Friends, Foes Pay Tribute to Anna Nicole Smith
Feb. 8, 2006 -- Anna Nicole Smith's life was filled with lawsuits, public feuds, the deaths of loved ones, reality-show drama and slurred speech at public appearances -- but today, even those who locked horns with the actress and model said they are saddened by her death.
"No matter what our differences have been over the years, Anna was still our blood and she will be missed terribly," said her sister, Donna Hogan. "She was a woman who was determined to get out of her small town in Texas and make a name for herself.
"We feel that the death of her son left her deeply saddened, a sadness she hid from everyone," Hogan added. "As a mother of three children, I am anguished by this tragic event and the fact that her new baby daughter, Dannielynn Hope, is now without a mother."
Smith spent years embroiled in bitter legal battles over the estate of her late husband, elderly billionaire J. Howard Marshall II, including a court case involving Marshall's son, Pierce.
But even an opposing attorney Smith once famously upbraided in court with the retort "Screw you, Rusty," told ABCNEWS.com he nevertheless found her attractive and charismatic.
"I did tell her one time, 'Anna, I don't know why you're so upset with me. I've been good for your career,' " said Rusty Hardin, noting that the courtroom confrontation and publicity helped his career, too.
"I never took anything she said personally, and none of it ever bothered me," Hardin said. "I sometimes have people say to me, 'Screw you Rusty.' … They said it jokingly."
Hardin said he rarely saw Smith outside of court but still felt a personal sadness over her death.
"It's terribly sad when a person of that age passes away, especially when someone has a child like that," he said, referring to Smith's infant daughter, Dannielynn Hope, who is the focus of an ongoing paternity case.
Eric Brunstad, another attorney for the Marshall family, told ABC News Radio from Hartford, Conn., that Smith's death was "very sad."
"Pierce Marshall himself passed away last year, and then to have her die this year, it's obviously sort of a tragedy compounded by a tragedy," Brunstad said. "We're all, obviously, very shocked by what's happened. And the Marshall family extends its deepest condolences."
Ron Rale, an attorney who represented Smith in a current paternity case over her infant daughter, expressed some bitterness at a news conference about the legal assault Smith faced.
"Part of me is angry because I don't believe Anna Nicole should have had to endure this," he said. "I can't imagine any mother who has had to endure this -- her loss of a child and litigation on multiple fronts."
Mark Steines of "Entertainment Tonight" visited with Smith at her home in the Bahamas last week, where he could tell something was wrong.
"I could tell that Anna had been failing, that she was not herself," he told ABC News. "She was certainly dealing with all the emotion of everything that's taken place in her life."
Paul Marciano, who photographed Smith for Guess jeans, said her death marked a "very tragic and sad day" -- especially because it followed by five months the mysterious death of Smith's 20-year-old son, Daniel.
"Personally, I feel she did not survive the loss of her son Daniel, who was the love of her life," Marciano said in a statement.
Marciano said a spring 1992 Smith photography shoot was one of his most memorable.
"Her personality was very complex, but yet she had a charming, sexy and seductive side that reminded me so much of Anita Ekberg from Frederico Fellini¹s film 'La Dolce Vita,'" he said.
"In the fall of 1992, we went on tour with Anna Nicole to the Guess store openings in Hong Kong, Jakarta, Tokyo and Singapore," he added. "Thousands of people showed up at every single opening. It was simply overwhelming to see such a large crowd for a model who had just launched her career in the Guess campaign six months prior.
"I did two more campaigns with Anna Nicole before her personal life took precedence over her career," Marciano wrote.
After her Guess campaigns, Smith appeared numerous times as a Playboy playmate -- and Hugh Hefner, the magazine's founder was among the first to send out a press statement on her death.
"I am very saddened to learn about Anna Nicole's passing," Hefner said. "She was a dear friend who meant a great deal to the Playboy family and to me personally. My thoughts and prayers are with her friends and loved ones during this difficult time."
Darren Prince, Smith's former agent, called his former client "a sweetheart."
"I have done a number of major deals with her and Howard [K. Stern -- Smith's lawyer, whom she reportedly married] in the past and she was simply a pleasure to be around," Prince said in a statement. "My heart goes out to Howard and her family during this troubled time. … I will pray for her family."
In her later days, as Smith's weight publicly fluctuated, she had yet another comeback as a spokeswoman for TrimSpa, a weight-loss company.
"Anna came to our company as a customer, but she departs it as a friend," said Alex Goen, CEO and founder of TrimSpa, in a statement. "While life for Anna Nicole was not easy these past few months, she held dear her husband, Howard K. Stern, her daughter, Dannielynn Hope, her most cherished friends, beloved dogs and, finally, her work with TrimSpa.
"Anna knew both the joy of giving life, and the heartache of losing a child," Goen added. "We pray that she is granted the peace that eluded her more recent days on earth, and that she find comfort in the presence of her son, Daniel."
ABC News' Michael S. James contributed to this report.