Scott leapt from the Vincent Thomas Bridge near Venice Beach in Florida, leaving a suicide note in his car and office, according to the coroner. He was 68.

Most famous as the action film director younger brother of Sir Ridley Scott, Tony began in front of the camera, starring in his brother’s first movie, Boy And Bicycle. After leaving a career in art, Tony Scott began directing adverts, before making his first feature, The Hunger.

However it was his next picture, Top Gun, that really got him noticed as an impressive filmmaker. It was a huge hit and remains one of the most beloved films of the 1980s. It also helped turn Tom Cruise into one of the most profitable movie stars ever in the process.

Between Top Gun and now, Scott made a string of well-recieved films: Days of Thunder, Crimson Tide, True Romance, The Last Boy Scout, Enemy Of The State, The Taking Of Peltham 123 and, most recently, runaway train movie Unstoppable.

Scott's spokesman, Simon Halls, said in a statement, "I can confirm that Tony Scott has passed away. The family asks that their privacy is respected at this time.”

Actors and directors have taken to Twitter this morning to mark their sadness. Frost/Nixon and Da Vinci Code director Ron Howard wrote, No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day." Source Code helmer Duncan Jones, meanwhile, added: Just heard about Tony Scott news. Horrible... Tony was a truly lovely man who took me under his wing & ignited my passion to make films."

Tony Scott is survived by his wife Donna and his twin sons.