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.)

Robin Williams Remembered With Heartfelt Accolades

Tributes are pouring in for American actor-comedian Robin Williams, who was found dead of an apparent suicide Monday at his California home. He was 63.

A statement from his publicist said he had been battling depression. Williams' longtime struggle with drugs and alcohol was well-known. Just last month, he admitted himself into a rehabilitation facility to help maintain his sobriety.

During his decades-long career in television and movies, Williams entertained fans of all ages. He won acclaim for numerous films, including Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning, Vietnam and Good Will Hunting, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1998.

President Barack Obama praised Williams as a "one of a kind" performer who touched "every element of the human spirit."

Williams' fellow actors, friends and fans took to Twitter to share their memories. Steve Martin, who co-starred with Williams in Waiting for Godot, wrote that he "could not be more stunned" by the loss, calling Williams a "great talent, acting partner" and a "genuine soul."

Local authorities say they believe Williams killed himself by asphyxia, but the cause of death is still under investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

TV debut

Born in Chicago in 1951, Williams was a stand-up comedian when he made his television debut in the late 1970s, playing an alien in the situation comedy Mork and Mindy.

Williams also acted on Broadway and continued performing stand-up comedy even after becoming a movie star, delighting audiences with his rapid-fire, improvisational routines. 

Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg, who directed Williams in the 1991 film "Hook," described the comedian as "a lightning storm of comic genius."

Outside Williams' home in the town of Tiburon, north of San Francisco, people left flowers, with the entertainer's neighbors praising him for his niceness.

The late actor's wife, Susan Schneider, released a statement saying, "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."

In addition to his wife, Williams is survived by his three adult children.

Estranged Wife of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Found Dead

The estranged wife of lawyer and environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has been found dead.

An attorney says police discovered the body of 52-year-old Mary Kennedy in her home in Bedford, north of New York City. Police have released no other details.

Mary Kennedy was Kennedy's second wife. The two filed for divorce in 2010 after 16 years of marriage.

Robert Kennedy is an author of several books and one of the United States' top environmental lawyers.

He is the son of Senator Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated in June 1968 while seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in November 1963.

Poland’s Former Deputy PM Lepper Dead at 57

Authorities in Poland say former deputy prime minister Andrzej Lepper has been found dead and that it appears he committed suicide. He was 57.

Police say Lepper's body was found in his Warsaw office Friday and that everything indicates he killed himself. A police spokesman is quoted as saying authorities have ruled out the involvement of third parties.

A former pig farmer, Lepper was a member of the populist Self-Defense Party, which became a junior partner in a conservative nationalist government that held power from 2006 until 2007. He served as deputy prime minister and agriculture minister in that government, which was led for most of its short tenure by then-Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

Lepper was removed from his posts after he was linked to a corruption investigation.

Last year, Lepper was found guilty of demanding sexual favors from female members of his party and was handed a jail sentence against which he appealed.

Photo: Leader of Samoobrona, Andrzej Lepper in 2002. (Photographer: Błażej Pajda)