‘Top Gun’ Director Tony Scott Plunges To His Death In Apparent Suicide

Tony Scott has died on Sunday after jumping from a Los Angeles bridge, according to a statement by the LA County Coroner’s office.

The  68-year-old director, who was the younger brother of fellow director Ridley Scott, was witnessed by onlookers parking his car in one of the lanes of the Vincent Thomas Bridge then scaling a fence on the structure’s south side and jumping off without hesitation. The incident happened around 12:35 p.m.

Suicide notes were reportedly discovered by police inside Scott’s black Toyota Prius and later at his office . A representative of the Coroner’s office said, “we have no reason to believe it was not a suicide.”

“I can confirm that Tony Scott has indeed passed away,” said his publicist, Simon Halls. “The family asks that their privacy be respected at this time.”

Tony and his brother Ridley(the Oscar-nominated director of films like Alien, Gladiator, and Prometheus) ran Scott Free Productions, whose TV shows include The Good Wife. Tony is best known for helming classics like Top Gun, Days of Thunder and Beverly Hills Cop II.  He worked with Will Smith on Enemy Of The State and frequently worked with Denzel Washington on movies such as Crimson Tide, Man on Fire, Deja Vu , The Taking of Pelham 123, and recently Unstoppable.

Scott just wrapped up shooting the drama Out of the Furnace, starring Christian Bale.

After hearing the tragic news, several of Scott’s Hollywood associates expressed their condolences in a series of tweets.

Director Duncan Jones tweeted, “Just heard the news about Tony Scott.  Horrible… Tony was a truly lovely man who took me under his wing & ignited my passion to make films,”  while Ron Howard tweeted “No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day.”