Steve Bing’s son Damian Hurley says it’s a ‘strange and confusing time’ after his father’s suspected suicide age 55
STEVE Bing's son Damian Hurley has shared a poignant snap of the sky and told followers it is "a very strange and confusing time" after his father's suspected suicide.
The 18-year-old model's mother Liz Hurley dated multi-millionaire producer Steve, 55, in 2001.
Overnight it was revealed Steve died after falling from his LA apartment.
Damian wrote on Instagram: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has reached out following the devastating news.
"I’m trying to reply to as many of you as I can, but please know I will always remember your kindness.
"This is a very strange and confusing time and I’m immensely grateful to be surrounded by my phenomenal family and friends."
Steve is also survived by daughter Kira Bonder, who he had with former pro tennis star Lisa Bonder.
When Liz gave birth to Damian a year after dating Steve, he insisted the child was not his.
A paternity test later proved he was the biological father.
TMZ reported that Steve had been struggling with his mental health and felt isolated during the coronavirus outbreak.
Last year Damian's grandfather, real estate heir Dr Peter Bing, 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 grandad 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.
Steve, 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.
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, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
Steve 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, working on the Sylvester Stallone film Get Carter and was best known for writing Kangaroo Jack in 2003.
Steve also invested $100 million into the Tom Hanks film The Polar Express, as well as financially backing Beowulf.
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.
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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.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans (free) on 116123 or 020 7734 2800.