Tony Scott

DAVID GERMAIN, The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — No one ever mistook Tony Scott for a great dramatist. He was a director critics loved to hate for his slick barrage of images at the expense of story. The filmmaker did not dazzle the imagination with visions of lost or alien worlds, like brother Ridley Scott. Tony Scott was as populist as they come in Hollywood, a man of action films, pure and simple. From Tom Cruise as a daring fly boy in 1986's "Top Gun" to Denzel Washington mutinying against an unstable captain in 1995's "Crimson Tide" or trying to slow a runaway train in 2010's "Unstoppable," director Scott mastered sky, sea and earth in the name of movie adrenaline. The 68-year-old Scott died Sunday after jumping from a Los Angeles County bridge, authorities said. His death was being investigated as a suicide, Los Angeles County Coroner's Lt. Joe Bale said. It was a puzzling end for a filmmaker who had maintained a busy pace, with a sequel to "Top Gun," his biggest hit, in the works. "I can confirm that Tony Scott has passed away. The family asks that their privacy is respected at this time," Scott's spokesman, Simon Halls, said in a statement. The younger brother of Ridley Scott, whose Roman epic "Gladiator" won best-picture at the Academy Awards for 2000, Tony Scott was partners with his sibling in a production company, collaborating on film, TV and advertising projects. But despite blockbuster success on some of his own movies, Tony Scott always was overshadowed by his brother, a three-time directing nominee at the Oscars whose films include "Alien," ''Blade Runner," ''Thelma and Louise" and this summer's "Prometheus." Tony Scott never was in the running for an Oscar, and critics often slammed his movies for his hyper-kinetic style and an emphasis on style over substance. Still, he was the first of the Scott brothers to enjoy blockbuster success with "Top Gun," the top-grossing film of 1986 at $176 million. Scott teamed with Cruise again four years later on the hit "Days of Thunder," and he made five films with Washington, including "Man on Fire," ''Deja Vu" and "The Taking of Pelham 123." Other Scott films include "True Romance," written by Quentin Tarantino, "The Fan," with Robert De Niro, and "Enemy of the State," starring Will Smith. While Ridley Scott had an auspicious start to his film career with 1977's acclaimed period drama "The Duellists" and 1979's "Alien," Tony Scott bombed with his debut, 1983's supernatural romance "The Hunger," with David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve. He vaulted into Hollywood's top ranks the next time out, with "Top Gun," followed a year later by "Beverly Hills Cop II," both with producer Jerry Bruckheimer. 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. Along with countless commercials, 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. Tony Scott said he gained perspective by mixing things up between film, TV and commercials. "I like changing the pace of my life, changing my discipline," he said in a 2007 interview. "It gives me ideas for how to see the world differently." _________________________ CHRISTOPHER WEBER, The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Coroner's officials investigating Tony Scott's death say the director left several notes to loved ones in his car before jumping from a Los Angeles bridge Sunday. Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey says initial investigative notes do not classify the writings as suicide notes, but the office is treating his death as a probable suicide. He says investigators indicated multiple notes were found in Scott's car and at another location. The "Top Gun" director jumped to his death off a towering suspension bridge over Los Angeles Harbor. An autopsy will be performed Monday. The 68-year old is the youngest brother of director Ridley Scott and directed thrillers such as "Crimson Tide" and 2010's "Unstoppable." He was married and has twin sons. _________________________ The Associated Press, The Associated Press The notable films of director Tony Scott, who died Sunday in an apparent suicide at age 68: — "The Hunger," 1983. — "Top Gun," 1986. — "Beverly Hills Cop II," 1987. — "Days of Thunder," 1990. — "Revenge," 1990. — "The Last Boy Scout," 1991. — "True Romance," 1993. — "Crimson Tide," 1995. — "The Fan," 1996. — "Enemy of the State," 1998. — "Spy Game," 2001. — "Man on Fire," 2004. — "Deja vu," 2006. — "The Taking of Pelham 123," 2009. — "Unstoppable," 2010. ________________________ ANTHONY McCARTNEY, The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tony Scott loved fast cars, riding fast motorcycles and creating some of the most memorable action sequences of the past quarter century. He was even planning a sequel to his hit "Top Gun." Yet, on Sunday, police were removing the director's body from Los Angeles Harbor hours after they say he stopped his car on the towering Vincent Thomas Bridge, and jumped. His death stunned friends and fans and left Hollywood buzzing about what could have prompted one of the industry's more successful filmmakers to take an 18-story leap to his death. An autopsy and notes he left for loved ones could help investigators Monday as they hunt for answers. The bridge is a favorite filming location for other action directors, although the 68-year-old Scott apparently never used it for one of his films. Scott, an avid rock climber, directed more than 15 movies, which included such unforgettable sequences as the dog fights of "Top Gun" and the raw power of a runaway train in "Unstoppable." As a director and producer, Scott worked with Hollywood's top actors, including Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Robert Redford and helped influence a generation of action buffs. Notes to loved ones were found in his car and another location, Coroner's Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said. The death was being treated as a probable suicide, however an autopsy was scheduled for Monday and an official determination may take several days. "The family asks that their privacy is respected at this time," said Simon Halls, a spokesman for Scott and his older brother, Oscar-winning director, Ridley Scott. The bridge where Scott jumped has appeared in "The Fast and the Furious," ''Gone in 60 Seconds," ''Charlie's Angels" and "To Live and Die in L.A." The brothers frequently collaborated on movies and their company also produced the successful TV series "Numb3rs" and "The Good Wife." CBS, which aired both shows, said "one of the brightest lights in the industry has gone out." Scott, who was born in Great Britain and lived in Beverly Hills, is survived by a wife, actress Donna Scott, who appeared in several of her husband's films, and twin sons. He had been planning a sequel "Top Gun," the movie that helped propel him to other big-budget films. Scott often said he got his greatest thrills from filmmaking. "The biggest edge I live on is directing. That's the most scary, dangerous thing you can do in your life," Scott said in an interview for his 1995 naval adventure "Crimson Tide." ''The scariest thing in my life is the first morning of production on all my movies. It's the fear of failing, the loss of face and a sense of guilt that everybody puts their faith in you and not coming through." He was the first of the Scott brothers to enjoy blockbuster success with "Top Gun," starring Cruise, the top-grossing film of 1986 at $176 million. Scott teamed with Cruise again four years later on the hit "Days of Thunder." Ridley Scott later surpassed his younger brother's career in terms of hits and accolades, earning an Oscar for "Gladiator" and three best director nominations. Tony Scott never was in the running for an Oscar, and critics often slammed his movies for emphasizing style over substance. He said he gained perspective by mixing things up between film, TV and commercials. "I like changing the pace of my life, changing my discipline. It gives me ideas for how to see the world differently," Scott said in a 2007 interview. His work impacted a generation of actors and filmmakers, who praised him after learning of death Sunday night. "Shocking and devastating news," Christian Slater, who was directed by Scott in the 1993 film "True Romance," wrote on Twitter. "He was the best and will be greatly missed." Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez also wrote on Twitter, "Thanks for the inspiration, advice, encouragement, and the decades of great entertainment." Justin Timberlake wrote on the site, "His movies made growing up more fun for me."