OBITUARIES

'Top Gun', 'True Romance' Director Tony Scott Dies at 68 in Suicide

by Alex Billington
August 20, 2012
Source: Daily Breeze

This is very sad new, the worst kind that we absolutely hate to report. According to reports from Southern California news stations, British film director Tony Scott, brother of the older Ridley Scott, has died. The reports state that Tony Scott "jumped to his death Sunday from the Vincent Thomas Bridge spanning San Pedro and Terminal Island" on Sunday afternoon. He left a suicide notes in his Prius parked on the bridge and at his office, but those are the only official details confirmed by the Los Angeles coroner's office so far. Tony Scott was a talented, acclaimed, admired, respected filmmaker having directed 16 features in his time.

From Top Gun to Beverly Hills Cop II to Days of Thunder to The Last Boy Scout to True Romance to Crimson Tide to Enemy of the State to Man on Fire to Déjà Vu to Taking of Pelham 123 to Unstoppable, Tony Scott leaves legacy of unforgettable films. Even at age 68, he was still working on quite a few other projects. Our most recent updates had him involved on Top Gun 2 with Tom Cruise, plus a submarine thriller called Narco Sub, even The Wild Bunch remake at Warner Bros. Everything will definitely change in regards to these projects, in light of this tragic and shocking news, and we'll monitor them closely from here.

The report on his death comes mainly from The Daily Breeze (via The Wrap), where they say that "Scott, 68, climbed a fence on the south side of the bridge's apex and leapt off 'without hesitation' around 12:30 p.m." on Sunday, August 19th, 2012. The Vincent Thomas Bridge is a suspension bridge over the Los Angeles Harbor that links San Pedro with Terminal Island. In addition to information about a suicide note being left in his car parked on the bridge, no other specific details are currently known about why this happened, why this bridge, or what was going on. Until we know more, follow KTLA or Daily Breeze for additional updates.

Tony Scott not only leaves behind a remarkable "high octane" body of work, it was our hope and expectation that we'd see many more great films from him in the years to come. It makes me nervous and sad to even think about reasons that a man as accomplished as Tony Scott would want to kill himself. He is survived by his wife, Donna W. Scott, and their two children. Our thoughts are with his family and his friends, and the entire filmmaker community that will be entirely shocked and devastated by this news. Scott, who will not only be remembered by his many movies, will also be remembered by the red baseball cap he always wore.

Update: ABC News claims that Tony Scott just found out that he had "inoperable brain cancer" before making the jump to his death on Sunday. They add that "the Coroner's Office found several notes to loved ones in Scott's car" and that "a suicide note was later found at his office, according to the AP." If these details about his brain cancer turn out to be true, then we seem to have a bit more of an understanding as to why this might have happened, but nonetheless still a very tragic end for a beloved and revered filmmaker.

Update #2: Now Deadline is reporting that this update about "inoperable brain cancer" is not true at all. "Scott's widow Donna has told police that the famed filmmaker/TV producer did not have brain cancer." According to these updates and news as of Monday evening, it sounds like Scott was not suffering from any illness, however that's still unconfirmed. We'll do our best to keep updated on facts as they're made public.

There are few days where I almost can't believe what I'm writing. Today is one of those days. It's the worst to have to report on something so shocking and tragic as this. "I make a movie because it's something that inspires me." [-Scott] May your movies continue to entertain and inspire audiences forever. Rest in peace.

Filed under Movie News, Obituaries

From around the web: