BRITISH film director Tony Scott has committed suicide after jumping from a bridge in Los Angeles.
The 68-year-old's Hollywood hits included Top Gun, Days Of Thunder and Beverly Hills Cop II.
Several people called emergency services to report someone had jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge spanning San Pedro and Terminal Island in Los Angeles Harbour.
A dive team with Los Angeles Port Police pulled Scott's body from the water hours later. The body was taken to a dock in Wilmington and then handed to the county coroner's office.
Investigators found a note in Scott's black Toyota Prius, which was parked on the bridge. That note listed contact information. A suicide note was later found at his office.
Unconfirmed reports suggested Scott had depression.
Scott, originally from North Shields, North Tyneside lived in Beverly Hills. He was the younger brother of producer and director Ridley Scott.
Tony Scott was a thrill-seeker in his personal life, an avid rock climber who also liked driving fast cars and motorcycles. But film-making was his real thrill.
His other 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 his films. They have twin sons.