Tony Scott, the director of various action movies like "Top Gun", "Days of Thunder" and most recently "Unstoppable" with Denzel Washington, jumped to his death from a Los Angeles bridge on Sunday, according to reports.
Tony Scott, who is the brother of director Ridley Scott, jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge over Los Angeles Harbor at about 12:30 local time Sunday afternoon, according to the Associated Press. It was not immediately clear what drove to Tony Scott's death. The Los Angeles Times reported that investigators later found a suicide note in Scott's office. Police investigators also found a note in Scott's black Toyota Prius parked near the scene that listed contact information.
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 police Lt. Tim Nordquist.
The 68-year-old British-born director and producer's death came as a shock to many. Samuel L. Jackson tweeted: "Taking a moment to reflect on Tony Scott's life and work! My sympathies to his family. Feeling the loss."
Edgar Wright, the director of "Shaun of the Dead" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," wrote on his Twitter account: "Tony Scott was a rambunctious cinematic spirit." He added: "As I hope was evident in my work, I was big fan of his. Rest In Peace, sir."
Tony Scott helped put Tom Cruise on the Hollywood map when he starred in the lead of his blockbuster hit movie in 1986, "Top Gun." The jet-fighter extravaganza gave an entire generation "the need for speed" and instantly boosted Air Force and Navy recruitment. He followed that up with the Eddie Murphy action movie, "Beverly Hills Cop II" in 1987.
Scott and Cruise teamed up again for 1990's racing hit "Days of Thunder" and he collaborated often with Denzel Washington in such hits as 1995's "Crimson Tide," 2004's "Man on Fire," 2006's "Déjà vu" and the runaway train hit of 2010, "Unstoppable."
Scott won an Emmy award as the executive producer of the 2002 television movie "The Gathering Storm" about Winston Churchill in the years leading up to World War II.
Scott was married to actress Donna Scott (formerly Wilson), who starred in many of Tony Scott's films starting with "Days of Thunder."
