Updated: Tony Scott, Film Director, Jumps Off Bridge to Death

Shocking story just now, well-known action film director Tony Scott committed suicide today (Sunday) by jumping off a bridge in Long Beach, Ca.  He was 68 and left a note in his Prius.  Authorities say he leapt off  "without hesitation."  The bridge has been featured in many movies and TV shows.

UPDATE ABC News said it had learned that Scott had been told he had inoperable brain cancer. But late Monday it retracted that when no one in his family said they knew about that.

Scott, never a critics' favorite,  directed "Top Gun," "Crimson Tide,"  "Man on Fire," "Days of Thunder," and "Unstoppable," among many others, and was considering launching "Top Gun 2."  He was the younger brother of Ridley Scott.  He also co-produced TV shows, some with his brother, such as "The Good Wife."  Here's the L.A. Times with career retrospective and videos.

Below: Scott directed this commercial with Woody Allen for Italian phone company, and under that, in his more trademark style, the "Ice Soldier" recruitment spot for the U.S. Army.  Go here to see him as lead actor in his brother's first film (27 minutes long).