Saturday night.

Beach was pronounced dead on the scene shortly after EMS arrived, and police are now searching for suspects.

The Minnesota Vikings just revealed they're working on some classy gestures to pay homage to Khyree Jackson and his family ... announcing they're not only going to dole out the remainder of the late DB's signing bonus -- but they'll wear a helmet decal in his honor as well.

The NFL org., head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah revealed the plans on Monday ... roughly two weeks after Jackson was killed in a horrific car crash.

They said the remainder of the $827,000 Jackson was owed will be paid to his estate. They also said they'll be covering a large portion of his funeral expenses. In addition, O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah told reporters the Vikings will have a Jackson sticker on their lids this year, and no player will wear the former Oregon Duck's No. 31 this season as well.

Autumn Crittendon of "16 & Pregnant" fame has died -- and it sounds like there were some health problems her family was aware of ... TMZ has learned.

The MTV star's sister broke the news on Facebook Sunday -- penning a heartfelt message to her late sibling ... which has since been deleted. However, a source with direct knowledge has given us a bit more insight into what happened.

We're told Autumn passed away Saturday at a home she was living at with her kids, her mom and her stepdad in Henrico County, Virginia. Our sources say her mother and stepfather found her unresponsive in her bedroom, after a friend notified them that something was wrong. Paramedics then arrived and attempted to render CPR.

Duke Fakir, the last surviving original member of the beloved Motown group the Four Tops, is dead.

The singer died Monday at his home in Detroit as a result of heart failure ... according to his family.

Duke's family tells his hometown newspaper, the Detroit Free Press ... "Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a trailblazer, icon and music legend who, through his 70-year music career, touched the lives of so many."

"16 And Pregnant" star Sean Garinger's official cause of death is blunt force injury to the head ... according to the M.E.'s office.

TMZ obtained the docs from the Raleigh, NC Medical Examiner's office, and the report on his February death says his skull was fractured in multiple places -- after his horrific freak accident involving an ATV in the driveway of his home.

As we previously reported ... Sean was driving his ATV when the ground gave way, flipping the off-road vehicle and pinning him underneath. The accident crushed his skull, tragically ending his life before help could arrive.

Esta TerBlanche -- a star on the iconic soap "All My Children" -- has died at 51, her family tells TMZ.

Barbie Ashley, her goddaughter, tells TMZ ... Esta died unexpectedly on Thursday in her North Hollywood home ... medical personnel believe the South African actress had been dead for about a day before she was found.

The cause of her death is under investigation, her rep, Lisa Rodrigo tells us ... adding there is no other information at this time.

Richard Simmons' team's keeping his legacy alive ... sharing a post the late star approved before he passed -- including what looks like a recent pic of the fitness guru.

The people behind Simmons' X account shared a post they say Richard worked on tirelessly that was supposed to go up last Sunday -- the day after he passed away.

In the post, the account managers explain how RS would go over posts multiple times ... holding off on posting until he'd written them exactly how he wanted.

Whitney Rydbeck -- an actor known for his appearance in a 'Friday the 13th' film and several major sitcoms -- has died ... according to his longtime friend.

The actor passed away early last week according to his friend, director Tommy McLoughlin, who just posted the news a couple days ago ... saying the world lost a truly funny comedian and kind-hearted friend.

The Hollywood Reporter spoke with McCloughlin as well ... who told them he died from prostate cancer complications while in hospice care in Chatsworth, California.

Brazilian musician Ayres Sasaki died this week after he was electrocuted during a live show ... when he hugged a soaking-wet fan onstage.

The incident -- which happened at the Solar Hotel, in Salinopolis, Brazil during Sasaki's concert -- occurred when the singer hugged the wet fan, and according to The Sun, the contact triggered a nearby cable to jolt, causing the fatal electric shock.

It's still unclear as to why the fan was wet, but police in Salinopolis are investigating the incident.

Shelia Jackson Lee – the Texas congresswoman who spent three decades in office fighting for Black rights – has died.

Her family issued a statement saying Lee passed away Friday, but no cause of death was given. They said while they were grieving for their loss, they had much gratitude for Lee's life.

In June, Lee announced she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, informing her constituents she would occasionally be absent from Congress while getting medical treatment.

An Indianapolis man is dead after another driver shot him at point-blank range during a road rage incident caught on video -- and cops have released the man who fired the fatal shots.

In the video, a man rushes to the driver's side of a large white truck ... with what appears to be a gun in his hand, and he's screaming at the other motorist while punching his door during the Tuesday incident.

Watch closely ... because when he's rushing up to the car, the gun's in his right hand -- but, when he reaches the door he switches it to his left before raising his arm and pointing.

Richard Simmons' death certificate sheds no further light on the mystery surrounding his death ... but does provide some interesting details on his final resting place.

In the document obtained by TMZ ... Richard's manner of death is not listed -- instead, it notes the manner of death is still pending an investigation. This explains why there is still no cause of death to report.

However, it appears the fitness guru -- who is actually referred to as a "Health Motivator" on the cert -- has already been laid to rest a week after his death. Per the doc, Richard was buried here in L.A. at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary.