Tony Scott, director of Hollywood hits Top Gun, 'Days of Thunder and Beverly Hills Cop II, died on Sunday after jumping from a Los Angeles County bridge.
The 68-year-old Scott’s death was being investigated as a suicide, Los Angeles County Coroner’s Lt Joe Bale said.
Investigators found a note in Scott’s black Toyota Prius, which was parked on the bridge. That note listed contact information. A suicide note was later found at his office. Its contents have not been revealed. The British-born Scott, who lived in Beverly Hills, was producer and director Ridley Scott’s younger brother. Distinct visual styles mark both siblings’ films — Ridley Scott mastering the creation of entire worlds with such films as Gladiator, Blade Runner, Alien and this year’s Prometheus, Tony Scott known for hyper-kinetic action and editing on such films as his most recent, the runaway train thriller Unstoppable, starring regular collaborator Denzel Washington.
Scott was a thrill-seeker himself in his personal life, an avid rock climber who also liked driving fast cars and motorcycles. Still, filmmaking was his real thrill. “The biggest edge I live on is directing. That’s the most scary, dangerous thing you can do in your life,” Scott said in an interview for his 1995 naval adventure Crimson Tide.
Tony was the first of the Scott brothers to enjoy blockbuster success with Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, the top-grossing film of 1986 at $176 million.