UPDATE: Sources close to Michael Jackson have confirmed his death. Sources tell me that Jackson, 50, was alone for some time in his home before paramedics arrived. The singer was taken to UCLA Medical Center where, according to a source at the hospital, Jackson was at some point in the early afternoon Thursday taken off life support.

The Jackson family, including his children, had gathered at the singer’s side.

Sources also tell me that Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s eldest children, Michael and Paris, is “inconsolable” and “very concerned about her children.”

For Jackson’s legions of fans around the world, as well as his family, his death is a tragic blow. In recent weeks as he prepared for a startling 50 shows in London, Jackson was often seen coming and going from doctors’ offices. Now there will likely be questions about his treatments and his history of drug taking.

For Jackson’s three children — Prince Michael, Paris, and Blanket — there are concerns about who will be their guardians. Rowe is the birth mother of the first two. Blanket, as I reported a few years ago, was the product of Jackson picking a surrogate from a catalog.

Confusion will reign over Jackson’s finances. Jackson was up to his ears in debt — almost $400 million.

Despite all the controversy surrounding the pop icon, his legacy will probably now be as resonant as those of Elvis Presley or Marilyn Monroe.

More to come …

Update: Michael Jackson dies at 50

Pop star Michael Jackson has had a heart attack — and sources say he’s been rushed to UCLA hospital. Sources also say EMS workers gave him CPR.

Sources say Jackson’s mother is on her way to UCLA Medical Center, and his brothers have been called.

More to come …

Michael Jackson: his rehearsals for his London shows have now moved, full throttle, to the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Jacko crew had to wait until the L.A. Lakers were done with their season. The Lakers won the NBA championship last week. Now it’s time for Jacko.

My sources say that, despite rumors and potential lawsuits, the Jackson extravaganza is taking shape nicely. Michael, they say, is determined to be in shape for the shows. The occasional doctor’s visit or odd public outing is just for publicity.

In preparing for the 50 London shows, Jackson has at last signed former manager Frank DiLeo to oversee the proceedings. DiLeo was Jackson’s manager during the “Thriller” era. He’s also pretty much the only associate of the singer’s who didn’t rip him off, hasn’t sued him, or written anything bad about him.

The Staples rehearsals will proceed until next Friday, when the whole thing is packed up and shipped to London on July 3rd. That will leave a 10 day countdown until the first show at the O2 Arena. Stay tuned…

Poor Michael Jackson. Yes, he’s done a lot of weird things and maybe some bad things. But he’s also vulnerable to crazy lawsuits.

The latest comes from a New Jersey concert promoter Patrick Allocco and something called AllGood Productions. Allocco sued Jackson today in New York, along with AEG Live and Jackson’s long ago former manager Frank DiLeo — long ago as in 20 years. Why the suit was filed in New York is a mystery, since none of the parties is here.

Allocco says in his suit that he made a deal with DiLeo for the whole Jackson family — Michael, Janet, Sleepy, Snoopy – to perform at a concert in Texas. He claims that after that, all the defendants conspired together to put on shows in London and knock out his effort. He wants $20 million, of course.

Allocco’s going to have a tough time making his case. He says he met with DiLeo in October 2008, that DiLeo said he represented everyone, guaranteed the show, and that Allocco had an exclusive.

Only one problem: AEG started negotiating with Jackson in 2007. DiLeo wasn’t Jackson’s manager then, and isn’t now technically. He’s never represented the Jackson family, Janet Jackson, or even Reggie Jackson. DiLeo has only been working with Michael recently again and still, I am told, has no formal written agreement with him. Allocco is also claiming Jackson would do a pay-per-view event with him. But from the beginning there was no indication ever that Michael Jackson was going to be on pay-per-view, ever.

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Look, let’s face it, Paul McCartney is fuming day and night about Michael Jackson. The former King of Pop has literally lived off of McCartney’s songs for the last 25 years. If Jackson (spurred by his attorney John Branca) had not purchased the Beatles catalog in 1984 out from under Paul and Yoko, The Other Thin White Duke would be living in a cardboard box by now. Jackson has leveraged Lennon-McCartney for hundreds of millions of dollars to sustain his crazy lifestyle.

So what’s McCartney to do? How can he upstage Jackson’s comeback this summer? It’s brilliant, really: Paul is playing two shows at Citi Field in New York, the new Shea Stadium. The shows are slated for July 17th and 18th, right after Jackson may (or may not) debut his comeback extravaganza in London at the O2 Arena on July 13th and 14th. Check, check-mate, Paul! Don’t mess with Macca!

And, get this: Paul’s shows, like Michael’s, are being produced by Randy Phillips and AEG Live. So Paul has taken the Jacko game, and done it one better because—realistically—McCartney’s return to “Shea,” where the Beatles had their greatest live successes, is going to be a world event. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ringo make an appearance since this fall the Beatles are launching a major promotional push with their “Rock Star” game and all their remastered CDs coming on September 9th.

The only real question: will Phillips, the architect of all this, live through the summer? He’ll need his own Grammy award at this point!

Today’s article in The Los Angeles Times about Michael Jackson contained some of the worst reporting I’ve ever seen.

It was if the reporters just refused to do any research. Instead, they muddled a bunch of disparate facts. Let’s not let this story stand as the record for anything, OK?

I don’t know how they could have screwed up so much about Colony Capital LLC’s involvement with Jackson.

For one thing, Colony Capital and its chief, Thomas Barrack, only have the note on Neverland. They never had anything to do with Jackson’s main loans against his 50% ownership in Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Those loans were sold by Fortress Investment Group to a consortium of Barclays, HSBC, and Sony Music in 2007.

I don’t know if Barrack ever called his “old friend”Philip Anschutz about Jackson. But the truth is: AEG Live’s Randy Phillips tried to get Jackson to agree to perform at the O2 Arena in London as early as December 2007, when I reported it. That was at least a year before Colony and Barrack had anything to do with Jackson.

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Grace Rwaramba, the Neverland office assistant who worked her way up to being the nanny for Michael Jackson’s kids, has started her own charity.

Rwaramba has just put up a website named for the cause, World Accountability for Humanity. Yes, it’s a mouthful, and a little highfalutin’ considering once you get there. it’s not completely clear what’s going on.

Grace — who’s been a surrogate mother to Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson — does reveal a little about herself. Whether or not it’s completely true is another story altogether. But she does say she was born in Uganda, not Rwanda, as previously thought. She was sent to live with older siblings in the U.S. when she was small, and attended a boarding school in Connecticut. She says she received a B.A. in Business Administration from Atlantic Union College.

She did turn up at Neverland circa 1994, where she worked in the office. In short order, she was caring for Prince, Jackson’s first child with Debbie Rowe. By the time Rowe had Paris, Grace was the full-time nanny.

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MICHAEL JACKSON LONDON SHOWS DELAYED; LEGAL THREATS ‘BOGUS’

Michael Jackson’s London concerts are going forward as planned, despite legal threats from miscellaneous types who’d like to cash in on the action.

The latest threat, reported on tmz.com, is “bogus” according to insiders and has no legal standing.

Concert promoters who never came up with the money and never had real agreements are suing Jacko and former (like in the 80s) manager Frank DiLeo claiming that they’d agreed to be part of some kind of Jackson family tour with the Jackson 5 and Janet Jackson.

Good luck: DiLeo does not represent Jackson and never signed anything, say insiders. Jackson never signed anything either.

Somewhere at the bottom of this latest minor intrigue is promoter Leonard Rowe and Michael’s dad, Joseph Jackson. I reported a few months ago that these two were trying to worm their way into Jacko’s world. It’s not happening.

Meanwhile, as I reported exclusively last week, the Jackson shows will be delayed from July 8th to July 13th or 14th for their start. Director Kenny Ortega should announce tomorrow that he needed a  little more time for rehearsals and sets. Ortega is putting together a hot show, I am told, featuring Cirque du Soleil dancers and performers.

JACKO SUED BY MANAGER WHO GOT HIM $25 MIL

Michael Jackson’s ex manager and publicist, Raymone Bain, who worked with him from 2005 through 2008, has sued him for $44 million.

I told you in my old column several weeks ago that Bain was considering filing suit. Basically, she says she set up Jackson for his AEG Live deal for concerts in London, and now she wants her cut.

Discussions for the concerts began in February 2007, with Bain talking to AEG’s Randy Phillips. As I reported at the time, Jackson wouldn’t go through with it. But last year, after Bain was gone and replaced by Tohme Tohme (who is now gone, too), Jackson was finally convinced to agree to the shows—he was more desperate for the money than ever.

Bain is suing Jackson for, essentially, continuing his pattern of disloyalty and caprice. She says in her papers that once she set everything up, he paid everyone except her and stopped talking to her. Why she’s surprised is a good question: Jackson fired Bain a couple of days before the jury returned its verdict in his 2005 child molestation trial after months and months of work.

Bain was rehired in 2006 after Jackson split for Bahrain, and he signed agreements with her in May of that year authorizing her to reinvent and run his businesses. She did just that, hired new lawyers to represent him, and got him out of trouble and lawsuits. Jackson rewarded her by turning his back and changing his phone numbers. That’s called Jacko Standard Operating Procedure.

One of the things Bain did for Jackson was oversee a refinancing of his massive debts in 2007. At the end of that year, the refinancing gave him a fresh $25 million – which of course is all gone sixteen months later. The refinancing also provided a separate $16 million to pay debts and legal losses. This means that Jackson’s debt secured by his ownership interest in Sony/ATV Music is headed toward a staggering $400 million.

JACKO MANAGER: PAYS PRICE FOR MISTAKE

Michael Jackson’s most recent manager, Tohme Tohme, sometimes known as “doctor,” has paid the price for his big mistake.

I’m told that Jackson—whose SUV had a fender bender of little importance the other day in Los Angeles—has kicked Tohme to the curb.

“He won’t return his calls, and he’s changed all his numbers,” says one source close to the situation. Another source confirmed it.

Tohme has paid big time, though, for making the mistake of putting Jackson’s Neverland Ranch tchotchkes up for auction. I’m told that Tohme himself put up more than $2 million to stop the auction with Julien’s Auction House. Today would have been the final day of the auction, with the really juicy stuff going up on the block including Macaulay Culkin’s artwork and gifts from Elizabeth Taylor.

A couple of weeks ago a judge ruled in favor of Julien’s, when Jackson tried to sue to stop the auction. Another court date had been set for last week, but the parties settled in advance of that. It was fairly certain that the second court date would have ratified the first, in which case Julien’s was set to go ahead.

Instead, Tohme—in a panic—came up with the necessary dough to satisfy Julien’s for the money they’d already spent and pay them their commission. Where he got the money is another story. Some say it may have come from Colony Capital, Jackson’s partner in Neverland. Tohme—who’s been disproved as a physician and also as an ambassador at large to Senegal– has been their agent in the Jackson story for over a year. Still unresolved is where MusiCares, the Grammy charity, received their due and promised percentage.

As part of the deal with Julien’s, all the Neverland items have been on display at the former Robinson May store in Beverly Hills. The exhibition goes on all this weekend, with a $20 admittance fee. Next week, Jackson’s people will come and haul all the Neverland souvenirs away. It’s uncertain whether they’ll be unpacked back at the ranch or put into storage in nearby Buellton, California.

What is certain is that Tohme caused a rift between himself and Jackson. And at the same time, Arab investors are circling to close their deal on buying Neverland with all those souvenirs – as I told you in my old column a few weeks ago. That deal should be coming to a close soon. Sources say that there’s recently been a lot of activity at Neverland, with what look to be construction workers coming in to do renovations. Considering the seedy conditions the Julien’s staff found the place in last summer—the descriptions in their depositions were not pretty—this may be required before the imminent sale.

So is there any good news for Jackson? I am told that despite the auction action, the faded pop star has been rehearsing for his London concerts out in the San Fernando Valley, working out, hiring dancers and musicians, and is generally pumped right now to get his 50 shows ready. He’s already brought back long time show director Kenny Ortega, and the word is loyal ex-make up artist Karen Faye is coming back to the fold, too.

SERBS, THEY LIKE TO HAVE FUN

Cyndi Lauper’s in a new movie that opened at the Tribeca Film Festival. She’s really only in a couple of very good scenes in “Here and There,” which was shot in New York and Belgrade, Serbia and stars her real life husband, actor David Thornton.

Thornton is well known to audiences from many episodes of “Law & Order,” from all the Nick Cassavetes movies, and from a sterling performance in “A Civil Action” a few years ago.

But “Here and There” is kind of an indie tour de force. It reminded me of “Anna,’ the great Sally Kirkland movie with Paulina Porizkova from a few years ago, and “The Visitor.” It’s sort of the reverse of “The Visitor,” as Thornton’s Robert—a middle aged, broke and depressed musician– goes on a visit to Belgrade and his life is changed.

Darko Lungolov, whose 2004 documentary “Escape” won the Hamptons Film Festival audience award, says that “Here and There” is only partially autobiographical. Once, like Robert, he was a moving guy with a van in New York. That’s called paying your dues.

Lauper, who came to the premiere last night with her often hot pink tresses tinted a soft blonde, said she got into the film “Mainly because I live in the same house” as Thornton. But no joking—she has an Emmy Award for her work on “Mad About You” a few years ago. By the way, she also wrote the lovely theme song for “Here and There,” too. Whichever distributor picks it up—it’s a natural for IFC or Overture—gets the song, too.

I don’t know how many times “Here and There” shows this weekend, but it’s worth catching—it may be the sleeper of the Tribeca Fest. It’s natural and honest, with exquisite pacing. Thornton is top notch, as are all the Serbian actors surrounding him including Mirjana Karanovic—apparently a famous Serbian movie star—who plays his middle aged love interest in a style reminiscent of Susan Sarandon.

ROSIE VS. TOM HANKS; WOODY GETS POST-TOASTED; NOTHING AMISS IN AMISH; RUTH BOWEN

Monday night, it’s Rosie O’Donnell vs. Tom Hanks—and everyone wins! Rosie’s Broadway Kids are putting on a benefit performance at New World Stages on West 50th St. I’ve seen those kids, and they’re amazing. A couple of them are already being scouted for Broadway careers. Rosie and her gang have done a remarkable job over there. Expect Chita Rivera, Jane Fonda, and a bunch of stars to help out, as well as the great Kelli Carpenter O’Donnell…At the same time, Tom Hanks gets feted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. His wife Rita Wilson will be there, along with Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw, Jeremy Irons, John Patrick Shanley, Meg Ryan, and many surprise guests. And that’s just a Monday in New York!…

…Don’t believe a word of yesterday’s New York Post toasting, tar and feathering of Woody Allen’s new “Whatever Works.” The movie is great. I’m told, however, that as usual there may have been some background to why the Post went to such lengths to kill it. Insiders say the paper was unhappy it didn’t get to see “WW” earlier and had to wait until the premiere. Boo-hoo. “WW” is classic Woody Allen. I predict his old fans will flock back to see this one…

…Last week, during my hiatus, I had a chance to get downtown to 45 Bleecker Street and catch the very good original play, “Rumspringa.” The word is the term the Amish people use for the year 17 year olds are sent into the world to decide their futures. Peter Zinn wrote and directed this engrossing and often funny, well staged piece. The four cast members were all stand outs and memorable, including the very good Jim Boerlin, C.S. Drury, Kirsty Meares, and Mickey Sumner—the latter a breakout actress not to be missed. She’s also one of Sting and Trudie Styler’s remarkable brood of great kids, although she’d prefer no one knew that. Mickey has taken a page out of her classically trained actress mother’s book, but she has a lovely style all her own. Keep an eye on this one…

…I’ve been waiting for announcement in the New York Times, but so far not a word about the passing on April 21st of the remarkable Ruth Bowen. She started the Queen Booking Agency in Harlem in 1959, handled every important R&B act, and was Aretha Franklin’s manager and friend for most of her career. Ruth was a legend in Harlem, in music, and New York culture. There would have been no nights at the Apollo without her. She was 85 but had the spirit of a 25 year old. Ruth Bowen will be sorely, sorely missed…