Steve Bing, a billionaire film producer and prominent Democratic political donor whose producing credits include “The Polar Express,” died on Monday after a fall from a high-rise building in California.
Police responded to a call around 1 p.m. about the incident on Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department told Yahoo.
“This is the only information we have at this time,” said Capt. Gisselle Espinoza.
Bing, who was 55, inherited a $600 million fortune from his real estate mogul grandfather at the age of 18. He went to Stanford University, but dropped out in his junior year to go into filmmaking.
The film producer made headlines when he sued British actress Elizabeth Hurley to force a DNA test after she declared that he was the father of her baby. The test proved he was indeed the father.
While the police would not say if he had committed suicide, the New York Post did.
“’I am saddened beyond belief that my ex Steve is no longer with us. It is a terrible end,’ the actress said early Tuesday, hours after news broke that the 55-year-old producer jumped from the 27th floor of a high-rise in Century City, L.A.,” said The Post.
“Our time together was very happy and I’m posting these pictures because although we went through some tough times, it’s the good, wonderful memories of a sweet, kind man that matter,” Hurley wrote in a tribute to Bing on Instagram. “In the past year we had become close again. We last spoke on our son’s 18th birthday.”
Bing was a major Democratic donor, giving millions to the party, and a friend of President Clinton, who praised his friend on Twitter.
“I loved Steve Bing very much,” Clinton wrote late Monday. “He had a big heart, and he was willing to do anything he could for the people and causes he believed in. I will miss him and his enthusiasm more than I can say, and I hope he’s finally found peace.”
I loved Steve Bing very much. He had a big heart, and he was willing to do anything he could for the people and causes he believed in. I will miss him and his enthusiasm more than I can say, and I hope he’s finally found peace.
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) June 23, 2020
Bing also made headlines in another case, in which he sued Kirk Kerkorian “for invasion of privacy after the billionaire’s private eye — the infamous Anthony Pellicano — took Bing’s dental floss out of his trash can,” The Post wrote. “Kerkorian was embroiled in a child support lawsuit with his ex-wife, Lisa Bonder. He used the DNA from the floss to prove that Bing was the father of Bonder’s child, Kira.”
Celebrities lamented his passing. Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger said: “It’s so sad to hear of Steve Bing’s passing. He was such a kind and generous friend and supported so many good and just causes. I will miss him very much.”
Actress Rosanna Arquette tweeted: ‘This is very sad and disturbing news… Rest In Peace Steve.”
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