Slain Hollywood Publicist Ronni Chasen Planned To Leave Estate To Niece, Charities

A will from slain Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen has been released, and it reveals that she — at the date of the will’s filing in 1994 — was planning to leave thousands to charity.

TMZ reported on Thursday that Chasen filed a newer will — in 2006, which would void out any previously filed wills.

In the 1994 will, however, Chasen left thousands to charities including Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang ($20,000), Make A Wish Foundation ($10,000), the Women’s Cancer Research Foundation at UCLA ($5,000), and the Gilda Radner Cancer Program at Cedars Sinai Medical Center ($2,500).

Chasen also willed her collection of playbills and other motion picture related artifacts to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She asked that they be displayed with a notice that the items are “from the collection of RONNI CHASEN.”

The biggest benefactor of Chasen’s will was intended to be her mother, but according to TMZ, which first reported details of the 1994 will, Chasen’s mother previously passed away.

Instead, Chasen’s estate, reportedly worth more than $6 million, was expected to go to her niece, Melissa Cohen, with additional allotments for a host of charities including the ones previously mentioned, as well as Big Sister Volunteers of Los Angeles, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Chasen purposely gave her niece Jill Cohen (also know as Jill Gassby) just $10 in the 1994 will.

The will included directions for Chasen’s funeral – including a request that a rather famous composer – a former client – help soundtrack the sad day.

“I request that John Williams write a piece of music for the service if possible,” she wrote in her will.

The will was executed on June 10, 1994, in New York City.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Chasen was gunned down while driving, following the premiere of “Burlesque” in Los Angeles last month. She was laid to rest on November 21.

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