Ridley Scott reflected on the tragic loss of his director brother Tony in an emotional new interview – 12 years after his suicide aged 68.
The Gladiator and Alien director, 86, was emotional as he remembered his younger brother – known for directing iconic films including Top Gun, Enemy of the State and Man on Fire.
The English filmmaker died on August 19 2012 when he leaped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in California after penning a suicide note.
In 2014 Ridley revealed his brother had been fighting a ‘lengthy battle with cancer’ , and called his death ‘inexplicable’ saying: ‘Tony had been very unwell, actually, and that’s the moment I realized I had to get very close to him again, though we were always close.’
Speaking to THR this week ahead of the release of Gladiator 2, Ridley was asked if he would like to add anything, with the film icon responding: ‘I miss my brother.’
Ridley Scott reflected on the tragic loss of his director brother Tony in an emotional new interview – 12 years after his suicide aged 68 – pictured together 2010
Scott was known for directing iconic films including Top Gun (pictured with Tom Cruise in 1986)
He revealed he was asked to direct Top Gun: Maverick but declined as ‘I don’t want to follow my brother.
‘Tony was always interested in today. A lot of my stuff is either historic, fantasy or science-fiction. Tony didn’t like fantasy — things like Alien or Blade Runner or Legend.’
Ridley has previously paid tribute to his brother, telling Variety: ‘I miss a friend. I’d go to him even when he was doing his recovery, and I’d say, “f*** the chemo, have a vodka martini” and he and I would go out.’
Tony left behind twin sons, then aged 12, and his wife Donna, a model and actress who had appeared in some of his films.
His death came just weeks after he was pictured looking pained as he left a Beverly Hills restaurant on July 23 2012 – but friends denied he had problems in his marriage to wife Donna.
In 2012 his family told medical examiners the British-born filmmaker did not have brain cancer or any serious illness when he jumped to his death.
Craig Harvey, operations chief for the coroner, also said the autopsy revealed Scott had no obvious signs of a brain tumor.
Tom Cruise paid tribute calling Tony ‘a creative visionary whose mark on film is immeasurable’.
Speaking to THR this week ahead of the release of Gladiator 2, Ridley was asked if he would like to add anything, with the film icon responding: ‘I miss my brother’ – pictured with Jerry Bruckheimer in 2010
Tony left behind twin sons, then aged 12, and his wife Donna, a model and actress who had appeared in some of his films – pictured 2010
Tony is pictured in a Top Gun reunion with Bruckheimer, Cruise and Kelly McGillis in 2010
He added: ‘Tony was my dear friend and I will really miss him … My deepest sorrow and thoughts are with his family at this time.’
Tony was the first of the Scott brothers to enjoy blockbuster success with Top Gun, the top-grossing film of 1986 at $176 million.
The film, which also starred Kelly McGillis and Val Kilmer, was nominated for four Academy Awards and won the best song award for Take My Breath Away.
Scott teamed with Cruise again four years later on the hit Days of Thunder, and had the sequel to Top Gun in development.