RIP

Nicole Scherzinger stayed friends with Liam Payne right up until his death ... with one of her Broadway colleagues revealing the two texted on the day he died.

Andrew Lloyd Webber -- famed composer of some of the biggest Broadway shows ever -- sat down for an interview with Billboard to talk about the "Sunset Boulevard" revival running on Broadway. Nicole stars in the show, and Andrew touted her for her composure.

Lloyd Webber says a chief example of this came on the day Liam passed ... saying Liam and Nicole were sending messages back and forth in the afternoon. She found out he passed just before the show -- but, still went out and put on a great performance for reviewers.

Jerry Hairston Jr. is one of many in the baseball world mourning the passing of Fernando Valenzuela this week ... telling TMZ Sports his admiration for the Dodgers legend was endless.

Hairston Jr. actually had the chance to work with the former pitcher over the last few years of his life ... as the two both had gigs broadcasting L.A. games -- and he had nothing but great experiences with the guy.

He told us he actually went golfing a few times with Valenzuela ... and the two shared many laughs while out on the course as well as at Dodger Stadium.

University of South Florida men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died on Thursday, according to the school ... after a medical procedure went horribly wrong.

Coach Abdur-Rahim was only 43 years old.

"All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim," USF official Michael Kelly said in a statement.

MLB great Pete Rose will be laid to rest in November ... with his family hosting a 14-hour visitation for fans at the Cincinnati Reds' Great American Ball Park.

The team revealed the plans on Thursday ... stating it will be an all-day event -- from 7 AM to 9 PM, symbolizing Charlie Hustle's jersey number.

It will be free and open to the public ... with the Reds saying they would like fans to "come together, honor his incredible legacy, and say their goodbye."

Ángel Salazar, who famously played Al Pacino's henchman Chi Chi in "Scarface," died from acute intoxication from drug use ... including cocaine, TMZ has learned.

A rep for the NY Chief Medical Examiner's office tells TMZ ... Salazar passed from the combined effects of cocaine, cyclobenzaprine -- a muscle relaxant -- and diphenhydramine, a type of antihistamine. However, arteriosclerosis, a type of vascular disease, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease were also listed as contributing factors in the actor's death.

Following these results, the M.E. ruled Salazar's death as accidental.

One small item found in Liam Payne's hotel room is getting a lot of attention from cops investigating his death, because it might unlock the mystery of who helped him score drugs ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources in Buenos Aires tell us ... authorities are now investigating the possibility a hotel employee delivered drugs to Liam, which has them focusing on a Dove soap box found in the room, and seen very clearly in a photograph taken after Liam's deadly fall.

The box was on the same table where cops also found drugs and paraphernalia -- tinfoil used to ingest drugs, as well as white powder.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will honor the late Fernando Valenzuela when they take the field for the World Series -- the team just announced it will pay tribute to the legend with a jersey patch.

The Dodgers shared visuals of the uniform tribute on Thursday ... which is a circle featuring Valenzuela's name and number placed on the left sleeve.

On top of the Fall Classic, the Dodgers said players will also wear the patch throughout the 2025 season as well.

Police in Argentina are moving full steam ahead in the Liam Payne death investigation ... raiding the hotel where the former One Direction singer plunged to his death.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops in Buenos Aires showed up at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel Wednesday night to review electronic and paper records following the October 16 tragedy in which Liam fell from the third-floor balcony of his room into a courtyard.

Our sources say Liam's initial autopsy results revealed he had "pink cocaine" in his system, a dangerous cocktail of various drugs such as meth, ecstasy and ketamine, as well as other narcotics.

Francis Ngannou returned to the cage last weekend -- 6 months after tragedy struck his family -- and the combat sports superstar admits he was unsure whether he'd ever fight again.

TMZ Sports talked to the 38-year-old former UFC champion turned boxer/PFL fighter just days after he dispatched Renan Ferreira via a first-round knockout in Saudi Arabia ... and then broke down in tears after the bout while talking about the devastating loss of his little boy, Kobe.

"Oh, yes [I didn't know if I'd fight again]. There was a point that you didn't know anything. Everything seemed so fragile," Francis told us, adding his mind was racing a mile a minute during that horrific time.

Tyson Fury just revealed devastating news ... his wife, Paris, suffered a miscarriage six months into her pregnancy ... the day before the heavyweight boxer lost to Oleksandr Usyk.

The 34-1 superstar boxer opened up on Wednesday, saying Paris -- whom he married in 2008 -- called him to let him know she couldn't make his Usyk fight in Riyadh on May 18 due to high blood pressure.

But, Fury knew something was wrong.

"I asked her what was up and asked her to tell me, but she wouldn’t. So I knew," Fury said.

Ron Ely -- star of the 1960s TV show -- "Tarzan" has died ... this, according to a statement from his daughter Wednesday.

Ely's daughter, Kirsten, tells TMZ he passed away at home at the age of 86 peacefully surrounded by family on September 29th ... and went on to pay an emotional tribute to him in a lengthy IG post, remembering him as one of the greatest men to ever live -- and, a personal idol of hers.

She says her dad always brought a wave of positivity with him wherever he went ... saying his life story was one of relentless perseverance to do what was right, adding she's doing her best to walk in her father's footsteps.

Liam Payne’s heartbroken girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, shared an emotional tribute to the late star, revealing she and the “love of her life” were planning to tie the knot next year.

Kate dropped a carousel of pics of her and Liam on IG Wednesday, along with a heartfelt message saying just weeks earlier he had given her a note he told her not to open at the time -- declaring he hoped to marry her within a year.

Kate wrote, "Liam, I know we'll be together forever, but not in the way we planned. You'll always be with me. I've gained a guardian angel."

Liam Payne's father is offering to help police in Argentina get to the bottom of his son's death.

Geoff Payne has been in Buenos Aires since Friday, flying in from the United Kingdom two days after his son's death, and visiting the memorial to the late One Direction singer.

Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 14 announced Tuesday that Liam's father met with officials and was briefed on the investigation ... and they say Geoff told them he would be willing to tell them everything he knows about his son's life in order to help the investigation.

Michael Newman, best known for his role as lifeguard Mike "Newmie" Newman on "Baywatch," has died ... 18 years after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

He died from heart complications Sunday night, surrounded by family and friends -- with the tragic news confirmed Tuesday by his friend Matt Felker, who helmed Hulu's recent "Baywatch" documentary.

Matt told PEOPLE, "I got to see Mike the last time he was conscious, and he looked [at] me and in typical Mike fashion said, 'You're just in time.'" Felker also posted a lengthy tribute to Michael on his IG.

Surfer and influencer Giulia Manfrini has died at just 36 years old ... after she was speared by a swordfish in Indonesia.

The tragic incident happened earlier this month at Masokut Island, a popular spot for surfers ... when a swordfish jumped out of the water and struck Manfrini in her chest.

Manfrini reportedly suffered a wound 2 inches deep ... and was taken to a nearby health clinic. Sadly, she did not survive.

Liam Payne had multiple substances in his system when he died in Argentina, including a mix of drugs known as "pink cocaine" ... according to the initial results from his autopsy.

Law enforcement sources in Buenos Aires tell TMZ ... the toxicology results for the late One Direction singer are in, and they show he had cocaine and crack in his body when he fell to his death from a third-floor balcony at a Buenos Aires, Argentina hotel.

Forensic examiners, we're told, also found "Cristal" in his blood, which is the Argentinian version of methamphetamine. ABC News first reported the news, adding that ketamine, ecstasy and "pink cocaine" were also part of the drug cocktail in his system.