"Top Gun" director dead after leaping off bridge

(AP) LOS ANGELES — Tony Scott, director of such Hollywood blockbusters as "Top Gun," "Days of Thunder" and "Beverly Hills Cop II," died Sunday after jumping from a Los Angeles County bridge, authorities said.

The 68-year-old Scott's death was being investigated as a suicide, Los Angeles County Coroner's Lt. Joe Bale said.

Pictures: Tony Scott - 1944-2012

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 Los Angeles police Lt. Tim Nordquist.

A dive team with Los Angeles Port Police pulled the body from the murky water several hours later, Nordquist said. Scott's body was taken to a dock in Wilmington and turned over to the county coroner's office.

One lane of the eastbound side of the bridge was closed to traffic during the investigation. Cargo vessels moved at reduced speeds through the east side of the port's main channel during the search, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

Investigators found a note in Scott's black Toyota Prius, which was parked on the bridge, according to the Los Angeles Times. That note listed contact information. A suicide note was later found at his office.

The British-born Scott, who lived in Beverly Hills, was producer and director Ridley Scott's brother.

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. Their 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. Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" was a summer blockbuster.

"Top Gun," starring Tom Cruise, was one of the highest-grossing films of 1986. Scott teamed with Cruise again four years later on the hit "Days of Thunder."

Scott frequently worked with Denzel Washington, most recently on the runaway train drama "Unstoppable." The pair collaborated on four other films: "Crimson Tide," "Man on Fire," Deja Vu," and "The Taking of Pelham 123."

In a tweet Sunday, director Ron Howard said, "No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day."

Other Scott films include "True Romance," written by Quentin Tarantino, "The Fan," with Robert De Niro, and "Enemy of the State," starring Will Smith.

Scott was married to actress Donna Scott, who appeared in several of her husband's films. They have twin sons.

Completed in 1963, the 6,060-foot Vincent Thomas Bridge links rises 185 feet at its highest point above the Los Angeles Harbor.

Many have taken their lives by jumping from the span.

15 Photos

Tony Scott: 1944-2012

[netjunkie1]

What was in the note?

[rwsmith29456]

'Top Gun' was a landmark film. It had some flaws but the overall impact of 'TG' will long be remembered.

[netjunkie1]

Barrel rolls and flybys are a quick way out of the service.

[linfinster]

Sad ...

[Valhalla0907]

If anybody makes a movie about this story, I'm going to be sick! Mr. Scott obviously was not in his right mind, unless insanity is covered in his insurance policies. I doubt he leaped off a bridge to make an artistic statement.

[mcgroober]

Mr. Scott was dying from brain cancer. A "death with dignity act" needs to be passed in all states to prevent this kind of horrible thing. We need control over our own demise without having to jump from a bridge. Mr. Scott had a lot of courage and was probably doing what he thought was best for him and his family.

[DenverBroncofan]

...by gruven13777100 August 20, 2012 3:31 PM EDT
Again, reading is fundamental.

You don't know jack crap about any
of this, because you've never been
down the road.

You think it's "cool" and "hip" and
"web-trendy" to judge sick people.

Sorry, but that makes you sicker than
the people you're judging.

Now, tell us how it feels to know how
sick you are?
==============================================

Funny reading your post about judging and you judging at the same time.

[netjunkie1]

Did anyone ask the police what he said in his suicide note?
Is there some reason we cant know this information, or is it a police secret?

[askagain]

Perhaps there are privacy concerns for the family. Contrary to what some people believe, not everything has to be shared with the public.

[matt6052]

A feature film director who jumps off a 185 foot bridge in Los Angeles has a message for people.

[soshaljustice]

We need to have people seek treatment, disease, depression in disease, depression without other fatal diseases present. Suicide just is not an acceptable way out. Whether this evinces in euthanasia or other legislative public policies, it is a must! The violence of our Nation must not be allowed to cross the barriers of the self.

[Resin-Smoker]

I guess that he lost that loving feeling...

[KansasCity-2012]

Those of us military pilots and former military pilots laughed at Top Gun when it came out in the theaters.

Then, we saw kids sign up and enlist believing they were going to be young, cocky, arrogant characters in the Navy and we laughed even louder.

It was good for recruiting, but we clearly saw that kids needed to grow up.

Tom Cruise did us no favors. He sent us a bunch of dreamy cry babies when we needed real men and women.

[DenverBroncofan]

Little did you know we were all laughing at you