Tony Scott: 1944 – 2012

 Image Tony Scott, director of True Romance, Top Gun, The Hunger, Man on Fire and The Last Boy Scout, has died from an apparent suicide by jumping from a bridge in Los Angeles.

Scott was born in the North of England and followed his brother, Ridley Scott, into advertising and then film. Over his career the director worked with actors such as Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, and Robert De Niro. Denzel Washington and Tony Scott made five films together, with the most recent being Unstoppable in 2010.

Scott recently served as a producer on Prometheus, which his brother directed, and Out of the Furnace starring Christian Bale. He also executive produced TV shows such as The Good Wife and had more in the pipeline.

Tom Cruise was recently spotted at a naval air station in Nevada, and NAS officials confirmed the visit was to undertake research for the upcoming Top Gun sequel, which Tony Scott was set to direct. What happens with that project now remains to be seen.

Here are some thoughts and reactions from people who knew and worked with him: