This is such sad, incomprehensible news. Director and producer Tony Scott committed suicide yesterday in LA. According to reports and eyewitness accounts, Scott drove to the Vincent Thomas Bridge, got out of his car and then jumped off the bridge into the Los Angeles Harbor. Scott’s body was found hours later by the LA Port police. He is survived by his wife Donna Wilson and their twin sons. Here’s more:
Director Tony Scott, whose box-office hits included Top Gun, Days of Thunder and Beverly Hills Cop II, died after jumping from a bridge in Los Angeles Harbor, the Los Angeles Times reports. He was 68.
Witnesses told authorities that Sunday at around 12:35 p.m. the filmmaker left his parked Toyota Prius on the Vincent Thomas Bridge, scaled a fence and then leapt without hesitation. A note with contact information was left in the vehicle, says the newspaper.
Los Angeles Port police pulled his body from the water four hours later. A suicide note was recovered in his office, reports the Times. Its contents have not been disclosed.
The British-born Scott, the younger brother of director-producer Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator), lived in Beverly Hills. He had twin sons with his third wife, actress-model Donna Wilson.
Family spokesman Simon Halls confirmed Scott’s death and said the family requests “that their privacy be respected at this time.”
Ridley and Tony Scott ran Scott Free Productions, whose TV shows include The Good Wife. Tony Scott frequently worked with Denzel Washington, on Crimson Tide, Man on Fire, Deja Vu and The Taking of Pelham 123. Most recently they collaborated on Unstoppable.
Scott recently finished shooting the drama Out of the Furnace, starring Christian Bale.
In a Tweet Sunday, director Ron Howard wrote, “No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day.”
Yes, Tony Scott is probably best known through his producing partnership with his older brother Ridley Scott – they founded Scott Free Productions, which has an enviable history of producing outstanding films and television shows. Tony Scott’s IMDB is here – just some of his many films include: The Hunger, Top Gun, Days of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop II, True Romance, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State, Spy Game (a favorite of mine – that film is GENIUS), and Unstoppable. He worked with Denzel Washington many times, and he was tight with Tom Cruise too. Beyond his work as a director, Tony work as a producer is amazing too. This is a really terrible loss to the Hollywood community, and it’s just so sad. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tony’s family and friends.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Incredibly sad news, he was so talented.
Prayers for his family.
Same here. Did he have a life threatening disease/affliction?
there are unconfirmed reports of inoperable brain cancer
IMDB confirmed it http://www.imdb.com/news/ni34517482/
Well leave it to the ever unreliable imdb to “confirm” what is false. LOL!
I didn’t expect to read that when I got online this morning. I mostly enjoyed his movies, especially the ones with Denzel.
All the best to his family.
Absolutely. Totally agree with you.
In fact, though it was not one of his works that would immediately come to mind with the public, “Man on Fire” with Denzel remains one of my FOREVER favorite movies. I have probably seen that film 20 times, and I still wind up watching it with a fistful of kleenex every time.
This is really tragic. 🙁 He left a rich history of film making as his professional legacy, and I understand he was well-loved in his personal life. That is the mark of a truly successful man.
Thoughts and prayers are with his family.
What?????!!!??
🙁 awful. Loved his films.
So sad. R.I.P Tony
This is awful. I just keep thinking that a man like him, with so many years of working in Hollywood and by all accounts happy & settled—why in the world would he do this? What could be so horrible that he could think this was the way out? I feel so sad for him, and the people he left behind. There has got to be much more to this than just a random suicide.
Suicide is never random. Mental illness and depression affects so many people. One can never know another’s inner demons. Someone could seem totally happy and fine but could be struggling with a deep, dark depression. Depression is like a dark hole that feels like is swallowing you up and you’re helpless to get out. Unless you recognize it and get help, it can destroy the sufferer and his or her family too. What could be so bad that he’d do this? Nothing. But the mentally ill mind can’t see that. I know firsthand, as I have struggled with depression on and off my whole life.
My heart goes out to Tony’s family and everyone left behind.
Thanks for your description of depression and how insidious is it. Those who have never suffered from it just don’t understand what could make someone commit suicide. I personally suffer from depression and also my father killed himself. I feel for this man’s family so much. Bless them. It is an awful experience.
What a wonderful thing you wrote. You are a very special and amazing person.
Thank you also for that description, it’s very insightful.
RIP.
Thats a good description. Its important to talk to people about this, especially family- and kids entering teen years- to warn them that if this is felt- to tell someone. I hate that he did this to his children. Obviously, he couldnt help himself. But if this is why he did it, maybe people will talk about it online and maybe there will be someone who reads it and decides to get help. See, just responding on this blog was enough to touch at least a handful of people- good for you Karen.
Some souls can be so sad, to an extent no one can imagine.
May he be at peace, finally.
That exactly what I thought, I am in my 40’s, and I have bouts with depression, and sometimes the pain is almost unbearable. Conventional wisdom says that the pain of depression gets worse with age.
Tony’s suicide reminds me a bit of Spalding Gray’s, although the signs with Gray were there ahead of time, evident in his plays.
Tony sounded like a whimsical, lighthearted person on the outside, but we have no idea what his inner turmoils were. May he rest now, peacefully, free from whatever caused him such great suffering.
This is so sad, and such a great loss to so many people….
Oh man. I’m so sad to hear this. I met my husband for the first time on Tony’s set for Pelham 123. He was such a fun guy. I can’t imagine what he was going thru to do this. Very sorry for his family.
RIP.
Horrible. Loved his work.
Prayers for his family
Oh man. That’s just beyond sad. My thoughts go to his family and friends, may he rest in peace.
I can’t imagine the pain he must have been in to think this was the best option. Horrific. His sons look so young too! Boy sometimes its easy to forget Hollywood figues are all too human. RIP
Why?
Never mind. Unconfirmed reports say “inoperable brain cancer”. I don’t know why but I’m affected by his death.
That was honestly my first thought, not that there were depression issues, but with physical health issues.
Sucks for his family either way.
such sad news, prayers go out for his family..
Suicide is never “random”, it usually is something that is a long time coming. So sad and just goes to show you the internal struggle that so many people battle with while maintaining a stoic visage.
If he had inoperable brain cancer (as many reports indicate) I really can’t say I blame him. Still, my heart and thoughts are with his wife and young sons
🙁
Omg, he had kids? The original report I read yesterday didn’t say that. I am so sorry for his wife and kids. She is gorgeous and the twin boys are beautiful, too. What a terrible loss. 🙁
Those boys really are beautiful (inside and out, I am sure). They are the only ones that matter here, I hope they are OK
How about a little compassion for their mom, Tony’s wife, too? So sad. Suicide is so hard on the survivors, no matter the circumstances.
If the unconfirmed reports are true of inoperable brain cancer I understand completely, I lost my dad a few months ago to that nasty filthy disease and it is no way to die. It is a degrading, humiliating and completley inhumane disease.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
oh god… i’m so sorry to hear that…
My condolences, sillyone. Every word you wrote there concerning brain cancer is true. There are few worse ways to go. I’m truly sorry you and your family had to go through that.
this is just awful.
This is so sad for everyone he leaves behind. He seemed to have everything to live for, which makes me wonder if he may have received a medical diagnosis for a degenerative condition that he just couldn’t face living through.
If those reports are true then its awful though the way he ended his life will leave his family with so many issues to deal with. Maybe he didn’t want to put his family through the course his illness knowing it will end his life. My father died of cancer 2 yrs ago and seeing him how it deteriorated him was an agony but I don’t know if he would have taken his life would have made it less painful. Regardless, it’s a sad situation…those boys are still young. RIP
What an awful way to die. My deepest condolences to Tony’s family and friends.
So sad for his family and friends.
Man, this sucks on too many levels to count. My deepest condolences to the Scotts. Truly.
🙁
I guess it’s days like this I’m reminded to be better to people (not that I suck, but not to take them for granted).
RIP Tony Scott. The Hunger is one of my all time favourite movies – a truly under-appreciated movie!
Very sad news indeed. It was hinted that he had inoperable brain cancer; so that may explain his drastic measure.
RIP
This is so very sad. My thoughts are with his wife, children, family and friends. What a terrible shock. How do you cope with a loss like this?
My thoughts are also with him and the weight he must have been carrying. Whether it was a physical or mental illness that drove this, I hope in his last momemnts, he had some peace.
I was wondering that too if maybe he was suffering from a terminal illness or an illness that would become debilitating. If so good for him to go out his own way and I hope he is in peace no matter what his reasons.
Shocking and sad. Man on Fire is such a great movie.
I lost my two grandfathers, one to cancer, one to suicide. Is there one way to prefer? No, there isn’t. One way or the other, a loved person’s gone.
RIP Tony. Heartfelt condolences to his family.
He has such a lovely family. I gotta believe that he was suffering from a great deal of depression to do this. Otherwise I don’t think he’d do something like this, knowing how it would affect his children. His suicide is something that they’ll grapple with their entire lives. I hope that they get the counseling, love & support they need to heal from it. This act was not a rejection of them – I don’t believe anyone who is mentally well would chose suicide.
Sad news. I will always remember him as the director with the red hat.
Sad. I liked his films. And yes Spy Games was under appreciated.
If he had depression, I can relate….I hope he didn’t. I have to have electro convulsive treatments every six weeks because if I do, I fall into the pit of depression ; can’t even get out of bed. Depression is underestimated…..it’s full of horror and yes, like a pit you cannot get out of bed, cannot lift my head…, along with insomnia and anxiety…can’t see another way out. I’ve had it since age 14, been hospitalized, just haven’t killed myself because I decided to write a book about it…but if he did have depression, God bless him because there is no judgment in that. I wish his family and him, peace. Healing to his family, and peace to him. God bless him and he was a brave man in his own way.
KellyinSeattle: Good for you for battling it and writing instead of giving in! Is your book available anywhere?
My mom also tried to kill herself starting around age 14. It is something she fought her whole life (and which I fight too). Keep going. Keep passing the open windows.
My book isn’t finished yet… when I feel well, I can’t explain it in writing, and when I’m severely depressed , even though it’s really hard, is the time I write about it because it’s more real….it’s not a depressing book , though. I keep some humour in it , honestly. It’s a slow book….I’ve been writing it for a few years now and have a couple interested publishers (that’s half the battle!)…thanks for your note and good luck and good health to YOU!!
What sad news. Obviously he was battling some mental/emotional health issues. Talented man – he will be missed. Bless him and condolences to his family and friends.
Looks like he had inoperable brain cancer http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html
Once again, an unreliable piece of crap media “confirms” a falsehood.
I am so angry. He has 2 small children. Suck it up and deal with it!!! Very selfish way to go when you have loved ones, esp children!
I really don’t anyone can judge someone who commits suicide. It’s a fallacy that it’s “selfish”. It’s much more complex than that.
Dumb comment. Sometimes people who are hopelessly depressed feel that their loved ones are better off without them.
Suicide is many things, but it is not selfish. Mental illness is nearly ubiquitous in suicide.
If you’d like to become better informed, read Kay Redfield Jamison’s Night Falls Fast, one of the best primers on suicide ever produced. There will be a 180-degree shift in your thinking on this issue.
So very sad. My dad also had inoperable brain cancer. And so did his father, my grandfather. It’s devastating. I would have understood it if he had opted to take his own life, though. So sad for that family. Cancer is vile.
Having struggled with the Black Dog myself, I was really saddened by this, though now I see he had a terminal disease and wanted to escape an undignified end. I hope he finds peace. At least he left behind a great legacy.
Condolences to his family. Mr. Scott leaves behind an amazing legacy of work. I love Spy Game too. Totally underrated movie. Completely brilliant.
This is why we need a dignified form of assisted suicide in this country. It may have turned out differently if he knew he had the option of a peaceful end to his life.
So sad.
I’m an RN and I agree with you 100%.
Actually, I believe that Oregon has legalized suicide, if you meet certain criteria. I agree with your thought, this should be the law in every state. I thought Kirvorkean was a saint.
Absolutely. My father was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Thankfully, he’s still comfortable at the moment, but I know what’s coming in his near future. And it breaks my heart that he will have to suffer through that.
Maybe if Tony Scott had had a more dignified option for ending his life, it would be at least a little less painful for his family.
im surprised alot more people dont opt out by suicide, actually. and yes, assisted suicide is the coolest. i saw an interesting documentary about it. not so scary at all really. sad & surreal tho, of course….
now jumping off a freakin bridge is another story altogether. very dramatic & very scary & horribly sad.
How sad!
We are huge fans of his work. Most movies we really only like to watch from the beginning but his movies we could start in the middle. In fact, it’s something we would joke about, especially with ‘Man on Fire.’ We rarely passed up an opportunity to watch whatever was left of the movie.
Condolences to his family and friends…RIP Mr Scott.
My deepest feelings go to his twin sons and wife. I know hed found out that he had an inoperable brain tumor. It was one of my biggest dreams to write music for anything with his name on it. Im sad and just want peace for his family. Again my deepest feelings on every level for his family.
TMZ is saying Tony did not have brain cancer, or any other cancer, or any severe medical issues that would have caused him to take his life. This according to Tony’s wife.
I am on the west coast and this news of no brain cancer just broke around 2 hours ago. My take – strictly my own – if the man wanted to off himself, would it not have been more tactful to do it quietly, not by jumping off a bridge in front of tourists, with cell cams? I am thinking of the angst that the 12 year old sons and wife will have to deal with – all the tabloid coverage that could have been avoided by the selfish suicidal father. And, yes, I do understand depression, it is rampant in my family.
I know two people who killed themselves, one a family member. I think the answer when someone asks why couldn’t they do it a little more discreetly or whatever, is that if severe depression is a factor, their thinking and perspective is all distorted, making them blind somewhat to things that seem simple and evident to everyone else.
True Romance is one of my favorite movies of all time. Recently saw Unstoppable on t.v. and it was actually pretty good too.
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