'Top Gun' director dies after jumping off bridge
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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Tony Scott, director of such Hollywood hits as "Top Gun," ''Days of Thunder" and "Beverly Hills Cop II," died Sunday after jumping from a Los Angeles County bridge, authorities said.
The 68-year-old Scott's death was being investigated as a suicide, Los Angeles County Coroner's Lt. Joe Bale said.
Several people called 911 around 12:35 p.m. to report that someone had jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge spanning San Pedro and Terminal Island in Los Angeles Harbor, according to Los Angeles police Lt. Tim Nordquist.
A dive team with Los Angeles Port Police pulled the body from the murky water several hours later, Nordquist said. Scott's body was taken to a dock in Wilmington and turned over to the county coroner's office.
One lane of the eastbound side of the bridge was closed to traffic during the investigation. Cargo vessels moved at reduced speeds through the east side of the port's main channel during the search, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.
Investigators found a note in Scott's black Toyota Prius, which was parked on the bridge, according to the Los Angeles Times. That note listed contact information. A suicide note was later found at his office.
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.
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. Scott teamed with Cruise again four years later on the hit "Days of Thunder." He also had a sequel to "Top Gun" in development.
But Ridley Scott later managed more and bigger hits than his brother and earned a level of critical respect never achieved by Tony Scott. "Gladiator" won the best-picture Academy Award for 2000 and earned Ridley Scott one of his three best-director nominations; Tony Scott never was in the running for an Oscar, and critics often slammed his movies for emphasizing style over substance.
The two brothers ran Scott Free Productions and were working jointly on a film called "Killing Lincoln," based on the best seller by Bill O'Reilly. Their company produced the CBS dramas "NUMB3RS" and "The Good Wife" as well as a 2011 documentary about the Battle of Gettysburg for the History Channel.
Besides "Unstoppable," Scott worked with Washington on four other movies: "Crimson Tide," ''Man on Fire," Deja Vu" and "The Taking of Pelham 123."
In a tweet Sunday, director Ron Howard said, "No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day."
Other Scott films include "True Romance," written by Quentin Tarantino, "The Fan," with Robert De Niro, and "Enemy of the State," starring Will Smith.
Scott was married to actress Donna Scott, who appeared in several of her husband's films. They have twin sons.
Completed in 1963, the 6,060-foot Vincent Thomas Bridge links rises 185 feet at its highest point above the Los Angeles Harbor. Many have taken their lives by jumping from the span.
The 68-year-old Scott's death was being investigated as a suicide, Los Angeles County Coroner's Lt. Joe Bale said.
Several people called 911 around 12:35 p.m. to report that someone had jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge spanning San Pedro and Terminal Island in Los Angeles Harbor, according to Los Angeles police Lt. Tim Nordquist.
A dive team with Los Angeles Port Police pulled the body from the murky water several hours later, Nordquist said. Scott's body was taken to a dock in Wilmington and turned over to the county coroner's office.
One lane of the eastbound side of the bridge was closed to traffic during the investigation. Cargo vessels moved at reduced speeds through the east side of the port's main channel during the search, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.
Investigators found a note in Scott's black Toyota Prius, which was parked on the bridge, according to the Los Angeles Times. That note listed contact information. A suicide note was later found at his office.
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.
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. Scott teamed with Cruise again four years later on the hit "Days of Thunder." He also had a sequel to "Top Gun" in development.
But Ridley Scott later managed more and bigger hits than his brother and earned a level of critical respect never achieved by Tony Scott. "Gladiator" won the best-picture Academy Award for 2000 and earned Ridley Scott one of his three best-director nominations; Tony Scott never was in the running for an Oscar, and critics often slammed his movies for emphasizing style over substance.
The two brothers ran Scott Free Productions and were working jointly on a film called "Killing Lincoln," based on the best seller by Bill O'Reilly. Their company produced the CBS dramas "NUMB3RS" and "The Good Wife" as well as a 2011 documentary about the Battle of Gettysburg for the History Channel.
Besides "Unstoppable," Scott worked with Washington on four other movies: "Crimson Tide," ''Man on Fire," Deja Vu" and "The Taking of Pelham 123."
In a tweet Sunday, director Ron Howard said, "No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day."
Other Scott films include "True Romance," written by Quentin Tarantino, "The Fan," with Robert De Niro, and "Enemy of the State," starring Will Smith.
Scott was married to actress Donna Scott, who appeared in several of her husband's films. They have twin sons.
Completed in 1963, the 6,060-foot Vincent Thomas Bridge links rises 185 feet at its highest point above the Los Angeles Harbor. Many have taken their lives by jumping from the span.
I don't think there is enough said here to draw any conclusions about what or why this happened. Probably only those closest to him will ever know. I certainly feel sorry for his family, that would be very hard to come to
terms with.
Loser. He had everything and it wasn't enough? Leaves his wife and kids to pick up the pieces. Selfish.
Just read about that cat -borne parasite that can cause some to commit suicide... toxoplasma gondii- gets into human brain tissue and causes folks to be 7X more likely to try to commit suicide...  in the Aug 17th Daily mail/Uk, but I cant copy/paste the url. Cant get copy/paste function to work in here...
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 @RomeyRome I say no to your ignorant comment
 @Larry*X*K You are lame just like deadmouse.
 @Larry*X*K Wow. Clever one, aren't ya?
To his family and dear friends I offer condolences. This is a tragic way for a family member to die, when they choose suicide as the only option to end whatever pain they are in. Families are usually left with lots of questions that will never be answered. RIP. You were a very talented man.
It is so sad when someone feels like suicide is their only option.  RIP to a very talented and gifted man.
This is sad. I can't imagine the horror of dealing with brain cancer. However, this was a cowardly and selfish thing to do. As we consider Kathi Goertzen's life and how hard she fought, never giving up, it puts this death in perspective.Â
 @makeadifference I didn't see anything in the article about him having brain cancer. Where did you see that?
 @makeadifference You cannot possibly know enough to judge this a "cowardly and selfish thing to do". You have no right to make such a claim. You have no way of knowing his pain.
 @felines99 My mother battled cancer for a very long time and went through hell. I went through it with her. Suicide is never an option.
 @makeadifference  @felines99 One, I don't consider determining to end your suffering from an incurable and fatal illness suicide.  Second, it may not be an option for you but that does not mean you have any right to condemn someone for making that choice.  Could he have chosen a better manner?  Sure.  But people will be left picking up the pieces no matter how he died and whether or not it was at his own hands.
 @makeadifference Wrong. There is physical pain, and there is psychic pain. Until you have endured what he endured, you have no place judging.
 @makeadifference If you can't imagine the horror, maybe it's best not to call him a coward and selfish?
 @IslandAtheist You have to be pretty brave to off yourself, i know i would be too scared too.
@IslandAtheist @makeadifference: What horror are we imagining? Did you know this person?
 it's his life, why should he have to suffer?
 @IslandAtheist Well, it wasn't just his life. Others witnessed the act, some had to recover the body and his friends and family are left wondering if they could have done something to save him...
 @makeadifference  @IslandAtheist I don't know. I think if I was in that position, I would not want to blow my life savings delaying the inevitable (don't think that was a problem for him though). I would off myself & leave it to my family to live a better life. Send kids to college, etc. Emotional wounds heal. Cancer; not so much.
Sad, Both him and his brother were one of the best duel directors out there, My thoughts and prayers go out to the Scott Family!! guess the rumor for a sequel to Top Gun is out of the question!!
bummer...RIP