'Top Gun' Director Tony Scott Dead At 68

A shock wave was sent through Hollywood Sunday night (August 19) as word spread of celebrated director Tony Scott's suicide. The "Top Gun" and "True Lies" helmer died by jumping from the Vincent Thomas suspension bridge into the Los Angeles Harbor near Long Beach, Calif. Sunday afternoon.

According to a report from the Coast Guard, Scott jumped from the south side of the bridge around 12:30 p.m. Pacific Standard time. The LA County coroner later revealed to

Authorities reportedly arrived on the scene shortly after 12:30 after a 911 call was placed by a witness. Officers from the LAPD, the California Highway Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard worked together to recover Scott's body from the water around 4 p.m.

News of the director/producer's death broke online late Sunday evening and "RIP Tony Scott," quickly became a trending topic on Twitter, along with individual trending topics dedicated to several of Scott's memorable films including: "Days of Thunder," "Top Gun," "True Romance," "Crimson Tide," "Enemy of the State," and "The Last Boy Scout."

Scott's directing credits are numerous and he was an equally successful producer of TV and film alongside his brother, fellow director and producing partner Ridley Scott, with whom he co-operated their highly successful production company ScottFree Productions. In addition to their film producing credits, the Scott brothers are responsible for the Emmy-nominated TV hit "The Good Wife," "Numb3rs," "The Pillars of the Earth" miniseries and the upcoming drama "Coma."

Ridley has yet to make a public statement on the tragic news and a source close to the family told

"We ask that the family's privacy be respected at this time," the source told the site.