Tony Scott Commits Suicide

TONY SCOTT, 68, director of such box office hits as Top Gun, Days of Thunder and Beverly Hills Cop II, and younger brother of Ridley Scott, died Sunday after jumping from the Vincent Thomas Bridge, spanning San Pedro and Terminal Island in L.A. Harbor. A suicide note was reportedly found in his office. The British-born Scott, who lived in Beverly Hills, was known for hyper-kinetic action and editing on such films as his most recent, the runaway train thriller Unstoppable, starring regular collaborator Denzel Washington. Scott was an avid rock climber who also liked driving fast cars and motorcycles. The two brothers ran Scott Free Productions and were working jointly on a film called Killing Lincoln, based on the best seller by Bill O'Reilly. Tony was also reportedly about to begin filming a sequel to his 1986 smash Top Gun with Tom Cruise. Along with countless commercials, the Scotts’ company produced the CBS dramas NUMB3RS and The Good Wife as well as a 2011 documentary about the Battle of Gettysburg for the History Channel. Scott was married to actress Donna Scott, who appeared in several of her husband's films. They have twin sons. (8/20a)