RIP

LeVar Burton is paying tribute to John Amos following news of the actor's death ... crediting the late star for making history in Hollywood.

We caught up with the actor outside ABC Studios in NYC Friday, where LB had nothing but good things to say about the late TV legend. As LeVar put it ... John's legacy is to be celebrated, especially regarding his work as James Evans on "Good Times."

He noted ... "For me, personally, John's legacy will be that he changed the way Black men were perceived on television in America. James Evans was a householder and, prior to that, Black men were really portrayed as absentee fathers, deadbeat dads, that sort of thing. Only good for prison and jail. John Amos changed that."

Billy Baldwin is voicing his support for brother Alec Baldwin's upcoming "Rust" premiere ... saying the event isn't as controversial as one might think.

We caught up with the actor outside the "Americans With No Address" premiere in Los Angeles Thursday evening, where BB took a couple minutes to defend "Rust" moving forward with a red carpet debut -- despite the on-set tragedy and subsequent manslaughter trials.

As Billy put it ... Alec and the rest of the "Rust" creative team are honoring the wishes of the family of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins ... who was fatally shot on the set of the Western flick in 2021.

Rich Homie Quan's first posthumous album, "Forever Going In," was released Friday -- a month after his death ... the day the star rapper would have turned 35.

The album looks to capitalize on RHQ's growing streaming numbers while also memorializing his life -- it clocks in at 35 songs!!!

2 Chainz, Lil Tjay, Sukihana, Skilla Baby and more help round out the guest list -- RHQ's family dedicated the project to all the supporters.

John Amos' daughter Shannon is claiming her brother, K.C., colluded with 2 others to take advantage of the declining actor ... alleging his will was changed before his death.

Shannon appeared on "TMZ Live" Thursday, where she was joined by John's former business manager, Paul Baldassarre, her daughter Quiera Colston, and John's God-daughter Amy Goudy ... to sound the alarm over their unanswered questions about the shocking circumstances surrounding the "Good Times" star's death.

According to Shannon, John was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2016, prompting K.C. to move in with their dad -- and she says K.C. then proceeded to isolate the TV legend from his other loved ones ... even monitoring his phone calls.

Ron Hale, the actor arguably best known to soap fans as Mike Corbin on "General Hospital," has died, TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Ron died of natural causes at his home in St. George, South Carolina on August 27. A specific cause of death was not disclosed.

Throughout his decades-long career, the veteran actor appeared in several TV series ... including starring in the popular '70s soap "Ryan's Hope" -- in which he played Dr. Roger Coleridge.

After a tremendous amount of controversy, Alec Baldwin's film "Rust" is finally getting its moment in the spotlight -- it's set to premiere next month at Poland’s EnergaCAMERIMAGE International Cinematography Film Festival.

Three years after the tragic accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins -- a bullet fired from a loaded prop gun killed her on set -- "Rust" will hit the big screen in the city of Toruń. The event will also feature a special panel to honor her life.

Director Joel Souza, who was hurt in the 2021 set accident, will helm the panel. Joining him will be cinematographer Bianca Cline, who stepped in to finish the film, and Stephen Lighthill, one of Halyna's film school mentors.

John Amos' death is exposing a family rift ... and it sounds pretty messy.

The late actor's family is now accusing John's son, Kelly Christopher Amos, AKA K.C., of isolating the "Good Times" star from his loved ones before his death.

In a family statement, John's relatives say ... "Over the past year, John Amos was isolated from his family and close friends by Kelly "KC" Amos, Eugene Brummet and Belinda Foster."

James Earl Jones was widely respected on the set of "The Sandlot," even by his 13-year-old costars ... actor Patrick Renna recalls to TMZ.

We caught up with the former child star outside LAX, where he told us what it was like working with the film and stage legend ... and he had nothing but nice things to share.

As Patrick put it ... everyone knew who James was while filming the 1993 coming-of-age movie ... but, they unfortunately didn't get a ton of interaction with the A-lister.

The Menendez brothers' savage shotgun slaying of their parents in 1989 left a gruesome mark on their family home’s living room -- a chilling scene that's still haunting more than 30 years later.

The lavish Beverly Hills mansion is getting a facelift by its new owners ... and a construction worker's recent TikTok takes viewers inside the freshly gutted room where Jose and Kitty Menendez were murdered.

The TikTok shows the eerie family room stripped down to its bones, with only the wooden shelf frame and draped curtains still standing, plus some orange markings and a torn up wall where the TV once was.

Tragedy hit the shores of the Hotel Riu Cancun today when a man was shot dead on the sands of the luxury resort beach ... TMZ has learned.

An eyewitness tells TMZ ... a violent scene unfolded when 2 gunmen on foot and 2 gunmen on Jet Skis approached a man in front of the 5-star Mexican hotel ... and shot him multiple times.

There's currently no word on the victim's identity or why he was shot, but it's suspected this was a cartel hit.

Late "American Pickers" star Frank Fritz is being remembered by the network that made him famous ... the History Channel is broadcasting a bunch of his shows, a couple days after his death.

Honchos over at the History Channel tell TMZ ... the network is running a TV marathon today featuring Frank's episodes of "American Pickers."

The marathon started at 7 AM and ends at 4 PM ... and History Channel is adding an In Memoriam image every hour to remember Frank.

John Amos' daughter Shannon is grieving alongside fans following the death of the "Good Times" actor ... revealing she too just learned her famous dad passed away.

The medicinal healer, who John welcomed with ex-wife Noel Mickelson, issued a statement after word of the actor's passing broke Tuesday ... claiming she and her family learned about his death more than a month after it occurred.

Alongside a video of herself smiling and laughing with John, Shannon wrote she was "without words" upon the "heartbreaking" discovery that her dad had died on Aug. 21.

One of Pete Rose's closest friends and former teammates could tell the Hit King wasn't his usual playful and talkative self the day before he passed ... with Tony Perez explaining members of the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds didn't fully enjoy their last experience together.

The Hall of Famer joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs on FS1) to discuss his final meet-up with Rose ... a signing session at the Music City Autograph Show with Fiterman Sports Group featuring Rose, Perez, Dave Concepcion, George Foster and Ken Griffey Sr.

The former first baseman admitted it "wasn't a good time" because Rose was "not himself" ... and the guys didn't take part in their usual banter during the show, a far cry from how things were when they were last together about six months ago.

Donald Trump sent a message loud and clear to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the day after Pete Rose died ... urging the org. to put the ex-Reds star in "now," "before his funeral!"

The former prez issued the demand during J.D. Vance's debate with Tim Walz on Tuesday night ... taking a brief break from watching his running mate to heap some serious praise on the baseball legend.

"The GREAT Pete Rose just died," he said. "He was one of the most magnificent baseball players ever to play the game. He paid the price! Major League Baseball should have allowed him into the Hall of Fame many years ago."

Diddy is assembling a legal dream team, Britney Spears is recalling a near accident and Pete Rose is being remembered ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles explain why Diddy is beefing up his legal team in an effort to get out of jail.

Rich Homie Quan died from a toxic mix of several different drugs, including fentanyl ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner in Georgia, the late rapper died from the combined effects of fentanyl, alprazolam, codeine and promethazine ... and his death is being ruled an accident.

The Medical Examiner's report, obtained by TMZ, also notes Rich Homie Quan showed no signs of trauma when his body was found dead and examined.