Award-winning actor Ron Silver, who played political strategist Bruno Gianelli in The West Wing, has died of cancer at 62. Silver had been fighting oesophageal cancer for two years. He was Emmy-nominated for his West Wing role and won a Tony in 1988 for his work in the play Speed the Plow. "Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him," said Robin Bronk of the Creative Coalition, a charity which Silver helped found. The organisation, which educates and campaigns for free speech, was established in 1989. Other founder members include Alec Baldwin and Susan Sarandon.

Natasha Richardson, the versatile actress known for her nuanced performances on stage, television, and film, has died. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident in Canada on Monday, March 16, and was later transported to New York, where she passed away at age 45. In a statement, Richardson's husband, Liam Neeson, and their family said, "Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time." Over the course of a renowned 25-year career that spanned every medium and every conceivable genre, Richardson proved her range time and again. She could acquit herself admirably in even the lightest fare, such as 1998's family film The Parent Trap or the 2002 romantic comedy Maid in Manhattan, but as a member of the legendary Redgrave acting dynasty, which stretched back for generations, she always felt most at home tackling profound human dramas from the likes of Chekhov, Ibsen, Williams, and O'Neill. "I'm comfortable...where the most emotionally painful stuff is," she told EW in 1998. "That's where I feel a connection." On March 16, Richardson -- the British-born daughter of Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson, niece of Lynn Redgrave, and older sister of Nip/Tuck star Joely Richardson -- became the center of her own wrenching drama when she suffered a brain injury after a skiing accident at a resort in Canada. Her husband of nearly 15 years, Liam Neeson, left the set of Chloe, a drama he was filming in Toronto, to be with her. Over the next 24 hours, conflicting reports about Richardson's condition spread across the Internet, sowing confusion, disbelief, and sadness. According to several accounts, Richardson's fall -- which occurred on a beginners' trail during a private lesson at the Mont Tremblant resort -- did not appear serious at first. "She did not show any visible sign of injury," the resort said in a statement to the Associated Press. After about an hour, however, Richardson began to complain of a headache and ended up at a hospital in Montreal. From there, she was flown by private jet to New York -- where she lived with Neeson and their two sons, Micheal, 13, and Daniel, 12 -- "so her family could say goodbye to her," a source told EW. As a member of one of Britain's most famous acting clans, Richardson entered the profession with enormous expectations on her shoulders. Her father, who won an Oscar in 1964 for directing the film Tom Jones, was among his elder daughter's first and fiercest critics, picking apart an early performance in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. "He said, 'Not good enough,' " Richardson recalled in a 1998 interview. "Then he sent me the play with all the things underlined that I ought to think about." In time, however, Richardson emerged from the shadows of her famous parents, who had divorced when she was 4. (Her father died of complications from AIDS in 1991, at age 63.) She distinguished herself with her tremendous versatility and beauty on the stage, on television, and on the big screen, with films like 1990's The Handmaid's Tale and 1991's The Comfort of Strangers. Richardson recruited Neeson to costar with her in a 1993 Broadway production of Anna Christie. The two instantly clicked both professionally and romantically. "We started rehearsing," Neeson said in a 1994 interview, "and it was like suddenly walking on air." Over the past decade, Richardson continued to pivot between work in theater -- winning a Tony in 1998 for her work in Cabaret -- and in movies. A lifelong gourmand, she appeared this past season as a guest judge on Top Chef. Though her relationship with her mother was strained at times by Redgrave's political activism in earlier years, the two became quite close. They costarred in the 2007 film Evening and recently shared the stage in a one-night performance of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

Loved ones of actress Natasha Richardson assembled for a private funeral service near her family estate in upstate New York. Richardson's husband Liam Neeson was one of the pallbearers who carried his wife's casket into St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Millbrook, NY. Among the celebrities spotted in the crowd were Ralph Fiennes, Holly Hunter and Uma Thurman. A tented area was constructed in a section of a nearby cemetery, where Richardson is expected to be laid to rest later today. The Tony Award-winning actress passed away on Wednesday following a skiing accident earlier in the week. She was 45.

As the loved ones of Natasha Richardson continue to mourn, a family decision made in the wake of the Tony-winning actress's sudden death March 18 has brought a measure of comfort: After Richardson was taken off life support at Manhattan's Lenox Hill Hospital, her family requested that her organs be donated to other patients whose lives they might save. Organ donation "is very Natasha," a family friend says in the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. "She spent so much time fighting the stigma of AIDS; someone like that would naturally donate her organs. At least by donating her organs something good could come out of [the tragedy]." Richardson, 45, died after falling during a ski lesson at a Canadian resort on March 16. An autopsy performed in New York City showed that a blow to her head had caused a fatal epidural hematoma, bleeding between her brain and her skull. 'Liam Doing Okay' In the days since Richardson's death, her husband of 14 years, actor Liam Neeson, 56, and the couple's sons Micheal, 13, and Daniel, 12, have shown remarkable public poise in dealing with the tragedy. "Liam is doing okay," says family friend Blaine Trump. "It takes a while to absorb this. But he says the family needs to move forward. They will take it one step at a time." The Irish actor was expected to return to work on the Toronto set of his upcoming drama Chloe, and the boys were headed back to school. "With good friends by their side," says Trump, "they will get through the tough days ahead."

Adult film star Marilyn Chambers was found dead in her Los Angeles home, ET can confirm. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office tells ET Marilyn passed away Sunday at 9:05 p.m. An autopsy for Marilyn has been scheduled for this week. The 56-year-old actress gained mainstream attention when she appeared in the 1972 film 'Behind the Green Door.' She was also a child model for Ivory Snow.

Bea Arthur, who memorably played Dorothy on "The Golden Girls," has died, reports the Associated Press. She was 86. A family spokesman tells the AP that Arthur passed away at her home on Saturday. The spokesman said she was battling cancer, but did not elaborate on the cause of death. Arthur, known for her comedic chops and distinctive voice, won Emmys for "The Golden Girls" and "Maude." She also captured a Tony Award acting on the stage in the musical "Mame."

The Las Vegas entertainment community was shocked by the sudden death Friday of Danny Gans, a popular singer and impressionist. "I'm very, very sad," said Celine Dion. "Not only was he the best in his field, but he was such a kind and loving person. ... I can't believe he's not with us anymore, and our heart goes out to his family." Noted for his impressions of everyone from Michael Jackson to Tony Bennett, the 52-year-old entertainer played the Mirage for eight years before moving to the Encore Theater in February. He was found dead in his home in Henderson, Nev., about 3 a.m. by his wife, Julie, said a Wynn Resorts spokeswoman. Henderson police respond to messages seeking comment, and the Clark County coroner's office said no information about Gans was immediately available, the Associated Press reports. "Las Vegas lost a great man, a great icon, his memory will live on through those he inspired," said ventriloquist Terry Fator, a headliner at the Mirage and the former winner of the 2007 America's Got Talent. Steve Wynn, chief executive of Wynn Resorts, called Gans's death "a profoundly tragic event that leaves us all sad and speechless. The loss of Danny to his wife Julie, his children, Amy, Andrew and Emily is at this moment impossible to comprehend."

ET confirms that Dom DeLuise has died. The Golden Globe-nominated comic actor died Monday at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 75 years old. Dom is probably best-known for his work in Mel Brooks films like 'Blazing Saddles,' 'Silent Movie,' 'History Of The World Part One,' 'Space Balls,' 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights,' and co-starring with Burt Reynolds in films like 'The Cannonball Run,' 'Smokey and The Bandit II,' 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' and 'The End.' He also hosted the popular TV show "Candid Camera" from 1991-1992. Dom was an avid cook and author, penning several cooking guides and children's books.

While Natalie Cole was receiving a new kidney, her sister Carol passed away. ET has learned that Carol was diagnosed with lung cancer only last week. While Natalie was by Carol's side in her dying moments, Natalie received the call that a kidney was available for her. Unfortunately, Carol passed away only hours later while Natalie was receiving the kidney. Natalie underwent kidney transplant surgery on Tuesday at a Los Angeles-area hospital and is resting comfortably. Her kidney came to her from a deceased donor through the One Legacy transplant agency. Natalie had been undergoing dialysis treatment while on her world tour to support her album Still Unforgettable. She has been advised by her doctors to postpone summer tour dates while she recovers.

Now that he no longer walks the Earth, David Carradine is genuinely missed. Friends, family and fans are reeling from the news of the sudden, mysterious death today of the star of Kung Fu and Kill Bill. "My Uncle David was a brilliantly talented, fiercely intelligent and generous man. He was the nexus of our family in so many ways, and drew us together and kept us connected. I adored him as a child, and as an adult I admired and respected him," actress and Carradine niece Martha Plimpton says in a statement to E! News. "We will all miss him terribly, and are so grateful for everyone's condolences." Celebrity fans like Kirstie Alley and The Office's Rainn Wilson took to Twitter to celebrate the late actor's legacy. Thai police say a maid discovered the 72-year-old Carradine's partially clothed body hanging in a wardrobe in his luxury Bangkok hotel suite. There was no sign of foul play, and so far authorities believe the death to be a suicide. But that theory is being disputed by those who knew him best. "He was a very strong person, and I don't think it's likely at all that it was a suicide," mother-in-law Betty Fraser exclusively tells E! News. Despite police statements to the contrary, Fraser says, "I think it was either an accident or a break-in because it was a large hotel and [he was] American." Fraser says her daughter, Carradine's widow, Anne, was informed of the bad news early this morning and is understandably in a very "fragile" state. "Anne called us last night in the middle of the night," she says. "She wasn't with him. This was a very short shoot, with a French film company. We only heard that he was going just a week or two before he left." The family has gathered at the couple's Los Angeles-area home and is in touch with the U.S. embassy and investigators. Fraser says Carradine had been in good spirits a month ago, when the family got together for the San Luis Obispo Film Festival in central California. "He was great," she recalls. "He loved riding horses. Anne and David came up with the kids and it was really a very nice affair. They put us up in a nice hotel there." Carradine's rep, Chuck Binder, also flatly rejected the notion that the actor took his life. "It's all under police investigation. We definitely don't believe it was a suicide," says Binder, adding that Carradine "was a great guy and a great client and a great friend." And Kill Bill costar Vivica Fox tells PopEater, "I would have never, ever thought that he would kill himself. I find that to be almost unbelievable that he hung himself. He did not seem like the person that would take his own life. It just seems so out of character." But Carradine did suffer from depression, ex-wife Marina Anderson tells RadarOnline, and the actor himself admitted to having dark thoughts, according to Britain's Telegraph. The newspaper's website reprinted a 2004 interview with the martial-arts enthusiast in which he said he had grappled with thoughts of killing himself. "Look, there was a period in my life when I had a single action Colt 45, loaded, in my desk drawer. And every night I'd take it out and think about blowing my head off, and then decide not to and go on with my life. Put it back in the drawer and open up the laptop and continue writing my autobiography or whatever," he was quoted as saying. "But it was just to see."

Did David Carradine pull a Michael Hutchence? Like the INXS singer, whose mysterious 1997 death in a Sydney hotel was believed to have been related to a sex act gone wrong, police in Thailand are focusing on the possibility that the star of Kung Fu and Kill Bill may have accidentally killed himself while engaging in autoerotic asphyxiation. Autoerotic asphyxiation is a practice whereby a person intentionally cuts off oxygen to the brain for the purpose of sexual arousal. A representative for the Bangkok Swissotel's Nai Lert Park hotel told E! News that a maid found the 72-year-old actor's naked body hanging in a closet in his luxury suite. Now, investigators quoted in the Thai news site the Nation are revealing that there was also a rope tied around his genitals. "The two ropes were tied together," Police Lt. Gen. Worapong Chewprecha told reporters. "It is unclear whether he committed suicide or not, or he died of suffocation or heart failure." A coroner completed an autopsy earlier today, but authorities say the results will not be released for at least three weeks, per standard procedure given the "unusual circumstances" surrounding Carradine's death and pending toxicology results. Thai officials initially announced the erstwhile Grasshopper apparently committed suicide, but that theory was categorically shot down by Carradine's reps and shocked members of his family yesterday. "I know for a fact that he did not commit suicide," comanager Tiffany Smith told E! News. Her partner, Chuck Binder, wondered whether foul play may have played a part. "I heard from a producer in Bangkok that his hands were tied behind his back and that it's being covered up," Binder said. "How do you get a rope around your neck and around your genitals and do all this by yourself?" He continued: "The more I talk to people the more I think there's no way he killed himself. My take is there was definitely foul-play. There’s a lot of weird stuff that happens in Bangkok. This isn't L.A. or New York." Smith said that Carradine was "full of life" when he arrived in Thailand May 29 to shoot a movie called Stretch. That description fit with statements from eyewitnesses who saw him the night he died. One of those was a hotel employee who said the martial-arts enthusiast seemed to be in a "good mood," often smiling while drinking at the lobby bar Wednesday night and chatting up various staff members before retiring to his room sometime around 9 p.m. Carradine was a no-show at a crew dinner later that night and detectives say his room key card record shows he never left his suite. While there's also no indication anyone else entered the thespian's room, police have yet to officially rule out murder. The U.S. embassy in Bangkok is expected to repatriate Carradine's body on Saturday. No word yet on funeral arrangements. Meanwhile, perhaps lending credence to the new theory of his death, The Smoking Gun has unearthed a circa 2003 affidavit filed in court by Carradine's ex-wife Marina Anderson claiming the actor engaged in unspecified "deviant sexual behavior." Fans of the prolific character actor should take comfort in knowing that Carradine had at least a half-dozen projects in the can at the time of his death. First up is a guest shot on Tuesday's episode of Mental.

Two individuals close to David Carradine's family appeared on "Larry King Live" Friday night and revealed new details about the investigation into the actor's death in Bangkok, Thailand. Mark Geragos, an attorney for David's actor brother Keith Carradine, told King that the Carradine family met with the FBI on Friday, in hopes that the agency can compel Thai officials to launch an investigation in Bangkok soon. The Carradines want the FBI to be involved "at least in an assisting role, so that they can kind of oversee what's going on," Geragos said. He added that the FBI has to go through a series of legal channels and hurdles to get involved, but they "can be invited over there immediately. And I call on the people in Bangkok to invite them in." Geragos said that Carradine's body is being brought back to the U.S. this weekend for a second autopsy, which he said could help shed light on whether foul play was involved in the "Kung Fu" star's death. "I think there had to be foul play," Carradine's manager Chuck Binder added. "I mean my gut instinct is something definitely happened there." When another King panel member mentioned that Carradine was reportedly interested in secret societies, Geragos said this reported fascination was "connected to martial arts and [Carradine's] interest in martial arts. And so there is a suspicion that if there was some foul play, that that may be the first area where [investigators] should look." Geragos and Binder both reiterated that the Carradine family doesn't believe that the 72-year-old was suicidal. Geragos said Carradine had spoken with his brother Keith within the last two weeks and seemed "not at all" depressed and was "very excited" at the prospect of returning home from shooting a movie in Thailand. On Saturday, the police officer heading the death investigation told the Associated Press that hotel surveillance footage apparently showed that nobody came into Carradine's room before he passed away. A police source told the AP that Carradine was found on Thursday hanged in his hotel room closet with a rope tied to his neck and genitals.

Family members of David Carradine are "profoundly disturbed" by the publication of a forensics photo that allegedly shows the late actor at the scene of his death and are threatening legal action against any media outlets that reprint any of the images. A grainy photo published Saturday on the cover of the tabloid Thai Rath shows a naked body suspended from a clothes bar in a hotel closet, with hands apparently bound together above the head and feet on the floor, the Associated Press reports. The face is blacked out and other areas are obscured. While the paper does not indicate the source of the image, Thai police say they believe it is a picture of Carradine's body taken by a forensics team that examined the Bangkok, Thailand hotel room where his body was discovered last week. A spokesperson for Carradine's family released a statement to ET saying that the family was "profoundly disturbed by the release in Thailand of photographs taken at the scene of David Carradine's death." The statement adds: "The family wants it understood that, per (family) attorney Mark Geragos, any persons, publications or media outlets will be fully prosecuted for invasion of privacy and causing severe emotional distress if the photos are published." Geragos has also requested that the FBI investigate David's mysterious death and the family is seeking an independent autopsy by famed forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to determine whether another person could have been involved. Results of an autopsy performed Friday in Bangkok were not expected for at least three weeks. Geragos says David's body was returning to the U.S. this weekend for a second autopsy, which he believes could help shed light on whether foul play was involved in the 72-year-old "Kung Fu" star's death.

As David Carradine's family and friends try to make sense of his death, more details about the actor's bondage and sexual fetishes are coming out. In an interview with RadarOnline.com, Gail Jensen, Carradine's third ex-wife, said he enjoyed tying himself up in the bedroom of their California ranch and experimented with drowning himself in their pool. "He had his kinky moments," said Jensen, who was married to Carradine from 1986 to 1997. She added that the late actor saw the sex acts as a form of meditation and stress release. In a separate interview, Jensen revealed that Carradine "would tie himself up, and I would walk in and see him and say, 'Oh, my God, David, you've got to be kidding me.'" She added, "He liked to be tied up. And he could tie himself up ... He spent days planning a different feature. He would go to a hardware store and buy the stuff." Jensen's sentiment was echoed by the late actor's fourth and most recent ex-wife. Shocked to hear about the nude death photos that were published of Carradine over the weekend, Marina Anderson said her four-year marriage to the actor was a "roller coaster." Anderson, the actress and artist who has been credited with resuscitating Carradine's film career, is writing a book about her turbulent relationship with the actor, who was found hanged in Thailand last week. "The dynamics were pretty heavy," she told ABCNews.com. "I don't want to get into it or I will get emotional."

David Carradine was laid to rest Saturday in Los Angeles following a funeral service attended by his 'Kill Bill' acting colleagues Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah and Michael Madsen, along with Tom Selleck, Edward James Olmos, Jane Seymour and hundreds of other mourners who turned out to Forest Lawn cemetery, according to a source who attended. The hearse carrying Carradine's casket was said to have been escorted to the ceremony by a group of motorcycle riders. According to the source, "The service had both sad and humorous moments. The tone was in keeping with how David lived his life. It was very down-to-earth." David Carradine's brother Bruce told People.com, "There weren't a lot of tears, but there was a lot of laughter." Among the speakers at the service were Carradine's co-star from 'The Long Riders,' Stacy Keach, as well as Michael Madsen, according to the magazine. Two children of the late "Kung Fu" star performed a musical number on the harp and piano. The investigation into Carradine's mysterious death in a Bangkok hotel room continues in Thailand. He died earlier this month at the age of 72.

Farrah Fawcett died this morning at 9:28 at the St. John's Health Center in Los Angeles after a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer. She was 62. The '70s style icon and "Charlie's Angels" star was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on February 2, 1947 and attended the University of Texas at Austin. She got her first career break in the late 1960s, appearing in TV commercials and then guest-starring on TV shows such as "I Dream of Jeannie," "The Flying Nun" and "The Partridge Family." She also appeared on several episodes of "The Six Million Dollar Man," starring husband Lee Majors. The couple married in 1973 but separated in 1979, divorcing in 1982. Afterwards, Farrah began a tempestuous, on-and-off relationship with actor Ryan O'Neal, and the pair had a son, Redmond O'Neal, in 1985. In 1976, Farrah's celebrity status skyrocketed after she posed in a red bathing suit with a bright smile for an iconic poster that would go on to sell millions of copies, coupled with her debut that fall as Jill Munroe on Aaron Spelling's "Charlie's Angels." Hugely famous, her feathered hairstyle look became an international trendsetter and she even marketed her own shampoo. After appearing as a regular on "Charlie's Angels" for only one season, Farrah made a bid to be taken more seriously, starring off-Broadway in Extremities and later making a film version which garnered her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. She also was acknowledged with Globe and Emmy nominations for "The Burning Bed" and "Small Sacrifices," among other serious TV movie projects. She made her mark on the big screen, starring in such films as 'Logan's Run,' 'The Cannonball Run,' 'Saturn 3,' 'Dr. T and the Women,' 'Man of the House' and 'The Apostle.' Other TV appearances included the short-lived sitcom "Good Sports" with O'Neal, "Ally McBeal," "Spin City" and her own reality series, "Chasing Farrah," culminating in the poignant "Farrah's Story" this year, documenting her brave battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, Farrah was actively involved in charity work with the Cancer Society and had also campaigned against domestic violence, a theme tied to "The Burning Bed" and 'Extremities.' She is survived by her 24-year-old son, Redmond, and her longtime friend and companion, O'Neal.

A source close to Michael Jackson tells ET that the international superstar and pop music legend has passed away. He was 50. The King of Pop, who will be forever immortalized for his world-famous, trademark dance moves and chart-topping success, was arguably one of the most popular recording artists of all time, his success peaking during the 1980s.

Tatum O'Neal, the daughter of Farrah Fawcett's longtime companion Ryan O'Neal, is speaking out about Farrah's death. "I am truly heartbroken of Farrah's passing," Tatum said of the mother of her younger brother Redmond. "She was an inspiration to all women; an icon in her own right. She brought so much joy to millions and there are no words as to how much she will be missed." Farrah Fawcett passed away Thursday morning at 9:28 a.m.

Music mogul Quincy Jones, who worked with Michael Jackson on numerous music and film projects issued the following statement about the passing of the King of Pop: "I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on 'The Wiz' and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the '80s. To this day, the music we created together on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all…talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him." Michael Jackson was pronounced dead Thursday afternoon at the UCLA Medical Center.

With Michael Jackson's death, what will become of his three children? Debbie Rowe, the mother of Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11, is their legal parent and can gain custody of them if she chooses, according to Rowe's former attorney, Iris Finsilver. Prince Michael, Paris and Jackson's third child, Blanket, 7, whose mother has not been identified, have been in the care of Jackson's mother Katherine since the entertainer died Thursday after a cardiac arrest. "The kids are very upset, but they are fine," Jackson's manager, Frank DiLeo, tells PEOPLE. During the custody fight between Rowe and Jackson in 2005, Rowe sought to give up her parental rights, and lauded Michael as a good father. Retired Judge Stephen Lachs, who presided over the hearing, at first agreed to terminate them, but then Lachs changed his mind and returned the rights to her. "She lost them, and then she got them back," Finsilver says. Finsilver said she spoke to Rowe on Thursday but she cannot say what Rowe plans to do. "She was inconsolable." Jackson family attorney Brian Oxman says Jackson's mother, the family matriarch, would be a natural guardian for the kids, though it won't be her decision. "Katherine is the logical choice – she has all the grandkids and nieces around her but it will be up to the courts," Oxman tells PEOPLE. "I wouldn't be surprised if there are more proceedings regarding the children."