Prolific British film director Tony Scott has jumped to his death from a bridge in Los Angeles. He was 68.
Best known for his work directing a number of incredibly influential films, including Top Gun and Crimson Tide, Scott jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge, which crosses the Los Angeles Harbor, at approximately 12.30pm PST on Sunday, August 19.
In a statement, a coastguard spokesperson said they found a list of people who should be notified of his death in his car, which was parked on the bridge. A subsequent search found a suicide note in Scott’s Los Angeles office.
It is reported that several witnesses saw Scott climb a fence on the south side of the bridge before jumping ‘without hesitation.’
A number of agencies, including the LAPD, local firefighters, and the coastguard conducted a search, with divers locating his body at around 4.30pm PST. His identity was confirmed by coroners Sunday evening.
News of Scott’s death, and the circumstances surrounding them, has rocked the entire film industry. Scott is the younger brother of Sir Ridley Scott, who has also directed a number of prolific films, including Blade Runner, Black Hawk Down, and Hannibal.
Many high profile friends and celebrities have taken to twitter to express their grief. The A Team director Joe Carnahan said: “Tony Scott as a friend and a mentor was irreplaceable. Tone, wherever you are, I love you man. RIP”
Hairspray director Adam Shankman also tweeted: “My heart stopped when I heard of the tragic death of 1 of r most inspiring directors, Tony Scott. Rest In Peace Tony. U will be missd so sad… A wonderful creative light went out today.”
Tony Scott made his directorial debut in 1983, with the film The Hunger, which starred Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon. From that start he went on to super-charge the careers of many prolific actors, including Tom Cruise, who starred in in Top Gun, and create many critically acclaimed movies, including Unstoppable, which starred Denzel Washington.
Scott always kept a rather low key appearance by Hollywood standards, wearing an old faded red baseball cap both on movie sets and to movie premieres.
On the set of Days of Thunder, Scott met an acress called Donna Wilson. The pair married in 1994, and had twin sons.
Among his last work before his death, Scott worked as the executive producer of TV mini-series Coma, which is due to air later this year.
