James Bond Actor Roger Moore Dies at 89

British actor Roger Moore, best known for his movie role as James Bond, has died at the age of 89.

"It is with a heavy heart that we must announce our loving father, Sir Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer," his children said in a statement Tuesday. "The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone."

A private funeral will be held in Monaco according to his wishes, they added.

Moore gained international fame for playing famous secret agent James Bond in seven films released between 1973 and 1985, including Live and Let Die and The Spy Who Loved Me. They were based on the books by Ian Fleming.

Moore was also one of the longest serving goodwill ambassadors for the United Nations Children's Fund, visiting projects for children in over 16 countries. He was awarded UNICEF UK's first lifetime achievement award in 2012, which was later named the Roger Moore Lifetime Achievement Award.

"With the passing of Sir Roger Moore, the world has lost one of its great champions for children – and the entire UNICEF family has lost a great friend," UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said in a statement.

(Photo courtesy of ABC Television: Roger Moore announcing his role as Beau Maverick on the television program Maverick. Circa 1960.)

Death of Soundgarden Singer Chris Cornell Ruled a Suicide

The death of rock musician Chris Cornell, whose distinctive voice led the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, has been ruled a suicide.

Medical authorities in Detroit say Cornell, 52, hung himself in his hotel room.

Cornell was found dead in his hotel room, hours after Soundgarden played Detroit's Fox Theater as part of a North American tour that had been scheduled to continue Friday in Columbus, Ohio.

Cornell's publicist said "His wife, Vicky, and family were shocked to learn of his sudden and unexpected passing, and they will be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause."

Soundgarden was a major force in the 1990s musical movement known as grunge along with groups such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Its 1991 album "Batmotorfinger" spawned popular singles such as "Outshined," and "Jesus Christ Pose." In 1994, the band released its breakthrough Grammy nominated album, "Superunknown," which debuted at number one in the U.S. It included songs such as "Spoonman," "Fell on Black Days," and "Black Hole Sun."

In 1991, Cornell recorded an album with Temple of the Dog, a supergroup that included members of both Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

During a period in which Soundgarden had broken up, Cornell partnered with former members of another band, Rage Against the Machine, to form the successful group Audioslave.

Soundgarden reunited in 2010 and launched its current tour in April. Cornell throughout his career released several solo albums as well.

He and his wife, Vicky, also launched a foundation aimed at helping kids facing homelessness, poverty, abuse and neglect.

Cornell's contemporaries reacted to his death with shock and surprise on Twitter early Thursday.

GAVIN ROSSDALE: I AM SO SADDENED BY CHRIS CORNELL PASSING. TOTAL SHOCK. GREAT MAN. GREAT BAND. GREAT LOSS. LOVE TO EVERYONE IN HIS WORLD. XXX

Dave Navarro, best known as a guitarist for Jane's Addiction, said he was "stunned" by the news.

And Jimmy Page, guitarist for the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin, said of Cornell: "Incredibly talented. Incredibly young. Incredibly missed."

(Photo by gdcgraphics: Chris Cornell at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.)

Fox News Co-Founder Ailes Dead at 77

Fox News CEO and Co-Founder Roger Ailes died Thursday morning at 77 years old, the news organization announced.

The network was informed of Ailes’s death by his wife Elizabeth. News anchors struggled to control their emotions as they read a statement written by Ailes’s wife.

“I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning,” the statement said.

“During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions. And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life,” the statement continued.

Ailes spent 20 years as the head of Fox, but he was removed last year amid claims of sexual harassment against him.

(Photo by Sgt. Christopher Tobey: Roger Ailes, president of Fox News and chairman of the Fox Television Stations Group, at the Fox News Headquarters in Times Square, New York, June 14, 2013.)