“Top Gun” Director Tony Scott Had Inoperable Brain Cancer
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Kevin Winter/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Tony Scott, director of Top Gun, Days of Thunder and Crimson Tide, had inoperable brain cancer, a source close to him told ABC News.
The famed director died Sunday after jumping from a bridge in Los Angeles, authorities said.
Police said they received a 911 call at about 12:30 p.m. that an individual had jumped off the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The body was recovered around 3 p.m. when it was identified by authorities as Scott, according to Lt. Joseph Bale of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Monday.
Scott, 68, was perhaps best known for directing Top Gun starring Tom Cruise in 1986, which went on to gross more than $300 million worldwide, according to IMDB.com. The duo worked again in the 1990 film Days of Thunder.
The British-born director also frequently worked with Denzel Washington, most recently in the 2010 film Unstoppable. They collaborated on four other films: Crimson Tide, Man on Fire, Deja Vu and The Taking of Pelham 123.
Scott was the younger brother of producer and director Ridley Scott. Together, the brothers formed their own production company, Scott Free Productions. Their company produced the CBS dramas NUMB3RS and The Good Wife. The 2012 blockbuster Prometheus was the latest film released by their production company.
Other Tony Scott films include True Romance, written by Quentin Tarantino, The Fan, with Robert De Niro, and Enemy of the State, starring Will Smith.
In a tweet Sunday, director Ron Howard said, “No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day.”
“Most of the obits for Tony Scott will mention Top Gun first, but my favorite will always be True Romance. RIP,” tweeted film critic Richard Roeper.
Scott is survived by his wife, Donna, and their twin sons.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio