Yesterday afternoon, Scott is said to have jumped from a suspension bridge into the Los Angeles Harbour, and the death is currently being investigated as a suicide.
The U.S. Coast Guard told the Daily Breeze, via The Wrap, that a suicide note was found in his black Toyota Prius, which was parked on one of the eastbound lanes on the Vincent Thomas Bridge, after Scott reportedly jumped “without hesitation” at around 12:30 p.m.
The loss is a tragic one. Scott is survived by his wife, Donna, and his two children.
The director-producer began his career in commercials, and made his feature debut in 1983 with The Hunger. He followed this up with Top Gun in 1986, and the rest, as the say, is history.
In the decades following, he went on to direct Days of Thunder, The Last Boy Scout, True Romance, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State, Man on Fire, Domino, Déjà Vu, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, and many, many more, including his most recent reunion with Denzel Washington in Unstoppable.
He formed Scott Free Productions with brother, Ridley Scott, another of the finest directors in the industry, producing his blockbuster success, Prometheus, this year. The pair have been working together for years, producing such movies as The Grey, Cyrus, Welcome to the Rileys, Life in a Day, and the upcoming Stoker.
The industry has seen an incredible loss this weekend, and filmmakers have been taking to Twitter to leave their heartfelt condolences and to express their sadness at such a tragic loss.
Tony Scott as a Director was Sui Generis. Tony Scott as a friend and a mentor was irreplaceable. Tone, wherever you are, I love you man. RIP
— Joe Carnahan (@carnojoe) August 20, 2012
Tony always sent personal, handwritten notes & always drew a cartoon caricature of himself, smoking a cigar, with his hat colored in red.
— Joe Carnahan (@carnojoe) August 20, 2012
Such sad news about Tony Scott. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) August 20, 2012
Working with Tony Scott was like a glorious road trip to Vegas on desert back roads, a wild man behind the wheel, grinning. I felt safe.
— Richard Kelly (@JRichardKelly) August 20, 2012
No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) August 20, 2012
Deeply saddened to hear the news about Tony Scott. A fine film-maker and the most charming, modest man.
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) August 20, 2012
I really dont understand the fact , because his work do not reflect anyway the action , i always respected him for the best american drama film “top gun”
I really cannot believe that this is true. What the hell did he go and do that for?? The thing that makes me feel as if there was something really hidden about this whole thing is that first Domino died of an appearant drug overdose while she was sober and she also had what they call “sober gaurdians” to make sure that she was not using anything………..she was even supposed to have benn conversating with one of them while she was in the bathtub. He was sitting on the other side of the bathroom door and mid conversation she supposedly just quit responding to him. She kept saying that the charges that were brought up against her were not legitimate and that she had been set up. I know that she did in fact use drugs but I dont see her being guilty of the gnarly charges that they were bringing up against her. She lived and worked amonst some gnarly people in the LA area and it would not surprise me if she had “crossed” the wrong criminal and had basically got herself involved in something that ultimately cost her her life. she was very close to Scott and I she may have confided something in him that caused him grief after she was gone. I am totally speculating here, I have no proof that this is the case, but it only seems like it would be something of this nature being that she was involved in the really seedy side if bringing in people who were jumping bail. That is actually the more dangerouse side to that job. It isnt the actual huntdown and the gunfire for the moment but the fact that bounty hunters come into contact with law enforcement from all over the US and criminals from every background. It is one of those jobs that you are not allowed to punch out at the end of the day and leave at the office. It follows you every day and night no matter where you go or what you do, you have invariably and most likely pissed off some of the heavy handed people in law enforcement and drug trafficking. I dont think that she ever expected to live past a certain age though and that is why she was doing the job that she was doing. She really did live for the moment and it didnt matter that she was running on an expirey date/day. I think that she expected it to be like that and she was right.