FILM OBITUARY - Tony Scott (1944 - 2012)

Earlier this week we were saddened to hear that director Tony Scott had taken his own life after contracting cancer. Scott was an iconic film director that was active for 40 years.

Scott started out in the movie industry making commercials, working for his brother Ridley (another famous director). However, Scott wanted to make full-length feature films and finally realised his dream in 1982 when he released The Hunger; a vampire film starring David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve. At the time of release, The Hunger recieved harsh reviews from critics and failed at the box office. Scott returned to making commercials.

It was in 1985 that Scott finally made his name directing Top Gun, after he was approached by the film's producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. The film was a huge success, taking $176 million at the box office and turning it's leading man, Tom Cruise, into a star.

After the success of Top Gun, Scott found himself one of the most popular directors in Hollywood. He went on to direct Beverly Hills Cop II (starring Eddie Murphy and Brigitte Nielsen), Days Of Thunder (again starring Tom Cruise) and True Romance (starring Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette), among many other successful films.

In 1995, Scott established a working relationship with actor Denzel Washington in the film Crimson Tide. Scott and Washington worked together on Deja Vu and The Taking Of Pelham 123.

Scott also produced alot of films, including The A-Team and Prometheus.

Tony Scott was a talented director who put a stamp on the action movie that many have tried to copy, but none could fully replicate.

Tom :)