NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, VARIETY, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER (USA)
LOS ANGELES – Tony Scott, the British-born director of high-octane blockbusters like Top Gun and Days of Thunder, jumped to his death from a Los Angeles bridge on Sunday. He was 68, reports the New York Times.
NOOOOOOO!!!
#TonyScott Why??? Thanks for doing a school out of your work. Godspeed. twitter.com/mundodelguy/st…— PixL (@mundodelguy) August 20, 2012
His body was pulled out of the water by the Los Angeles Port Police, says the Los Angeles Times. Several witnesses told police they saw Scott get out of his car, which was parked on the Vincent Thomas Bridge, around 12:30pm. He then scaled a fence and jumped, according to law enforcement sources.
A note listing contact information was found inside Scott’s car; a suicide note was later found in his office.
Tony Scott, brother of Oscar-nominated director Ridley Scott, was known for helming such blockbusters as Spy Game, True Romance, Crimson Tide and Unstoppable, writes Variety. In recent years he had been more active as a producer of film and TV fare. Among his many TV projects were drama series The Good Wife and Numbers, and the mini-series Pillars of the Earth.
Scott was one of the first filmmakers to make the transition from commercials to features, writes the Hollywood Reporter. He directed thousands of TV spots.
In 1985, producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckenheimer signed Scott to direct Top Gun, impressed by a commercial he had done for Swedish automaker Saab, in which a car raced a fighter jet.
No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) August 20, 2012
Tony Scott. Tony Scott was one of the, if not the, warmest and generous directors for whom I’ve ever worked. … tmblr.co/ZJsEOyRn4mk7
— Adam Goldberg (@TheAdamGoldberg) August 20, 2012
This is just tragic. A VERY successful filmmaker who chose to end his own life. Confuses me so much. Condolences to Tony Scott’s family.
— Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) August 20, 2012
Tony Scott was the best mentor – when he saw something punk rock that he could slip through the system… he pounced.
— Richard Kelly (@JRichardKelly) August 20, 2012
Deeply saddened to hear the news about Tony Scott. A fine film-maker and the most charming, modest man.
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) August 20, 2012
