Rapper XXXtentacion Dies

The Hollywood Gossip

Sad news for the hip-hop world.
20 year old rapper, XXXtentacion, was shot and killed in South Florida today.
The Florida native was leaving a motorsport store this afternoon when two men in SUVs shot and killed him, in an apparent robbery.
The rising rap star was known for the song Look at Me and others.
He was known recently for a domestic violence case involving his pregnant girlfriend.
Rappers took to social media to honor the fallen star.

rest in peace 🙏🙏🙏 I never told you how much you inspired me when you were here thank you for existing pic.twitter.com/QU7DR3Ghbw

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) June 18, 2018

Prayers up for 🙏🏿 @xxxtentacion

— juicy j (@therealjuicyj) June 18, 2018

Really sad Rip xxx.. so sad to lose good artist. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

— T-Raww (@Tyga) June 18, 2018

My heart dropped when I heard about @xxxtentacion, I feel like we only got to see a glimpse of his artistry. I didn’t know him personally but I respect how passionate he was about his music and message. Nobody deserves this kind of ending. gone too soon, damn! RIP

— Sean Don (@BigSean) June 19, 2018

Linkin Park Pens Sweet Letter to the Late-Chester Bennington

linkinpark.com

Instagram: @chesterbe 

On July 20th, 2017, music fans were shocked to hear the news that Linkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington, had died.
Bennington was found dead near his home in L.A., he was 41 years old. The Los Angeles coroner  says they are investigating Bennington's death as an apparent suicide but no additional details are available.
Interestingly enough, Bennington died on the birthday of friend and fellow rocker, Chris Cornell. Cornell took his own life in May of this year.
Since Chester's death, fans, bandmembers and musicians have been mourning the rockstar. He was a sound of an entire generation. Bridging the gap between rap and hip-hop and other genres.

https://t.co/CkwWKW25et pic.twitter.com/364B8vHRmf

— LINKIN PARK (@linkinpark) July 24, 2017

Today, Linkin Park posted a letter on their website honoring Chester:

Dear Chester,

Our hearts are broken. The shockwaves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened.

You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realized. In the past few days, we’ve seen an outpouring of love and support, both public and private, from around the world. Talinda and the family appreciate it, and want the world to know that you were the best husband, son, and father; the family will never be whole without you.

Talking with you about the years ahead together, your excitement was infectious. Your absence leaves a void that can never be filled—a boisterous, funny, ambitious, creative, kind, generous voice in the room is missing. We’re trying to remind ourselves that the demons who took you away from us were always part of the deal. After all, it was the way you sang about those demons that made everyone fall in love with you in the first place. You fearlessly put them on display, and in doing so, brought us together and taught us to be more human. You had the biggest heart, and managed to wear it on your sleeve.

Our love for making and performing music is inextinguishable. While we don’t know what path our future may take, we know that each of our lives was made better by you. Thank you for that gift. We love you, and miss you so much.

Until we see you again,

LP

Bennington, who sported piercings and tattoos, struggled with drug and alcohol addictions at various times during his life. He leaves behind a wife and six children.  

Christopher "Big Black" Boykin of "Rob & Big" Dies

Known for being skateboard star, Rob Dyrdek's, bodyguard and sidekick on the MTV reality show Rob Big, Christopher "Big Black" Boykin has died at the age of 45.
TMZ reported the news via Boykins' rep on the morning of May 9th. An official cause of death has not been released.
Dyrdek posted on Instragram honoring his friend.
A couple years ago the pair had a falling out, but had since reconciled and had appeared on Dyrdek's show Fantasy Factory.

My heart is broken. I don't want to write this post. I don't want to believe that this is reality. I am so thankful for you. We truly were brothers that lived an unexpected unforgettable adventure. I just can't fathom that it would end so suddenly. You will forever be in my heart.

A post shared by Rob Dyrdek (@robdyrdek) on May 9, 2017 at 8:06pm PDT

🙏🏼🙏🏿

A post shared by Rob Dyrdek (@robdyrdek) on May 9, 2017 at 8:09pm PDT

I am so thankful for this moment... thank you for being an amazing human being and brother.

A post shared by Rob Dyrdek (@robdyrdek) on May 9, 2017 at 8:30pm PDT

💔

A post shared by Rob Dyrdek (@robdyrdek) on May 9, 2017 at 8:47pm PDT

Prior to being on the show, Big served in the US Navy.

He's survived by his 9 year old daughter.

His ex-wife took to his Twitter account to express her sorrow.

This is Shannon, Big Black's ex-wife, I'm heartbroken to tell you of Black's passing. He's everything to me and Isis and we will miss him 💔😢

— Big Black (@BigBlack) May 10, 2017

Fantasy Factory costar Chanel Westcoast honored Big as well.

RIP @bigblack1972. My heart is crushed hearing this news. I'll never forget all the times you made me laugh. So many epic memories with you. You put smiles on a lot of people's faces and you will be missed dearly by SO many. My prayers go out to your family and loved ones. Keep them laughing up in heaven 🙌🏼🙏🏼❤️

A post shared by chanelwestcoast (@chanelwestcoast) on May 9, 2017 at 6:05pm PDT

RIP Big. You will be missed.

Actress Carrie Fisher Dies

Instagram: @Carriefisherofficial

Actress Carrie Fisher, who will forever be a legeng following her role as Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars," has died. She was 60.

 Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, released a statement through her spokesman saying Fisher died Tuesday just before 9 a.m PST. Lourd said her mother was "loved by the word and she will be missed profoundly."

A photo posted by Carrie Fisher (@carriefisherofficial) on Dec 30, 2015 at 12:09am PST

   Fisher had been hospitalized since Friday when she suffered a medical emergency on board a flight to Los Angeles. 

 She made her feature film debut opposite Warren Beatty in the 1975 film Shampoo and was also an author who detailed her experiences with addiction and mental illness in several best-selling books. Besides her daughter, Fisher is survived by her brother, Todd Fisher, and her mother, actress Debbie Reynolds.

Mislabeled Painkillers Found at Prince's Estate

DailyMail

Pills taken after the April death of Prince at his Minnesota compound were mislabeled. The ones labeled hydrocodone were actually fentanyl. Reports say it was fentanyl that killed the superstar.
According to the Star Tribune:

The musician, who weighed only 112 pounds at the time of his death April 21, had so much of the drug in his system, autopsy results later showed, that it would have killed anyone, regardless of size, the source said. Prince did not possess a prescription for fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has been described as 100 times more powerful than morphine, the source said.

Despite the finding, investigators still aren’t certain how the 57-year-old megastar ingested the fentanyl. However, they are leaning toward the theory that he took the pills not knowing they contained the drug.

An autopsy report released in June by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office said Prince died from an accidental, self-administered overdose of fentanyl. But it did not indicate how he obtained the painkiller, nor did it list any other cause of death or “significant condition.”

You can bet this investigation is far from over.

Mob Wives Star Big Ang Loses Battle to Cancer

Big Ang Instagram

55 year old Angela Raiola of Mob Wives fame passed away early Thursday morning.
A family friend took to twitter to let her fans know the sad news.

twitter: @BIGANGVH1

 Ang suffered from Stage 4 and brain cancer which fans followed on the show. The sad news comes a day after rumors spread that the reality star had already died. The family took to twitter on Wednesday to debunk the rumors.

Earlier this month, Ang's sister, Janine Detore, set up a GoFundMe page to help raise the funds for Ang's medical expenses.

My heart goes out to Ang's kids and grandkids. She was my absolute favorite on the show.

Throwback Monday..on a Tuesday

On Monday I was so busy purchasing Formation World Tour tickets and taking years off of my life, I wasn't able to get around to doing my throwback for the week.
In honor of Prince's former protege's passing, here's a throwback honoring Vanity who sadly died in the Bay Area on Monday.

Celine Dion's Husband Renee Angelil Dies of Cancer

After his battle with cancer, 73 year old Renee Angelil has died. He was the husband and former manager of singer, Celine Dion.
Angelil mentored and managed Dion since she was a teenager, died at his home in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Angelil resigned as his wife's manager in June 2014 because of his battle with cancer. That August, Dion put her career on hold while she helped him fight the disease.

The Clark County Coroner's Office said Angelil died from throat cancer.

"We have determined Mr. Angelil's death was due to natural causes. No further investigation into his death is expected," the coroner said in a statement.

Rene Angelil passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer. https://t.co/JOeLaOfbSB

— Celine Dion (@celinedion) January 14, 2016

Angelil leaves behind not only his wife but his children with her; René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy and his adult children from a previous relationship, Anne-Marie, Jean-Pierre and Patrick.

Actor Alan Rickman of "Harry Potter" Dies at 69

IMDB

Alan Rickman, the actor who played Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series and Hans Gruber in Die Hard died Thursday following a short battle with cancer.
'Born to a working-class London family in 1946 and trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Rickman was often cast as the bad guy; with his rich, languid voice he could invest evil with wicked, irresistible relish," the Associated Press reports

   Rickman's Harry Potter castmates along with the author J.K. Rowling took to social media to express their condolences.

There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman's death. He was a magnificent actor & a wonderful man.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 14, 2016

I was at Leavesden Studios today when I heard the news. As I walked through the canteen I thought of Alan queuing up for his lunch with us mere mortals. I recalled the trailer in which he offered me some of the greatest advice I ever received about this mad profession we shared. Being back in those corridors made me remember a lot of things and I will treasure those memories all my life. He inspired my career more than he ever knew and I'll miss him.

A photo posted by Matthew Lewis (@realmattdavelewis) on Jan 14, 2016 at 7:07am PST

 Rickman is survived by his partner of 50 years, Rima Horton, whom he married in 2012

Throwback Monday: RIP David Bowie

On Sunday night, the world was saddened by the passing of rock legend, David Bowie.
Bowie past away at 69 years old after battling cancer for about a year and a half.
Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
It's no secret that Bowie has influenced so many artists and in different genres no less.
Stars took to social media overnight to honor the late-rockstar.

David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) January 11, 2016

MESSAGE FROM IGGY: "David’s friendship was the light of my life. I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is. - Iggy Pop"

— Iggy Pop (@IggyPop) January 11, 2016

So lucky to have met you!!!! Hot Tramp I love you So! ❤️ #rebelheart pic.twitter.com/INKPRCeofK

— Madonna (@Madonna) January 11, 2016

Actor/ Comedian Robin Williams Commits Suicide

ticketmaster.com

I'm saddened to report that beloved actor and comedian has died.
The 63 year old was found unconscious and not breaking in his home in Tiburon, CA.
Marin County Coroners Office says at this time, his death suspects to be caused by suicide by asphyxiation

"Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late.

This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time."

-       Mara Buxbaum, press representative for Robin Williams

"This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of Robin's family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."

-       Susan Schneider, wife

So sad....he's one of my favorite actors.

Actor James Garner Dies

buddytv.com

For the younger generation, you'll remember him from The Notebook and from 8 Simple Rules.
Your parents and grandparents will remember him from Maverick and The Rockford Files.
Actor James Garner died of natural causes Saturday evening at his home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. He was 86 years old.
The Associated Press reports that police responded to a call around 8 p.m.  and confirmed Garner's identity from family members. Garner had suffered a stroke in May 2008, just weeks after his 80th birthday.
 "His quick-witted avoidance of conflict provided a refreshingly new take on the American hero, contrasting with the steely heroics of John Wayne and the fast trigger of Clint Eastwood.    It was in 1957 when the ABC network, desperate to compete on ratings-rich Sunday night, scheduled Maverick against CBS's powerhouse The Ed Sullivan Show and NBC's The Steve Allen Show. Maverick soon out polled them both. At a time when the networks were crowded with hard-eyed, traditional Western heroes, Bret Maverick provided a fresh breath of air. With his sardonic tone and his eagerness to talk his way out of a squabble rather than pull out his six-shooter, the con-artist Westerner seemed to scoff at the genre's values. "
"However in his 2011 memoir, The Garner Files, he provided some amusing and enlightening clues, including his penchant for bluntly expressed opinions and a practice for decking people who said something nasty to his face -- including an obnoxious fan and an abusive stepmother. They all deserved it, Garner declared in his book."
 "When he received the Screen Actors Guild's lifetime achievement award in 2005, he quipped, 'I'm not at all sure how I got here.' "


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Iconic Child Star Shirley Temple Dies at 85

http://www.mchenrycountyturningpoint.org

The beloved child star- turned US Ambassador died at 85 years old at her home in Woodside, CA Monday night.

 She was and still is an icon all around the world. My grandparents from Canada LOVED her!

Kids still know the drink named for her: a sweet, nonalcoholic cocktail of ginger ale and grenadine, topped with a maraschino cherry.

In a statement the family says:

“WE ANNOUNCE WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT AMBASSADOR SHIRLEY TEMPLE BLACK, FORMER HOLLYWOOD CHILD STAR AND FOREVER ‘AMERICA’S LITTLE DARLING’ PEACEFULLY PASSED AWAY AT HER WOODSIDE, CALIFORNIA HOME FROM NATURAL CAUSES, AT THE AGE OF 85, ON FEBRUARY 10, 2014 AT 10:57 PM PST. SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY HER FAMILY AND CAREGIVERS.

WE SALUTE HER FOR A LIFE OF REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS AS AN ACTOR, AS A DIPLOMAT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AS OUR BELOVED MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, AND ADORED WIFE FOR FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OF THE LATE AND MUCH MISSED CHARLES ALDEN BLACK.”

PRIVATE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE PENDING. A REMEMBRANCE GUEST BOOK WILL BE OPENED SHORTLY ONLINE AT WWW.SHIRLEYTEMPLE.COM, AND CONTRIBUTIONS IN SHIRLEY TEMPLE BLACK’S MEMORY MAY BE MADE TO THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA’S 2^nd CENTURY CAMPAIGN OR TO THE EDUCATION CENTER AT THE ACADEMY MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES IN LOS ANGELES.

“WE ASK THAT OUR FAMILY BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AT THIS TIME OF LOSS TO GRIEVE PRIVATELY.”

SURVIVORS INCLUDE: CHILDREN SUSAN, CHARLIE JR., LORI; GRANDDAUGHTER TERESA AND GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTERS LILY AND EMMA."

  Born in Santa Monica, Calif., to an accountant and his wife, Temple was little more than 3 when she made her film debut in 1932 in the Baby Burlesks.

"Her movies -- which included "Bright Eyes" (1934), "Curly Top" (1935), "Dimples" (1936) and "Heidi" (1937) -- featured sentimental themes and musical subplots, with stories of resilience that a struggling American public strongly identified with," says the Associated Press.

  "She was a tribute to the economic and inspirational power of movies, credited with helping to save 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy and praised by President Franklin D. Roosevelt himself as a bright spirit during a gloomy time.President Roosevelt observed: 'As long as our country has Shirley Temple, we will be all right.' "

Screen Actors Guild

At only 6 years old she won a special mini-Oscar for "outstanding contribution to screen entertainment". She retired from acting at 21, then went on to hold several diplomatic posts in Republican administrations, including ambassador to Czechoslovakia during the sudden collapse of communism in 1989.

 In 1967, she made an unsuccessful bid as a GOP candidate for Congress. After Richard Nixon became president in, he appointed her as a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations General Assembly. In the 1970s, she was U.S. ambassador to Ghana and later U.S. chief of protocol.

   "Temple married Army Air Corps Pvt. John Agar in 1945. They had a daughter, Susan, in 1948. The actress filed for divorce the following year. She married Charles Black in 1950, and they had two more children, Lori and Charles. That marriage lasted until his death in 2005 at age 86."

R.I.P. Miss Shirley! You'll be missed but your legacy will live on forever!

Actor Paul Walker Dies in Car Crash

smscs.com

Paul Walker died in a fiery car crash Saturday afternoon. The 40 year old actor was in the passenger seat of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT who was driven by a racing team partner and friend, Roger Rodas. Rodas hit a tree and light pole says witnesses and the car burst into flames in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of Hollywood.

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station confirms in a statement to Us Weekly:

"That there were two fatalities in a traffic collision at approximately 3:30 p.m. Saturday. When deputies arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The Los Angeles Country Fire Department estinguished the flames, and two victims were prononced dead at the scene. The Coroner's Office is currently determining the identities of the victims, and the collision is still under investigation. A source also confirms to Us that Walker was the passenger at the time, and was not the one driving."

The Mirror reports The eight-year-old son of Roger Rodas bravely tried to save his dad as flames engulfed the supercar following the crash which killed The Fast and Furious star Paul Walker.

The boy jumped a fence and ran over to the burning car in a desperate bid to free his trapped father.

Walker with Rodas
Photo from: mirror.co.uk

The Fast & Furious star's public relations team released a tweet via Walker's account to confirm the sad news:

It's with a heavy heart that we must confirm Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident...MORE: http://t.co/9hDuJMH99M - #TeamPW
— Paul Walker (@RealPaulWalker) December 1, 2013

Fans around the world are saddened by the devastating news. Walker was in Santa Clarita for a charity event to aid Filipino victims of Typhoon Haiyan for his organization Reach Out Worldwide, formed in 2010 as a quick response first-aid organization.

Walker leaves behind a 15 year old daughter, Meadow. She moved to California from Hawaii a few years ago to be closer to her father.

James Gandolfini Dies in Italy at 51

pastemagazine.com

HBO confirms Wednesday that the star of The Sopranos has died in Italy, possibly of a heart attack.
Gandolfini was only 51 years old, and was in Italy to attend the Taormina Film Festival.
"The New Jersey-born actor is survived by his wife, Deborah Lin, their daughter and a son from a previous marriage."
Such sad news.
Prayers go out to his family.

Throwback Monday

Even a year later I still miss Whitney Houston!

Mexican-American Singer Jenni Rivera Dies in Plane Crash

Timeinc.com

Fans are in mourning over the death of Mexican-American singer, Jenni Rivera.
Born in the U.S., Rivera's story is similar to that of slain Tejano singer Selena, in the sense that she was looking to cross-over into American music before her untimely death.
Rivera was flying with her publicist, Arturo Rivera, her makeup artist, Jacob Yebale, and two friends, one named Mario Macias and another who was also identified as Gerardo, to the central Mexican city of Toluca after a Saturday night concert before thousands in the northern city of Monterrey. All were killed.

MTV.COM says:
"Rivera was born and raised in Long Beach, California, "La Diva de la Banda," as she was respectfully known, got her start in 1995 when she released her debut album, La Chacalosa, on Capitol/EMI. Later that year, she recorded Adios a Selena as a tribute to Selena. At the time of Rivera's death, she was filming season three of "I Love Jenni," her Spanish-language reality show on mun2, which also aired in America on the Style Network. And just last week, Rivera reportedly signed a deal with ABC to develop her own sitcom.
With her last album, 2011's Joyas Prestadas, La Gran Señora delivered an LP full of powerful and well-received ballads like "Basta Ya" ("Enough Is Enough"), but her star far surpassed the studio. Yes, Rivera sold an estimated 15 million LPs, but she just as easily transitioned from music to television with "I Love Jenni" and as a judge on "La Voz," the Mexican version of the popular singing competition show "The Voice."
According to her fans. Rivera sang of heartbreak, domestic violence and raising her children as a single mother. She was famously married to Esteban Loaiza, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. They divorced earlier this year."
 

Michael Clarke Duncan Dies

cinemanews.co

Gentle-giant, Michael Clarke Duncan died Monday at 54 years old. The Green Mile actor died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was treated for a heart attack. He suffered a "myocardial infarction on July 13th and never fully recovered", says his fiancee Rev. Omarosa Manigaul.
Yes, THAT Omarosa.
Duncan's resume includes Armageddon, Talledega Nights, Kung Fu Panda, Sin City,and The Whole Nine Yards.

According to the Associated Press:
Born in Chicago in 1957, Duncan was raised by a single motherwhose resistance to his playing football led to his deciding he wanted to become an actor. But when his mother became ill, he
dropped out of college, Alcorn State University, and worked as a ditch digger and bouncer to support her. By his mid-20s, he was in Los Angeles, where he looked for acting parts and became a bodyguard for Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and other stars.

The murder of rapper Notorious B.I.G., for whom Duncan had been hired to protect before switching assignments, led him to quit his job and pursue acting full-time.

Early film and television credits, when he was usually cast as a bodyguard or bouncer, included "Bulworth," `'A Night at the Roxbury" and "The Players Club."

Comedian Phyllis Diller Dies

USA Today

Legendary comedian Phyllis Diller died in her sleep Monday at her Brentwood home. She was 95 years old. Every news outlet's obit on the comedian is hilarious and entertaining. Here's one from the Associated Press:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Phyllis Diller, the housewife turned humorist who aimed some of her sharpest barbs at herself, punctuating her jokes with her trademark cackle, died Monday morning in her Los Angeles home at age 95.

"She died peacefully in her sleep and with a smile on her face," her longtime manager, Milton Suchin, told The Associated Press.

Diller, who suffered a near-fatal heart attack in 1999, was found by her son, Perry Diller. The cause of her death has not been released.

She was a staple of nightclubs and television from the 1950s --when female comics were rare indeed -- until her retirement in 2002. Diller built her stand-up act around the persona of the corner-cutting housewife ("I bury a lot of my ironing in the backyard") with bizarre looks, a wardrobe to match (by "Omar of Omaha") and a husband named "Fang."

Wrote Time magazine in 1961: "Onstage comes something that, by its own description, looks like a sackful of doorknobs. With hair dyed by Alcoa, pipe-cleaner limbs and knees just missing one

another when the feet are wide apart, this is not Princess Volupine. It is Phyllis Diller, the poor man's Auntie Mame, only successful female among the New Wave comedians and one of the few women funny and tough enough to belt out a `standup' act of one-line gags."

She inspired a generation of female comics, including Joan Rivers, Ellen DeGeneres and Whoopi Goldberg, who remembered Diller on Twitter Monday.

Diller described herself as "one of those life-of-the-party types," in an interview with AP in 1965. "You'll find them in every bridge club, at every country club. People invited me to parties only because they knew I would supply some laughs. They still do."

She didn't get into comedy until she was nearly 40, after her first husband, Sherwood Diller, prodded her for two years to give up a successful career as an advertising and radio writer. Through it all, she was also a busy mother.

Her husband managed her career until the couple's 25-year marriage fell apart in the 1960s. Shortly after her divorce she married entertainer Warde Donovan, but they separated within months.

Through both marriages and other relationships, the foibles of"Fang" remained an integral part of her act. "Fang is permanent in the act, of course," she once said.

"Don't confuse him with my real husbands. They're temporary." She also appeared in movies, including "Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number" and "Eight on the Lam" with Bob Hope.

In 1966-67, she was the star of an ABC sitcom about a society family trying to stave off bankruptcy, "The Pruitts of Southampton." Gypsy Rose Lee played a nosy neighbor. In 1968, she was host of a short-lived variety series, "The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show."

But standup comedy was her first love, and when she broke into the business in 1956 it was a field she had largely to herself because female comics weren't widely accepted then.

Although she could be serious during interviews, sooner or later a joke would pop out, often as not followed by that outrageous "AH-HHAAAAAAAAAAAA-HA-HA-HA!" laugh.

Her looks were a frequent topic, and she did everything she could to accentuate them -- negatively. She wore outrageous fright wigs and deliberately shopped for stage shoes that made her legs look as skinny as possible.

She recovered from a 1999 heart attack with the help of a pacemaker, but finally retired in 2002, saying advancing age was making it too difficult for her to spend several weeks a year on the road.

After retiring from standup, Diller continued to take occasional small parts in movies and TV shows ("Family Guy") and pursued ainting as a serious hobby.

When she turned 90 in July 2007, she fractured a bone in her back and was forced to cancel a planned birthday appearance on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." But it didn't stop her from wisecracking: "I still take the pill `cause I don't want any more grandchildren."

Born Phyllis Driver in Lima, Ohio, she married Sherwood Diller right out of school (Bluffton College) and was a housewife for several years before getting outside work. She was working as an advertising writer for a radio station when a comedy turn at San Francisco's Purple Onion nightclub launched her toward stardom.

She credited the self-help book, "The Magic of Believing" by Claude M. Bristol, with giving her the courage to enter the business. For decades she would recommend it to aspiring entertainers, even buying it for them sometimes.

Diller is survived by her two children, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Plans for services are pending.