celebrity death

Senator Dianne Feinstein Dies At 90

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Senator Dianne Feinstein has died at the age of 90. Per a statement from her office, Feinstein died at home in Washington DC on the evening of September 28. Feinstein had served as one of California’s senators since 1992 and had previously served as the Mayor of San Francisco between 1978 and 1988. “Senator Feinstein never back away from a fight for what was just and right. At the same time, she was always willing to work with anyone, even those she disagreed with, if it meant bettering the lives of Californians or the betterment of our nation,” the statement from her office read.

However, Feinstein’s health had been declining over the past several years, causing her to spend increasing amount of time away from Washington. This led the senator to face increasingly vocal calls for her to resign given the slim majoirty that the Democrats held in the Senate. While she refused to step down, she did announce earlier this year that she would not be seeking re-election in 2024. This has led to a fierce and wide-ranging Democratic primary for the vacant seat.

Read More: Sir Michael Gambon Dies At 82

Feinstein Remembered By Colleagues

“For decades, Senator Feinstein was a pillar of public service in California: from San Francisco’s City Hall to the United States Capitol. Her indomitable, indefatigable leadership made a magnificent difference for our national security and personal safety, the health of our people and our planet, and the strength of our Democracy. Furthermore, Dianne was a pioneering woman leader, who served as San Francisco’s first female Mayor with unmatched courage, poise and grace. Standing strong amid horror and heartbreak — from the brutal murders of Harvey Milk and George Moscone to the deadly HIV/AIDs epidemic — she offered our City a beacon of strength and hope. In the United States Senate, she was a champion for the Golden State: bringing home billions of federal dollars while defending our state’s natural wonders,” former Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of Feinstein in a lengthy statement.

Meanwhile, flowers were placed on Feinstein’s seat in the Senate chambers. The Senate is expected to honor Feinstein when the chamber meets to continue budget talks in hopes of avoiding a government shutdown this weekend.

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Sir Michael Gambon Dies At 82

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Michael Gambon, the acclaimed Irish actor best known for portraying Dumbledore in six of the Harry Potter films, has died at the age of 82. “We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside,” a statement from his family read. According to his publicist, Gambon died after a brief battle with pneumonia.

Gambon was best known for playing Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise from Prisoner of Azkaban onwards. Gambon stepped into the role after the role’s original actor, Richard Harris, passed away following The Chamber Of Secrets. However, Gambon had a stage and television career that dated back to the 1960s. His final on-screen roles were in 2019, with roles in Judy and Cordelia. Furthermore, he had a special place in the hearts of motoring fans. The popular British motoring show Top Gear named a turn on their test track after Gambon. Gambon received the honor after almost flipping the car he was driving at the spot on the track.

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Sir Michael Gambon Fondly Remembered

“He did once say to me in a car ‘I know I go on a lot about this and that, but actually, in the end, there is only acting’. I think he was always pretending that he didn’t take it seriously, but he took it profoundly seriously,” actress Fiona Shaw told the BBC. Shaw appeared alongside Gambon in several of the Harry Potter films, as well as The Last September. “I absolutely loved working with him/ The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you’d told me then that brilliant actor would appear in anything I’d written, I’d have thought you were insane,” Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling wrote on social media. Gambon also appeared in the TV adaptation of Rowling’s crime novel, The Casual Vacancy.

“With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun. Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, but despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his job. He was silly, irreverent, and hilarious,” Daniel Radcliffe told Page Six. Of course, like any esteemed British actor, Gambon also appeared on the long-running science fiction show, Doctor Who. In 2010, Gambon appeared in an homage to Ebeneezer Scrooge alongside David Tennant for one of the show’s iconic Christmas specials.

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Mike Williams, Former Buccaneers And Bills Wide Receiver, Dies In Construction Accident

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Mike Williams, a former college standout who played five years in the NFL, has been reported to have died at the age of 36. Williams played college football at Syracuse, where he remains 7th in career receiving yards. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Following an electric rookie year, he came within 100 yards of a 1000-yard season on two separate occasions, 2010 and 2012. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Sam Bradford. He was traded to the Bills ahead of the 2014 but only made eight catches in nine games and was cut. While he, briefly attempted to make a comeback in 2016, he was cut by the Chiefs during training camp.

According to a GoFundMe set up to help Williams’ family, he was struck in the head by a steel beam on September 1. Williams had been working in Tampa and that is where he was hospitalized and later died, according to the GoFundMe launched by his mother.

Read More: Ryan Mallett, former Arkansas standout and NFL backup, dies at 35

Teammates Mourn Mike Williams

“Dang man hurts my heart seeing the news of my former teammate and Buccaneers 2010 draft class brother Mike Williams. “Always great energy brought joy and laughter to the locker room and a heck of a player!! Prayers and blessings to his family!!,” Williams’ Bucs teammate Gerald McCoy wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The top two receivers on the 2012 Bucs were Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, combined for 17 touchdowns that season. Neither of them made it to 40 — Jackson lost at 38, Williams at 36. Just tragic,” added Fox Sports’ Greg Auman.

Neither the Bucs nor Syracuse have released a statement about Williams’ passing. However, social media has been filled with fans lamenting his passing. One blog described him as “never scoring a boring touchdown” while many were shocked to see someone they had enjoyed watching die at such a young age. Williams may not have had the longest NFL career. However, it was a career that clearly touched the lives of many people. Rest in peace, Mike.

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Lefty SM Shot & Killed In Guadalajara, Mexican Rapper Was Only 31

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Yet another tragedy has struck the world of hip-hop, this time taking place in Mexico. As HipHopDX reports, a shooting in Guadalajara this past weekend left 31-year-old Lefty SM dead. The foreign rapper’s record label, Alzada, confirmed the upsetting news in an Instagram post which has since been translated into English. “Dear Alzada friends and family, with profound sadness we’re informing you about the death of our brother, Lefty SM, Juan Carlos Sauceda,” they shared with followers.

The late lyricist leaves behind a wife, Maria Isabel, and the couple’s two daughters. At the time of his death, the “Volando” artist was reportedly attacked near his home in Mexico. Police haven’t yet shared a motive for the crime. An official report is expected to come from authorities later today (September 4). Fans both old and new are shocked by the news of Lefty’s death. Many of them have been sharing heartfelt tributes to the rising star online.

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Lefty SM’s Record Label Confirms His Tragic Death

Lefty’s name may not be familiar to those who only listen to American rap, but in the world of Latin hip-hop, he was making serious waves. He’s spent most of his life mastering the art of writing rhymes, beginning in 1992, though it wasn’t until 2017 when his YouTube channel really took off. Unfortunately, he won’t be around to further push boundaries in the music world. Still, it’s not likely that his loved ones will let his legacy be forgotten. As we’ve seen with other artists taken too soon, there’s always a possibility for posthumous features or albums.

It’s been a sad few days in terms of fatalities being reported in the news. Aside from Lefty SM’s fatal shooting in Mexico, Rihanna’s cousin, Tanella Alleyne was also buried in Barbados recently. Read more about that tragedy at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

Read More: Rihanna’s Cousin Tanella Alleyne Dead In Barbados Years After Brother’s Fatal Shooting

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Jimmy Buffett Died From Rare Skin Cancer

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The music world mourned the death of Jimmy Buffett this week. Buffett, who built a musical and commercial empire on the back of his beach life-themed music, was reported to have died on September 1 at the age of 76. On September 2, his website announced that Buffett had died following a four-year battle with Merkel cell carcinoma, an extremely rare and fast-spreading form of skin cancer. Furthermore, Buffett faced the cancer in secret. His last known public performance was a surprise show in Rhode Island in July 2023.

Originally from Mississippi, Buffett pioneered a “beach bum” style and musical sound. That in turn found an audience in places like SoCal and the Florida Keys. He began recording music in the 1970s but only got his first #1 album in 2004 with License To Chill. His best charting single was 1977’s “Margaritaville”, which peaked at #8. That song would give its name to a restaurant chain that Buffett opened in 1985. A consistently popular chain, it received a new boost of attention earlier this year. YouTubers Eddy Burback and Ted Nivison underwent a road trip to visit every Margaritaville in North America.

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World Mourns Jimmy Buffett

“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many,” the initial statement announcing his death read. The subsequent statement that revealed Buffett’s cause of death also announced that he had died at his home in Sag Harbor, New York.

Buffett’s death was marked by several musical greats. “So goodbye Jimmy. Thanks for your friendship and the songs I will carry in my heart forever. Sail On Sailor 🦜🌴🌊,” wrote Kenny Chesney, who collabed with Buffett several times. “A poet of paradise, Jimmy Buffett was an American music icon who inspired generations to step back and find the joy in life and in one another. We had the honor to meet and get to know Jimmy over the years, and he was in life as he was performing on stage – full of goodwill and joy, using his gift to bring people together,” wrote President Joe Biden. Buffett is survived by Jane, his wife of 46 years, as well as their three children – Savannah, Sarah, and Cameron.

Read More: Police reportedly investigate death at Burning Man

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Bill Richardson, Diplomat Who Helped Free Brittney Griner, Dies At 75

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Bill Richardson, the man many will know as the face of the diplomatic effort to free Brittney Griner from Russian detention, has died at his home in Massachusetts at the age of 75. Richardson was a congressman, cabinet secretary, UN ambassador, and two-term governor across a long and storied career in American politics.

“He lived his entire life in the service of others — including both his time in government and his subsequent career helping to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. There was no person that Gov. Richardson would not speak with if it held the promise of returning a person to freedom. The world has lost a champion for those held unjustly abroad, and I have lost a mentor and a dear friend,” said Mickey Bergman. Bergman is the Vice President of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which Richardson founded and led.

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Political World Mourns Bill Richardson

After retiring from mainstream politics in 2011 after two terms as Governor of New Mexico, Richardson became a renowned political troubleshooter. Whether the public knew it or not, Richardson was a central figure in many of the efforts to free American citizens imprisoned abroad. However, it was a role Richardson cherished, once referring to himself as “the unofficial undersecretary for thugs.” He also ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, hoping to become the nation’s first Hispanic president. However, he dropped out after fourth-place finishes in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries.

While well-known to political junkies, Richardson hit a new level of public-facing attention in 2022. He became one of the central public-facing figures in the effort to free Brittney Griner from Russian detention. Richardson and Bergman made multiple trips to Russia and Eastern Europe to speak with their Russian contacts in hopes of bringing Griner home. They eventually managed to do so after the WNBA star spent nine months in a Russian prison. Richardson is reported to have died peacefully at home.

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Iconic And Beloved Gameshow Host Bob Barker Dies At 99

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Bob Barker, the iconic host best known for hosting shows like Truth or Consequences and The Price Is Right, has died at the age of 99. Barker’s long-time publicist Roger Neal revealed that Barker had died on August 25 at his home in Los Angeles. “I am so proud of the trailblazing work Barker and I did together to expose the cruelty to animals in the entertainment industry and including working to improve the plight of abused and exploited animals in the United States and internationally,” Nancy Brunt, Barker’s longtime friend and caretaker, said in a statement.

Barker’s lengthy career in radio and television began in 1956 when he was hired as the host of Truth or Consequences, which would make the jump to television a year later. After 18 years of hosting the program, Barker would move full-time to hosting The Price Is Right, which he had spearheaded the revival of in 1972. Barker was famous for his twinkling smile, dry wit, and perpetual tan. Prior to his retirement in 2007, Barker had recorded over 5000 episodes of television. Barker was enshrined on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1976. A noted animal rights activist, Barker became famous for signing off his broadcasts with a reminder to spay and neuter your pets.

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Television Loses True Icon In Bob Barker

Messages of mourning spread across social media as outlets began to report Barker’s passing. Beyond his gameshow commitments, Barker would often appear in the most surprising places. Perhaps his most famous cameo is in the film Happy Gilmore. Barker plays himself and is paired up with Adam Sandler’s eponymous character at a pro-am tournament. The two get into an argument and proceed to slug it out in an iconic fight scene.

Of course, his lengthy career was not without some controversy. A former Price is Right model, Dian Parkinson, sued Barker for sexual harassment. While Barker acknowledged there had been a sexual relationship between them, he claimed that Parkinson had initiated it. She would later drop the suit due to its effects on her health. Regardless of this, Barker never lost the love of his many audiences. So, one last time, have your pets spayed or neutered.

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DJ Paul Responds To Crunchy Black’s Theory About Gangsta Boo’s Death

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Many of those close to Gangsta Boo gained some closure back in June when the Southern starlet’s death was confirmed as an accidental overdose. Despite the official reports, there were still those with suspicions about the circumstances of the situation, including Crunchy Black. Earlier this week, the rapper took to social media with allegations of Gangsta’s brother, E Gutta (or Eric Mitchell), being responsible for her passing. According to Crunchy, his friend’s sibling was resentful of her for not financially supporting him and even spoke about acting out in violence toward Boo during his time in jail.

“I’m bout to reach out to yo whole family and tell them everything you used to be talking about in prison when it came to Boo. Imma start wit your mama because she needs to know her son ain’t shit,” he wrote, turning of plenty of heads his way. Since Black’s damning post, several people in the comments suggest he should turn this information over to the authorities. On Thursday (August 34), DJ Paul confirmed that what the 49-year-old is talking about is already common knowledge among police.

Read More: Gangsta Boo Murdered By Her Brother, Crunchy Black Claims

DJ Paul Suggests Authorities Are Aware of Suspicion Surrounding Gangsta Boo’s Brother

“They have it,” the Three 6 Mafia co-founder commented on an IG post. “They have her phone and they know who did it.” Paul didn’t explicitly name Gutta as the person responsible for Gangsta’s death, but he didn’t deny Black’s allegations either. As the story continues to gain more traction, only time will tell if authorities have enough evidence to make a case against Mitchell for allegedly killing his sister.

Despite her untimely death, hip-hop hasn’t allowed Gangsta Boo’s name to go unremembered. Back in the spring, Juicy J shared a posthumous feature from the late legend on his Mental Trillness album, and we’re still awaiting updates on her first solo album since 2003. Tap into the Memphis natives’ collaboration at the link below, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.

Read More: Juicy J’s “Mental Trillness” Project Includes A Posthumous Gangsta Boo Feature: Stream

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Angus Cloud’s “Euphoria” Audition Tape Surfaces After His Death

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The cast and crew of Euphoria are still processing the news of Angus Cloud’s sudden death, not to mention his friends, family, and fans. Those close to the late star have been sharing their favourite memories with him via social media. Since the news broke, his mother, Lisa Cloud, has been doing her part to keep the community updated. She’s already made it known that she doesn’t think her son intentionally took his own life. Rather, she believes that he may have fallen victim to an accidental overdose.

Aside from that bit of news, Lisa also shared an old casting video for Euphoria that the talent agent who first scouted Angus shared with her. “This was just sent to me by Jennifer Venditti who scouted Angus in Brooklyn. It’s his first tape,” Lisa wrote on Facebook earlier this week. “After this was seen by the creators of Euphoria, he was asked to read for Fezco. It really captures my son’s extraordinary spirit,” Angus’ mom added.

Read More: Angus Cloud’s Mom Shuts Down Suicide Speculation, Believes Possible Overdose Was An Accident

Angus Cloud’s Memory Lives on Thanks to His Mother, Lisa

Angus Cloud Euphoria Season 2
Angus Cloud attends HBO’s “Euphoria” Season 2 Photo Call at Goya Studios on January 05, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO)

In the six-minute video, the creative describes himself as “goofy” while talking to the camera. “We call it pepping, when you just engage in any random spontaneous activity, so we’ll just leave out the house and just find a whole lot of fun stuff to do,” Cloud shared when detailing his hobbies. As for his music preferences, the actor shared, “I like all good music, whatever pleases my ears, but I tend to listen to hip-hop. I don’t exactly know why, it just sounds the best to me.”

They may have physical similarities, and both suffered a tragic fate in the end, but prior to his passing, Angus Cloud promised to never portray Mac Miller in a biopic. Read everything that the late 25-year-old had to say at the link below, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.

Read More: Angus Cloud Promised To Never Play Mac Miller In A Biopic During Resurfaced Interview

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Harry Belafonte Dead At 96, Music Sensation & Actor Mourned By Many

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We’re certainly sad to report the death of Harry Belafonte today, though proud to say that the multi-talent lived for 96 years, during which he accomplished insurmountable feats. TMZ shared the news on Tuesday (April 25). Ken Sunshine revealed to the outlet that the singer-turned-actor passed away in his Manhattan home today after battling congestive heart failure. Belafonte is survived by his wife, Pamela, and four children – one of which is Sistas actress, Shari Belafonte.

Additionally, the fallen icon has two stepchildren and several grandkids mourning their loss. Belafonte rose to fame during the 1950s, helping to popularize the genre of calypso music in America at the time. He’s best known for “Day-O,” or “Banana Boat Song,” which appears in the film Beetlejuice and has even been sampled by Lil Wayne. He was born to Jamaican parents in New York in March 1927, and the music they introduced him to at a young age obviously influenced his own releases. Calypso, his breakthrough album, was the first to ever sell more than one million copies in a year.

RIP Harry Belafonte

(Photo by Henry Herrmann/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

Apart from setting trends and breaking records sonically, Belafonte also had a noteworthy career as an actor. His credits include Island in the Sun, Carmen Jones, and Odds Against Tomorrow. One of the entertainer’s most frequent collaborators was Sidney Poitier. The two came together in the ’70s for both Uptown Saturday Night and Buck and the Preacher. Of course, his resume doesn’t stop there. Harry was a noted civil rights activist and spent plenty of time marching with Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the ’60s.

His last public event was in December 2022, when he was honoured with the National Order of the Legion of Honour from the French government – not a bad way to go out. The recording artist touched the hearts of many with his work and the way he lived his life, causing an outpouring of heartfelt tributes to surface on social media today. Scroll on to see some of the internet’s favourite memories of Harry Belafonte, and share any of yours in the comments. RIP.

Twitter Tributes & Fond Memories Pour In

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