NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire’s brother, Hazell Stoudemire, tragically died in a car accident on Route 27 in Lake Wales, Florida on Monday morning (February 6). Hazell, who was only 35 years old, was pronounced dead on the scene.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the NBA player’s brother was driving at a “high rate of speed” and was not wearing a seat belt when he collided with the rear of a tractor trailer and smashed his car into the big rig. It’s still unclear if alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Amar’e and his family.

R.I.P. Hazell Stoudemire.

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Character actor Ben Gazzara, best known for starring in the original “Cat On a Hot Tin Roof” on Broadway and his role as pornographer Jackie Treehorn in “The Big Lebowski”, sadly passed away in Manhattan, New York City on Friday (February 3), after a long battle against cancer.

The 81 year-old had been diagnosed with throat cancer back in 1999, but ended up losing his life to pancreatic cancer at the Bellevue Hospital Center, where he had reportedly been in hospice care for a long time.

Ben Gazzara is survived by his wife Elke Krivat, whom he wed in 1982. The actor, who allegedly had an affair with Audrey Hepburn, was also married to Louise Erickson (from 1951 to 1957) and Janice Rule (from 1961 to 1979).

R.I.P. Ben Gazzara.

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Soap opera star Nick Santino, 47, committed suicide Wednesday.

The actor, who had appeared on shows like All My Children and Guiding Light, was grieving over the death of his dog, Rocco, who had been euthanized on Tuesday–the same day Santino turned 47.

‘All My Children’ Sets Official September Ending Date

“Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend,” Santino wrote in a suicide note, according to close friend Stuart Sarnoff. “Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn’t deserve this.”

Santino had been “harassed” by his building management company about his dog. According to UsMagazine, “He was allegedly threatened with a $250 fine for having a barking dog, but according to neighbor Kevan Cleary, “the dog was not a barker, but somebody complained that the dog would bark.”"

Police found his body on Wednesday afternoon. He had overdosed on pills.

Devastating. RIP, Nick and Rocco.

[image: UsMagazine]

The Voice judge Christina Aguilera delivered a heartfelt tribute to the legendaryEtta James with an emotional speech and a fantastic rendition of the classic “At Last” during the singer’s funeral service held at Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena, CA on Saturday (January 28)- watch video below.

Christina said, ” [It is] an amazing honour for me to have been welcomed here today, invited here to pay tribute to the great Miss Etta James. It’s very emotional for me to sing today, as this has meant so much to me. She was the one that cut right through my soul. So tonight, Etta, this song is for you.”

That was a truly incredible performance by X-Tina. The 31 year-old wore the most daring plunging neckline black suit she could find, which was probably a little bit inappropriate. Too much boobs for a funeral, if you ask me. Anyhow, I don’t think anyone could have sung that song as well as Christina did.

The service was attended by 300 special guests, including Rev. Al Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy with a note from Barack Obama, and Stevie Wonder, who performed “Shelter in the Rain” before singing The Lord’s Prayer.

The 73 year-old legendary singer passed away at the age of 73 after losing her battle against leukemia on January 20, 2012. Etta is survived by her husband Artis Mills and two songs, Donto and Sametto James.

R.I.P. Etta James.

Christina Aguilera Sings At Last At Etta James Funeral Video go on reading »

Champion free-style skier Sarah Burke tragically passed away after a ski accident during a routine training session for the Winter X Games on the superpipe in Park City, Utah on January 11, 2012.

The 29 year-old allegedly severed a vital artery, which caused her to go into cardiac arrest and consequently led to irreversible brain damage due to lack of oxygen in the blood during the arrest.

Sarah underwent surgery to repair a ruptured vertebral artery that caused bleeding between the brain and skull, but remained comatose.

Sarah died “peacefully surrounded by those she loved,” her parents Jan and Gordon, sister Anna and husband Rory Bushfield said in a statement. “The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude for the international outpouring of support they have received from all the people Sarah touched.”

According to Sarah’s wishes, her organs and tissues were donated.

R.I.P. Sarah Burke.

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Legendary blues singer, Etta James, best known for hits like “At Last” and “Something’s Got a Hold On Me,” sadly passed away after a long battle against leukemia at a hospital in Riverside, California on Friday (January 20).

Last month, a doctor announced Etta, who also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and hepatitis C, was terminally ill. The 73 year-old singer was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010. She was hospitalized with a kidney infection and sepsis back in May of 2011, before her leukemia was declared incurable.

Etta’s friend/manager Lupe De Leon, said in a statement: “This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world. She was a true original who could sing it all – her music defied category. I worked with Etta for over 30 years. She was my friend and I will miss her always.”

Etta was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008. The “I’d Rather Go Blind” songbird won 6 Grammys and was portrayed by Beyonce Knowles in the movie “Cadillac Records.”

[image: Adriana M. Barraza / wenn.com]

In 2011, the world became a poorer place with the disappearance of some legends like Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Rooney, Clarence Clemons and Nate Dogg to name only a few.

R.I.P.

Most Shocking Deaths Of 2011 go on reading »

Former Miss Venezuela, Eva Akvall, sadly passed away at a hospital in Houston, Texas on Saturday (December 17) after losing a long battle against breast cancer. Eva was only 28 years old.

Eva won the Miss Venezuela title back in 2000, when she was only 17. The beauty queen, who was also the third runner-up in the Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico in 2001, settled down when she married her husband, radio producer John Fabio Bermudez.

A bald Eva without makeup posed for the cover of her a book titled “Fuera de Foco” (“Out of Focus”) about her struggle with cancer. In the book, she also confessed that her 2 year-old daughter Miranda was the reason to stay alive.

“I hate to see photos in which I come out ugly,” Ekvall told El Nacional. “But you know what? Nobody ever said cancer is pretty or that I should look like Miss Venezuela when I have cancer.”

Eva, whose mother died of the same type of cancer at 39, is survived by her father, husband and daughter. A funeral service will be held in her home country as soon as her remains are returned to Venezuela.

Vaya con Dios. R.I.P. Eva Ekvall.

Bobby Brown’s father, Herbert Brown, who appeared in his reality show “Being Bobby Brown”, has sadly passed away after a long battle against cancer. The 82 year-old affectionately called Pop was 82 years old.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bobby Brown and his family.

R.I.P. Herbert Brown.

Comedian Patrice O’Neal, who was most recently seen on the Comedy Central Roast Of Charlie Sheen, has died at the age of 41.

O’Neal suffered a stroke in October after a long battle with diabetes. His manager, Matt Foster, released this statement earlier today:

“It is with terrible sadness we must report that Patrice O’Neal has passed away this morning at 7:00am due to the complications of the stroke he suffered on October 19. Many of us have lost a close and loved friend; all of us have lost a true comic genius. His mother, who was also his best friend, was at his side. Patrice is survived by his wife, Vondecarlo; his step daughter Aymilyon, sister Zinder, and his mother Georgia. The family wishes to thank all of the fans and friends who have expressed an outpouring of love and support for Patrice these past weeks. We ask that you please respect the family’s request for privacy at this difficult time.”

RIP, Patrice.

[image: HuffPost]

Actress Natalie Wood mysteriously died in a drowning accident 30 years ago, but the investigation into her death is being reopened after the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department received ”substantial information” prompting them to take another look into one of Hollywood’s great mysteries.

“Recently we received information which we felt was substantial enough to take another look at the case,” Lt. John Corina told more than 100 reporters outside the sheriff’s office during a press conference Friday. “The case has been assigned to two homicide investigators who will be following up on the information and any other new information.”

Wood died on Nov. 29, 1981 while boating off Catalina Island with her husband Robert Wagner, actor Christopher Walken and captain Dennis Davern. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning after she was found floating a mile from the boat.

In an interview with the Today show Friday morning, Davern admitted he had come forward to police with new information. “I made mistakes by not telling the honest truth in the (initial) police report,” Davern said.

When asked directly if Wagner himself was a suspect during the press conference, the lead detective answered with, “No.”

Wagner, at the time, was the center of tabloid speculation that foul play was involved in the actresses’ death. But Coroner’s officials assured the public that the death was an accident and that Wood was ”possibly attempting to board the dinghy and had fallen into the water, striking her face.”

I have a feeling we’ll be hearing PLENTY of news surrounding this case. Stay tuned.

[image: USAToday]

Rapper Heavy D (real name: Dwight Arrington Myers), best known for the hip-hop classic “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” and the theme songs of “In Living Color” and “MADtv”, was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead at around 1 pm on Tuesday (November 8).

The 44 year-old was found unconscious on the walkway by someone who called 911 at 11:25 am in Beverly Hills, California. When the paramedics arrived, Heavy D was already conscious and speaking.

Just a few hours prior to his unexpected death, the rapper tweeted, “SMOKIN JOE FRAZIER..RIP.. truly one of the best heavyweight champs that ever lived.. GODS SPEED,MR FRAZIER!”

Heavy D died a short time after he arrived at the hospital. The authorities are currently investigating the case, but there are no signs of foul play.