Tony Scott, best known as the director of the hit 1980’s movie “Top Gun,” was found dead Sunday (Aug 19) after jumping off the Vincent Bridge in San Pedro, California — an apparent suicide. He was 68 years old.
According to the L.A. Times, contact information found inside Scott’s car, which was parked on the bridge, led authorities to a suicide note that was in his office.
Law enforcement sources reportedly said several witnesses saw Scott climb over a fence on the bridge and jump off.
Scott’s body was pulled out of the water by a dive team at around 4:30 PM (L.A. time), and turned over to coroner officials who, along with his publicist, confirmed his death to several major media outlets, after identifying him Sunday evening.
Tony Scott was seven years younger than his brother, Oscar-nominated director Ridley Scott, who was also his partner in their movie production company Scott Free Productions.
SFP produced this year’s “Prometheus,” which was directed by Ridley, and has so far grossed $327 million worldwide.
It’s unclear as to what prompted Scott to take his own life, but he leaves a large body of work behind, including “Beverly Hills Cop II,” “Crimson Tide,” “Enemy of the State” and “Spy Game” and “The Taking of Pelham 123,” among many others (click here for his full filmography).
