Yes, she is died. According to TMZ, one of Whitney’s entourage found her unresponsive at the Beverly Hilton hotel. Sadly, Justin Bieber did not jump out from behind the curtains and yell, “Y’all just got Punk’d!!” Nope, unless Whitney’s pulling a Tupac (who IS alive), count another black performer taken too soon.

No reports have confirmed the cause of death (crack), but (crack) people have their guesses (crack). File this under did you know: Whitney once admitted to Oprah smoking marijuana laced with crack for a full week with Bobby Brown while watching tv. And yet, Bobby Brown is the one who lives. *shakes head*

Jesse Farrelly, son of Bobby Farrelly, 1/2 of the Farrelly Brothers (Something About Mary), died of a drug overdose in Orange County, CA late Wednesday night. Police got a call about an unresponsive young male, possible drug overdose, on Wednesday evening. Jesse, 20, was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“It is with profound sorrow that we accept the passing of our beloved Jesse following his struggle with addiction. We fully trust that he is now in the hands of our Lord.”

“We are immeasurably grateful for the abundance of happiness and laughter he brought into our lives, and we will rejoice eternally for all the moments we got to breathe in his wondrous spirit. The family thanks you for your well wishes and kindly asks that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.” TMZ

Well that sucks. But he must have known that was one of the possibilities when he took all those drugs. The other was riding over a rainbow on a half-unicorn, half-Angelina Jolie creature.

Etta James, 73, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia, has died, according to her friend and manager, Lupe De Leon. Her husband Artis Mills and her sons were by her side. James, known for hits such as Something’s Got a Hold on Me and At Last, passed away at a hospital in Riverside five days shy of her 74th birthday.

That’s the startling claim from the captain of the yacht Natalie Wood was on before she drowned in 1981. Natalie was partying with husband Robert Wagner and Christopher Walken at the time and the original story was she drowned while trying to secure a dinghy. In light of new claims and supporting evidence, officials have reopened the case as a homicide investigation.

In Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour, Rulli and Splendour Captain Dennis Davern writes Wood, Wagner and Walken were high on Quaaludes and drinking that night. Wagner got angry when he saw Wood and Walken talking alone. He ended up smashing a wine bottle and yelling at Walken, “What do you want to do, f**k my wife? Is that what you want?”

Walken went back to his cabin and Natalie and Robert went back to their state room. The captain then says he heard them arguing, then thumping sounds, then silence. Soon after, Wagner told the captain that “Natalie is missing.” He also alleges Wagner refused to let the Coast Guard be called. Wagner implied Natalie left on a dinghy but that story was always suspicious because Natalie was afraid of the water.

Robert Wagner’s rep has released this statement in response:

“Although no one in the Wagner family has heard from the LA County Sheriff’s department about this matter, they fully support the efforts of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept.”

“[The Wagners] trust they will evaluate whether any new information relating to the death of Natalie Wood Wagner is valid, and that it comes from a credible source or sources other than those simply trying to profit from the 30 year anniversary of her tragic death.” TMZ

In un-related news, Wagner has booked plane tickets to Switzerland. They don’t have any extradition laws, right? Why? Oh… no reason, just curious.

At the time of her death, Mitch Winehouse said his daughter Amy Winehouse died of alcohol withdrawal. Well, he was half right. About the alcohol part.

The coroner says Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning. They say she had 416mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. I know what you’re saying. “I”m no alkyhal doctor. Give it to me straight.” Okay, let’s put it this way. 80mg (.08) is the legal driving limit while 350mg (.35)  is the level associated with death. Amy had 416mg or, rather, she would have blown a .416. Side effects include coma and possible death due to respiratory arrest.

According to the report, three empty vodka bottles were found in her room. Two large and one small. Wait. Define large. Are we talking about 750mL or are we talking 1750mL? Because if she polished off two handles and a fifth of vodka, that would be impressive. Stupid, but impressive.

Consequently, the coroner ruled it as “death by misadventure.” Which makes it sound a lot less worse than it really is. It makes it seem like Amy was off in the woods hunting fairies or something instead of being holed up in her room drinking herself to death.

One time Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh died on Saturday at 40-years-old of an apparent drug overdose. Police found his body “unresponsive and not breathing” at the Raffaello Hotel in Chicago.

*Cue scary music* Two weeks ago, however, Welsh tweeted, “dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today,” and then added “correction – the weekend after next.”

Whatever. I could also predict my death if I planned on taking massive amounts of drugs the day of. That doesn’t make me Nostradamus. That just makes me an addict that likes to plan ahead.

Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, purveyor of black turtlenecks, died Wednesday at the age of 56. Merely a day after the iPhone 4s announcement. Jobs had been battling pancreatic cancer. The press info on Apple’s website states,

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that
enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts. Apple

He was a brilliant innovator, merging form with function. He turned cold, lifeless beige boxes and plastic cell phones into warm, welcoming consumer electronics. Basically, he injected some humanity into them. He was pretty great at it. Anyway, I don’t want to bore you with a 20 page biography of his life since I’m sure you know all about his accomplishments. Just know that I popped my SIM out of my Atrix and back into my iPhone 4, opened up a simulated malt liquor app and virtually poured one out for Steve Jobs.

Andy Whitfield, who played Spartacus in the first season of the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, passed away on Sunday at the age of 39 losing a battle to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“On a beautiful sunny Sydney … morning, surrounded by his family, in the arms of his loving wife, our beautiful young warrior Andy Whitfield lost his 18-month battle with lymphoma cancer,” Vashti Whitfield, his wife, said in a statement. — Reuters

Starz CEO Chris Albrecht added,

“We were fortunate to have worked with Andy in ‘Spartacus’ and came to know that the man who played a champion on-screen was also a champion in his own life,” Albrecht said in a statement. “Andy was an inspiration to all of us as he faced this very personal battle with courage, strength and grace.”

Well that sucks. Spartacus was awesome the first season. It brought something new to the table in the form of excessive bloodshed, sex and nudity. The entire series was made better by the fact Andy Whitfield didn’t suck as Spartacus and played the Gladiator-esque role well. Damn you, cancer! I’ll get you for this!

I don’t watch the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills but apparently Russell Armstrong and Taylor Armstrong were one of the most talked about couples on the show first due to their rocky relationship, impending divorce, abuse allegations and now due to the fact Russell hung himself in his bedroom.

Sources tell TMZ the L.A. City Fire Department came to his house in Mulholland Drive and pronounced him dead at 8:16 p.m. on Monday. A roommate found his body. No suicide note, drugs or alcohol were found. He was fully clothed.

Well, thank god for small favors. My worst fear is dying how I lived. Naked with a belt tied around my neck.

27-year-old Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment on Saturday. There were no signs of foul play. Gee, I wonder how she died? Could it be drugs? I guess we’ll just have to find out after the autopsy on Monday.

“Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square NW1 shortly before 16.05hrs today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased.

On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained.”

Let’s face it. Everyone thought this would happen years ago. Every news item about Amy Winehouse in the last few years have been about her being drunk, high or how she left rehab. As recently as last month, Amy cancelled her Serbian tour after wandering around drunk on stage. This is about surprising as being bitten by a bear after poking it in the eye.

Peter Falk, best known as Lt. Columbo, died Thursday evening at 83.

A family spokesperson confirmed to KNX 1070 that Falk, 83, died Thursday night at his Beverly Hills home.

Falk was born on Sept. 16, 1927 in New York City.

Falk won four Emmys and one Golden Globe for ‘Columbo.” The actor also won an additional Emmy for his role in an episode of “The Dick Powell Theatre.” Falk was nominated for an Academy Award twice, once in 1960 for ’Murder, Inc.’ and again in 1961 for ’Pocketful of Miracles.’ [ABC]

Falk is survived by his wife and two daughters from a previous marriage.

West Goshen Police Chief Michael Carroll told the Daily Local News that Ryan Dunn’s blood alcohol content was .196, two and a half times the legal limit of .08. “No other substances were found in his blood other than the alcohol.” In addition, cops are now reporting Dunn was going between 132 and 140 MPH.

So, if you were holding out hope that Ryan Dunn was sober in a misguided attempt to prove how evil the media and Roger Ebert were for assuming the worst about your idol, then you might want to grab at other straws. Yes, it’s tragic that Ryan Dunn died but it’s even more tragic he was going 138 MPH in a Porsche with a BAC of two and a half times the legal limit causing him to jump a guardrail and kill his passenger.  He could have been the nicest guy in the world, but at that point, you’re just taunting death.

Ryan Dunn, the Jackass star who shoved a toy car in his ass in the first movie, died after crashing their 2007 Porsche 911 in Pennsylvania around 3 a.m. this morning. He tweeted the above photo of him and his friends drinking shortly before the accident which has led many to believe the crash was due to drunk driving.

Dunn and an unidentified person both died in the crash which happened around 3 a.m. at Route 322 and New Street in West Goshen Township. It’s unclear who was driving the car.

We’re told the car caught fire in the crash — and hours later, a tow truck was called to the scene to remove the charred wreckage. [TMZ]

No word on if alcohol was involved (probably) or whether any children’s toys were found in either man’s anus. We’ll have to wait for the coroner’s report to leak to TMZ for confirmation.

Not to trivialize his death, but do you think his Jackass friends will give him a 21-fart salute at his funeral? That was a serious question.