Heavy D's Cause of Death a Blood Clot in Lung

Much-loved rapper Heavy D, who collapsed and died suddenly on Nov. 8, fell victim to a pulmonary embolism – a blood clot in his lung – among other ailments, according to a coroner's officer's report released Tuesday. Heavy D (real name: Dwight Arrington Meyers), 44, had collapsed outside his Beverly Hills condo after he suffered difficulty breathing while returning from a morning shopping trip, police said at the time. He later died at Los Angeles Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Besides the blood clot, which likely formed over the course of a long plane ride, the influential '90s rapper also suffered from heart disease and deep leg vein thrombosis, according to Craig Harvey, chief of the Los Angeles County department of coroner.

 It was a merry Christmas indeed for Matthew McConaughey. The actor rang in the holidays by putting a ring on the finger of longtime girlfriend Camila Alves. McConaughey, 42, who opened up about his relationship with the Brazilian model, 28, in 2007, announced his engagement on his WhoSay account. "Just asked camila to marry me," he wrote in a post accompanying a snapshot of the couple sharing a smooch in front of the Christmas tree. "Merry Christmas." The couple have two children together – Levi, 3, and Vida, who turns 2 in January.

 

Ex-'Saturday Night Live' writer Joe Bodolai dies

Former "Saturday Night Live" writer Joseph Bodolai committed suicide in a Hollywood hotel room, according to the Los Angeles coroner's office. Bodolai had posted what appears to be a suicide note on his blog on December 23 titled, "If This Was Your Last Day Alive What Would You Do?" In the note, Bodolai writes about "Stuff I Would Like to Have Seen In My Life" -- including the Browns winning the Super Bowl and the "truth" about the JFK murder. He also lists "Things I Regret" ... which begins with, "My inability to conquer my alcoholism" followed by, "The things I did because of it." Bodolai also lists, "Things I Am Proud Of" -- listing family members, his time as an "SNL" staff writer and "writing the first draft of Wayne’s World with Mike Myers." Bodolai concludes, "May you all have the happy lives you deserve. Thank you all for being in my life."He was 63.

Sinead O'Connor announced she is ending her marriage to Barry Herridge, the "Nothing Compares 2 U" singer said Monday on her website. "Dear friends," O'Connor 45, writes, "I had for reasons u will all understand, wished to keep this private but have been told today it is to be leaked in the next few days despite my best efforts. So I must now leak it myself so as the record is straight." She blames pressures placed upon him by "certain people in his life" not to be with her based on press reports about her. "Within 3 hours of the ceremony being over the marriage was kyboshed by the behaviour of certain people in my husband's life. And also by a bit of a wild ride i took us on looking for a bit of a smoke of weed for me wedding night as I don't drink," she writes. "My husband was enormously wounded and very badly effected by that experience and also by the attitude of those close to him toward our marriage. It became apparent to me that if he were to stay with me he would be losing too much to bear." She also says, "He is a wonderful man. I love him very much. I'm sorry I'm not a more regular woman. I truly believe though it is painful to admit, we made a mistake rushing into getting married, for altruistic reasons, and weren't aware or prepared for the consequences on my husband's life and the lives of those close to him. He has been terribly unhappy and I have therefore ended the marriage. I think he is too nice to do so. And too nice to trap." O'Connor, who has four children from her previous relationships, wed music producer John Reynolds in 1989 and journalist Nicholas Sommerlad in 2001. This past April, she split from longtime friend and collaborator Steve Cooney.

Former Frank Zappa sideman Jim Sherwood dies at 69

Experimental saxophonist and original member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention Jim Sherwood passed away on Christmas of undetermined causes. He was 69 years old. Nicknamed “Motorhead” for his love of automobiles, Sherwood played sax on all of Zappa’s early albums, ending his stint with the Mothers of Invention after the release of the classic 1970 album Weasels Ripped My Flesh. He joined the band as a musician full-time in 1967, ripping through saxophone and percussion parts for the seven subsequent Zappa albums before the Mothers of Invention dissolved in 1969.

Jazz musician Sam Rivers dies from pneumonia at 88

Sam Rivers, an internationally-known jazz musician who played with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, has died. He was 88.


Steven Tyler is Engaged
Steven Tyler is domesticating himself  ... because his longtime GF was sporting a huge rock on her finger this weekend ... and sources say it's an ENGAGEMENT RING! 63-year-old Tyler and 38-year-old Erin Brady hit Maui on Xmas day ... along with a massive new diamond. It's unclear if Tyler proposed before or during the tropical vacay. The two have been dating since 2006.  Tyler has been married twice before ... he married a model in 1978 and a clothing designer in 1988.
 

Essence Atkins Welcomes a Son

Essence Atkins and her husband Jaime Mendez got the best present they could have asked for on Christmas Day — a son. “Found [happiness] … our 1st baby, a beautiful healthy boy, was born on Christmas Day! #blessing,” the Are We There Yet? actress, 39, Tweeted Tuesday. It’s the first child for the couple, who were married in September 2009 after meeting on Match.com.


Prince Philip Leaves Hospital

The royal family welcomed Prince Philip home early Tuesday after he spent four nights in the hospital for a heart ailment. Philip, 90, smiled and waved to bystanders as he was driven out of Papworth Hospital in Cambridge to begin the hour-long car journey to Sandringham House in Norfolk, England. He apparently walked down from his ward, rather than take an elevator. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said, "On departure, Prince Philip thanked the staff at Papworth for the excellent care he has received during his stay. He is very much looking forward to rejoining his family."

John Legend Is Engaged

"Ordinary People" soul singer John Legend is doing something extraordinary – he's getting married. "John Legend and his girlfriend, model Chrissy Teigen, got engaged over the holidays while vacationing in the Maldives," Legend's rep, Cindi Berger says. The couple have been together four years.
 In the spirit of the holiday season, Hilary Duff, who announced this summer that she was expecting her first child with husband Mike Comrie, showed off her embellished belly on Twitter. "Happy holidays from the three of us!" she Tweeted.


TV NEWS
At least two Llanviewers rendered “homeless” by ABC’s cancellation of One Life to Live (and Prospect Park’s decision to bail on the soap’s online continuation) may soon relocate to Port Charles. Though unconfirmed by an ABC rep, Ted King, who played OLTL‘s Tomas, is due to start taping scenes for General Hospital next month. SID hears that Michael Easton (aka OLTL‘s John McBain) is set to join GH as well. King, of course, previously played two Alcazar brothers, Luis and Lorenzo, on GH — both now dead — but it’s not clear if he would play yet another member of the international crime family or a brand-new character.


The Contra Security workplace will look a bit different when Fox’s Breaking In breaks out its second season. Confirmed to return as series regulars to the caper comedy — which was canceled back in May but then plucked from the ashes as a midseason replacement — are Christian Slater (as Contra boss man Oz), Bret Harrison (Cameron) and Alphonso McAuley (Cash).  Emmy winner Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) is coming on board as a Season 2 regular, playing Oz’s own boss. that Odette Annable, who during Breaking In‘s brief canceled state joined the cast of Fox’s House, will reprise her role of savvy, sexy Melanie in “multiple episodes” but not reclaim series regular status. Breaking In kicks off its new season on March 6, airing Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c between encore and new episodes of New Girl (while Glee is on hiatus).