Steve Bing dead – Liz Hurley’s film producer ex dies aged 55 in suspected suicide after falling from LA apartment block
LIZ Hurley's film producer ex Steve Bing has died in a suspected suicide after falling from his LA apartment.
The 55-year-old, who shares son Damian with model Liz after they dated in 2001, was reported to be struggling with mental health during the coronavirus pandemic.
The multi-millionaire producer is also survived by daughter Kira Bonder, who he had with former pro tennis star Lisa Bonder.
Reports say Bing died in a suspected suicide after falling from a luxury apartment building in LA's Century City neighbourhood on Monday.
TMZ reported that he had struggled with his mental health and felt isolated during the coronavirus outbreak.
Bing was a multi-millionaire movie producer and writer who had dropped out of Stanford University after inheriting $600 million from his real estate developer grandfather.
He pursued a career in Hollywood and went onto work on the Sylvester Stalone film 'Get Carter' and he was best known for writing 'Kangaroo Jack' in 2003.
Bing also invested $100 million into the Tom Hanks film, 'The Polar Express', as well as financially backing 'Beowulf'.
Liz Hurley and Bing dated in 2001 and their son Damian, now 18, was born one year later.
At the time, he insisted the child was not his but a paternity test later proved he was the biological father.
Damian's grandfather, real estate heir Dr. Peter Bing, last year tried to prevent the teen model and his half-sister Kira from accessing their inheritance.
But a Los Angeles judge ruled that Damian and Kira, the daughter of Steve and ex-tennis pro Lisa Bonder, were beneficiaries to Dr Peter Bing's trust.
The granddad had tried to claim Damian should not inherit because the model had never met his own dad and was "born out of wedlock", according to court papers.
Bing, whose fortune was an estimated £380m, blasted this statement with his legal team branding the petition a "sham".
Liz and Steve had joined forces to fight against the lawsuit.
But after Steve's tragic death, the fight for the inheritance is sure to reignite.
A huge music fan, Bing produced and financed The Rolling Stones' Shine A Light concert film and the Jerry Lee Lewis album Last Man Standing.
In 2012, Bing committed to Bill Gates and Warren Buffett's "Giving Pledge", promising to give away the majority of his wealth over his lifetime.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
Bing donated to a lot of progressive issues, including environment initiatives. He contributed nearly $50 million to an oil production tax that was defeated in 2006.
In 2009, when Bill Clinton flew to North Korea to negotiate for the release of two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, Bing covered the costs.
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He was particularly close to Clinton, having given at least $10 million to his foundation.
In 2012, he pledged a $30 million legacy gift to the Motion Picture & Television Fund.
He was the chairman of the production-finance company Shangri-La Entertainment, whose most recent credits include 2017’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans (free) on 116123 or 020 7734 2800.