Hollywood is in shock today after it was revealed that Top Gun and True Romance director Tony Scott has died after apparently throwing himself off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles’ San Pedro area. The police are treating it as as a suicide, with the LA Times reporting the police found contact information inside Scott’s Toyota Prius (which was parked on the bridge), which led authorities to a suicide note in his office.
No motivation is known for the 68-year-old taking his own life.
Scott’s first film was the lesbian-themed vampire movie The Hunger in 1983, but it was his commercial work that led to his being hired for his big breakthrough, 1986’s Top Gun. While over the year many criticised his hyper-fast, quick-cut style, he had huge success, making the likes of Beverly Hills Cop II, Days Of Thunder, True Romance, Crimson Tide, Enemy Of The State, Spy Game, Man On Fire and Unstoppable.
He’s also much loved as a mentor to many other filmmakers, taking a personal interest in emerging talent and helping them get a leg up in Hollywood. He was, of course, the younger brother of Oscar-winning helmer Tony Scott, and is survived by a wife and two children.
Since news of his death broke, the Twittersphere has been filled with Tweets about the news, such Moon helmer Duncan Jones saying, ‘Just heard about Tony Scott news. Horrible… Tony was a truly lovely man who took me under his wing & ignited my passion to make films.’ Ron Howard tweeting ‘No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day’ and Donnie Darko’s Richard Kelly adding ‘Tony Scott was the ultimate mentor – once he understood you… he released the glorious hounds of inner city research, dangerous frontiers.’
Tony Scott – 21st June 1944-19th August 2012 – RIP