The director of “Top Gun,” Tony Scott, passed away on Sunday after he jumped off a bridge in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Coroner, according to Lt. Joe Bale, said that the death is being investigated as a suicide. Scott was 68 and is the brother of Ridley Scott.
“I can confirm that Tony Scott has passed away. The family asks that their privacy is respected at this time,” said Scott’s spokesman, Simon Halls.
Right around 12:30 p.m., multiple calls were made to 911 to report that a person jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The bridge spans Terminal Island in Los Angeles Harbor and San Pedro. Scott’s body was recovered from the water a couple of hours after the first 911 calls were made.
Authorities who responded found a note in the Toyota Prius owned by Scott that had been parked on the bridge. The note detailed contact info for Scott and a suicide note was discovered later in the day at his office.
“The biggest edge I live on is directing. That’s the most scary, dangerous thing you can do in your life,” Scott said during an interview back in 1995. “The scariest thing in my life is the first morning of production on all my movies. It’s the fear of failing, the loss of face and a sense of guilt that everybody puts their faith in you and not coming through.”
Tony beat out his older brother when it came to enjoying success in theaters when “Top Gun” grossed $176 million in 1986. His brother Ridley eventually became the better known director of the two and managed more hits in theaters than Tony did.
Both Tony and Ridley operated Scott Free Productions and had been working together on a movie titled “Killing Lincoln,” which is based on the book written by Bill O’Reilly. The company owned by the Scott brothers produces commercials and the television shows “NUMB3RS” and “The Good Wife.”
“I like changing the pace of my life, changing my discipline. It gives me ideas for how to see the world differently,” Scott said during an interview back in 2007.
Tony Scott worked multiple times with actor Denzel Washington, most recently in the movie “Unstoppable.” The other movies the two worked on together were “Crimson Tide,” “Man on Fire,” Deja Vu” and “The Taking of Pelham 123.”
Other notable films done by Tony Scott include “The Fan,” starring Robert DeNiro and “Enemy of the State,” starring Will Smith. Scott was married and has twin sons with his wife Donna Scott.