Rest in Peace: Tony Scott

Steve Barton   |  

Aug 20, 2012

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Some very sad news has come in this evening: British film director and producer Tony Scott, who most recently worked on Prometheus and the upcoming Stoker, jumped to his death earlier today from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s officials.

Daily Breeze reports 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., Sunday, August 19th. A suicide note was found inside Scott’s black Toyota Prius, which was parked on one of the eastbound lanes of the bridge, said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jennifer Osburn.

Born June 21, 1944, in North Shields, England, Anthony David Scott was the younger brother of Ridley Scott. He starred in his brother’s first movie, Boy and Bicycle, in 1960. Scott, an avid mountain climber, graduated from the Royal College of Art in London. He directed television commercials before his debut film, The Hunger starring pop singer David Bowie, was released in 1983. He broke into Hollywood royalty three years later when he directed Tom Cruise in Top Gun, followed in 1990 by Days of Thunder, which also featured Scott’s third and current wife, actress Donna Scott. The couple have twin boys.

Scott and his older brother were co-producers on the CBS dramas “NUMB3RS” and “The Good Wife.” The pair recently wrapped “Coma,” a four-hour, two-night medical thriller starring Ellen Burstyn set for release next month on A&E.

Officers with port police, the Los Angeles Police Department, and California Highway Patrol joined city firefighters and the Coast Guard in searching the water for Scott’s body after eyewitnesses saw him jump from the bridge. Authorities used sonar equipment to track Scott in the port’s murky waters, and his body was recovered by a dive team around 4:30 p.m., port police Sgt. Michael Alva said. His body was taken to a dock in Wilmington and turned over to the county coroner.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Scott’s family and friends. He left an amazing legacy that will not be forgotten.

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