Celebrity Watch!

Charlie Murphy, Eddie's older brother, and a very successful and popular stand-up comedian in his own right has died ... TMZ has learned.

According to Charlie's manager, he died from leukemia Wednesday morning in a NYC hospital. He'd been going undergoing chemotherapy. Family members tell us they're absolutely shocked because they thought he was getting better.

We're told the family would call him frequently, and he'd even joke they were calling too much.

Charlie famously co-starred on "Chappelle's Show" in some of Dave's most memorable skits ... including the nights Charlie partied with Rick James and Prince.

Charlie also co-wrote some of Eddie Murphy's movies, like "Norbit" and "Vampire in Brooklyn." He co-starred in "Are We There Yet?," "The Boondocks" and "Black Jesus."

He recently toured with Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, George Lopez and D.L. Hughley on "The Comedy Get Down."

Charlie's wife, Tisha Taylor Murphy, died in 2009 from cervical cancer. They had 2 children, and he had another from a previous relationship.

Charlie was 57.

#RIP

MARCH 2013

LAST TIME WE SAW HIM ...TMZ.com

As every 'Chappelle' fan knows, Charlie was really tight with Prince and his death last year hit him hard. He joined us on TMZ Sports to share his memories of his friend.

Last and absolutely not least ... enjoy the GREATEST Prince story ever told!

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GROTON, Massachusetts —

5 Investigates has learned John Warren Geils Jr., the artist known professionally as J. Geils and part of the rock group The J. Geils Band, was found dead in his Groton, Massachusetts home.

The 71-year-old was found unresponsive by police around 4 p.m. Tuesday after they responded to his home for a well-being check. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Foul play is not suspected at this time.

Geils and the band are best known for their album, "Freeze Frame" and the song "Centerfold," which hit No. 1 for six weeks.

Geils formed the band during his time at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he studied mechanical engineering.

At Worcester, he formed J. Geils Blues Band with Danny Klein, Magic Dick Salwitz, Stephen Jo Bladd, and Peter Wolf, with Seth Justman becoming the last member before the band released its debut album in 1970.

The J. Geils Band was influenced by soul music and rhythm and blues, but it moved toward pop and rock by the time the album "Love Stinks" came out in 1980.

After 11 albums, the band's 12th album, "Freeze Frame," hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts for four weeks in 1981 and remained on the chart for 70 weeks. The title track "Freeze Frame" made it to No. 4.

While on tour, opening acts for the band included the Eagles, Billy Joel, ZZ Top and U2.

The band broke up a few years later.

Geils has called Groton his home for 35 years.