Back in the 1980's if you had a big budget movie and you wanted the best director out there for action, you chose Tony Scott. He directed Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop 2, and Days Of Thunder. He continued working until today and was in the middle of preparing Top Gun 2 for production. Tony Scott was the younger brother of Ridley Scott, the director of Gladiator and Alien. Tony jumped to his death from a bridge in the Los Angeles Harbor yesterday. He was married and had two very young twin boys. He was 68.
What a tragedy. As someone whose father committed suicide, my heart aches for his young boys. R.I.P.
ReplyDeleteSo so awful. There is such a stigma attached to mental illness that it seems to me that people are reluctant to seek help. It shouldn't be that way. Rip Tony Scott, I truly enjoyed your films and my deepest sympathies to his wife and sons.
ReplyDelete@rejectedcarebear
ReplyDeletehow right you are. people have a difficult time accepting and understanding illnesses that aren't tangible.
tragic. my heart, too, aches for his family.
What a terrible shock for his friends and family.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes to his young children and wife. I hope he is at peace.
ReplyDeleteTruly awful. My thoughts are with Donna, the boys and Ridley.
ReplyDeleteoh my god, that is so sad... poor family & kids! :((
ReplyDeleteWhat a legacy to leave his children:(
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has struggled with depression for the majority of my adolescent and adult life, my heart aches for this man and the pain he must have felt. My thoughts are with his family.
ReplyDeleteI feel awful for his family, and what a drastic method he selected. I'm angry with him can only imagine how his kids will feel.
ReplyDeleteI understand how mental illness and depression can lead someone to commit suicide, but I still find it to be incredibly selfish. How can you cause such pain for your children and the rest of the people who love you? Recently a friend's father committed suicide, and his mentally handicapped granddaughter, who was very close with her grandfather, is never going to be the same.
ReplyDeleteI've said this here before, but I will say it again:
ReplyDeleteSuicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
There is always someone to talk to before taking such drastic steps. I am sad so that it came to this. I'm praying for Tony, his wife Donna and their two young boys. May God bless you and watch over the whole family during this difficult time.
I've seen unconfirmed reports that he was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. Having watched a loved one die from that..well I can't really blame him if it was true.
ReplyDeleteterribly sad for all those involved. I wish he had known there is help available....
ReplyDeleteThank you Rick and Pandora for sharing your stories!!!
ReplyDeleteMy brother attempted suicide twice, but got help and is a fully functioning man today. My sister's BIL was not as lucky and was "successful" on his second attempt with a shot gun.
Depression, anxiety, mental illness are very real, very treatable conditions. F*ck the stigma. Get the help you need by a qualified professional. If you had diabetes or heart disease you would seek care. This should be no different.
Love to you all today!!!
My profound sympathies to family. As for being selfish, i read Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar,. She attempted suicide many times before she suceeded. Anyway, she described the feeling of wanting to commit suicide as all encompassing, a complete urge one cldnt ignore. So i guess once you hv that feeling of wanting to, its very hard to get your head out of that place. So i dont think he cld help it, and he probably thought he sas helping his loved ones by removing himself from their life. Hard to make sense of an irrational mjnd.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking. Prayers to him and his family.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather committed suicide, and it is devastating. He had untreated mental illness that he was very good at hiding from most who knew him. His father died in the State Hospital in the 1940's after suffering a mental break that resulted in him holding the police at bay with a gun for several hours. That was in the 1930's - you can imagine the stigma their family lived under after that incident.
My father suffers as well, and also refuses to seek treatment. Break the cycle, people. Humble yourselves and ask for help. It is available, and is wonderful. I'm determined to change my family's pattern, starting with myself. My life is better than I ever imagined possible, thanks to loving support, counseling, and yes, pharmacology.
I was wondering if he had recently rec'd bad medical news? Devestating for family . Cruel for such young children to experience this. RIP.
ReplyDeleteHe felt the "need for speed".
ReplyDeleteI've been emotional this last week. It would have been my Dad's 78th b/day. He committed suicide when he was 43. I was 15 and 2 months prior, what would be my only child died. Yes, I'm making it about MY pain. I have mixed feelings about suicide. Obviously it's a sore subject for me. RIP Tony, I hope you found peace, but as an atheist, I don't think it matters to anyone but the living. It sure doesn't leave the living with peace.
ReplyDeleteOh, and please. No snark on my being a teenage Mom. I made my choice and I'm okay with that.
Lots of love to you, ReesesPeace. I can only begin to imagine the pain you had to deal with at that time in your life. Suicide produces very complicated emotions in the family left behind - anger, grief, guilt. It takes a long time, in my experience,for those feelings to subside enough to allow you to remember what was good about the person who killed themselves. Eventually, their life will outshine the way they chose to end it.
ReplyDeleteP.S. - some of my very favorite people have been teenaged parents. Have a great Monday.
Agent - I was thinking cancer too. The third Scott brother died of cancer in the 80s. I was thinking throat / lung, but someone else said brain. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Frufa! Hugs and love to you. I'm sorry for all who have lost someone to suicide. It's a hell of a legacy to leave. I have suffered from MI all my life, made a few half-assed sui attempts, but I'm happy to be alive. I DO understand the why, been there. But one has to know...when you get stuck in that moment, it passes! It does. There is no shame in being mentally ill: you (most likely) are not crazy! If you need help, seek it!
ReplyDeleteI'm off to deal with the gooberment. o_O
@Reeses - the government? Well, if you weren't crazy before...
ReplyDeleteHa! Hope you enjoy my sense of humor - around here, it's laugh or cry most of the time, and we (usually) choose laugh, while being sure to take all our meds :-). Cheers!
This is so horrible. I feel for his family. May he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteIF he was diagnosed with inoperable cancer, I can imagine suicide as a very attractive option.
ReplyDeleteEspecially brain cancer. The inevitable losing of his mind, his memories, his body functions, etc would be something to escape.
This seems like the worst way to commit suicide. There is virtually no chance of surviving, yet I always wonder if there is a split second you wish to take it back.
ReplyDeleteThere is a documentary on the people who have have committed suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Very few people survive. It's a good doc but very haunting.
My first thought wasn't mental illness. At age 68, I'm guessing it was terminal illness, and he didn't want to put himself and his family through a painful decline. I'm glad to see others post that he was allegedly diagnosed with brain cancer.
ReplyDeleteWhen will this society finally wake up and realize that assisted suicide should be legal? I'd rather go out by pushing a button than lose my bodily and brain functions and become a big burden on my family.
@Rose, in that documentary you mention, those survivors, TO A PERSON, said that the moment their feet left the bridge they thought "oh shit" and wished they could take it back. :-(
ReplyDelete@Seachica - I agree it was probably a terminal illness, but no one ever wants to talk about suicide or mental illness so bandwagon started. We need to talk about assisted suicide too. If it's OK for animals, why not people who really understand what is happening to them.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to post an article I found out about natural ways to treat anxiety/depression to help others our mega chat last week: Identifying and Fixing Brain Chemical Imbalances
That is so sad. I feel for his family.
ReplyDeleteA friend of ours committed suicide two weeks ago. He was set to move into the building directly behind us, and we were really excited to be neighbors. Now, every time I look at the window at his building it's all I think about.
ReplyDeleteI just hope all of the people that succumb to suicide are able to find peace.
@Frufra and @ReesesPeace - Thanks for sharing your stories!
ReplyDeleteBig hugs!
Enty forgot to mention that he directed "The Hunger".
ReplyDelete:(
dia - you're right there are other ways to deal with depression. Read about magnesium therapy. I was fortunate to have a friend familiar with float tanks. They're amazing! I was a solutely giddy after a 2 hour float! Now I make oil from magnesium flakes purchased online from Swanson. I spray under arms 2-3 times a day. The uplift is astounding.
ReplyDeleteIt was only a chemical imbalance for me. I never needed drugs. Also, believe it or not, I'm not so hungry any more. I've been sick recently and this really helped me.
I feel bad for those kids growing up without a father. I think he was one of the good guys in Hollywood. RIP
@dia - thanks for the link. Very interesting that my father's family also has a strong history of diabetes. I also had thyroid disease that ultimately required my thyroid to be chemically destroyed via radioactive iodine. My thyroid levels have been in balance for about ten years now (daily dose of synthroid).
ReplyDeleteI am also super-careful with my blood sugar levels, as I'm hypoglycemic as well.
Broke my heart when I read the story. Stories of suicide always strike a chord and break my heart having battled depression on and off a few years and attempted suicide a couple of times. Thankfully my attempts were unsuccessful but it took a lot of pain to get to that point.
ReplyDeleteDepression is an illness I will not wish on my enemy and its even harder coming from a society where depression or the mere mention of it is heavily frowned upon and criticised. But I am glad I am better today and cherish being better. I hope he finally is at peace now.
There must have been a reason, and I wish people wouldn't jump to conclusions until more info is released. If it was depression, I'm sorry he didn't have help to manage it before despair swept him away. If it was brain cancer (as rumored), I can sort of understand his choice in sparing himself and his family the prolonged agony. However, the last person to die in my state from a bridge jump did it because he was about to be exposed and arrested as a child molester... so until I hear the details verified, I'll keep my "RIPs" and mental health sympathies in check. (To be clear, I'm not criticizing anyone who has posted here on this subject -- I just remember how shocked and sympathetic people were in the case I mentioned until the truth came out, and then they were sickened. He was our own version of Sandusky.)
ReplyDeleteHow very sad. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Whether due to mental illness, terminal disease, or any other cause - suicide leaves a deep, shocking emotional scar on the psyche of those left behind. Even with letters, the "Why?!" is unanswerable for those of us who would never do it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the mental illness and assisted suicide topics need to be more open. The next time you hear someone (or you) say "he must be off his meds" or "she's always crazy" about someone? Realize that it's words like those that make people fear seeking treatment.
Sometimes, their are reasons we would all understand - inoperable brain cancer being an example, exorbitant medical bills, pain, debilitating physical breakdown accompanied by having your family watch you die a lingering death? No thank you. But it is so sad that jumping off a bridge is in the list of "only viable options" while the family pet gets "put to sleep."
May he rest in peace. His work was amazing.
Argh. Their/there only gets me every so often. I see it did here.
ReplyDelete@EmEyeKay I looked through the list of movies he was associated with, and The Hunger is by far, my favorite :)
ReplyDelete@Amber - I must have just missed your post. I'm so sorry. That is heartbreaking. Big hug to you.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna look into that magnesium therapy. Very cool. I try to take an epsom salt bath at least once/wk. Thanks __-__ = __
Frufra - Blood sugar is SO important. I think that's part of the reason low carb craze caught on. You feel better when your blood sugar is stable and consistent.
I hate the Vincent Thomas bridge, it is so scary (full disclosure - I suffer from a bridge phobia). When I heard that he jumped off it, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.
ReplyDeletePoor man, he must have been trying to escape something horrible do commit such an act. May he rest in peace.
Two years ago, my friend's 18-year-old son took his own life. The devastation on his family has been a horrible thing to watch. My heart goes out to all of you who have been there.
The TV show "Numbers" was a favorite of ours.
ReplyDeleteDia, great link. Non diabetics should insist on a1c test when they are required to have blood work done.If you are borderline diabetic, research glycemic index and reshape your diet.Blood sugar monitoring is not painful anymore and you can be very proactive to do it for yourselves and your children before you develop diabetes. It is one of the easiest things to prevent.(Mine was declared genetic).
@_-__=__ Red Rock AZ, 1st experience of float tanks. One of the best experiences I've had.
after watching my dad waste away from pancreatic cancer. If I get diagnosed with it one day, I can't say I wouldn't jump off a bridge too. Just to end it quick and painless than have your family watch you die slowly. I don't know what the right answer is.
ReplyDeleteHope he is in a better place that's all and made sure his family is taken care of. Which financially with his resume i'm sure he did.
I'd like to add - just reading up; looks like the cancer may have been a reoccurrence, and I, too, have watched someone die a painful death from pancreatic cancer, so I get that. However, it seems like (and of course, how the hell would l really know) he killed himself without the knowledge and consent of his family. To me, that's a different ball of wax - he has children, for heaven's sake. I don't know that I can condone that.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for properly-done assisted suicide. I know it's not legal, but I know people who have done it, and it is a much more peaceful end for the family than jumping off a bridge. And he had the money to make it happen (assisted suicide), IMO.
ABC news is saying he was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer...
ReplyDeletehttp://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=17039434
I never heard about a link between thyroid problems and depression. Now that I look back it does seem as if my depression got quite a bit better when I was put on Synthroid for Hashimoto's disease (didn't know I had it until my sister was diagnosed and her MD said I might have it as well). But having been close to suicide myself a few times I'll never knock anyone who commits suicide. You just don't know what kind of burden that person has been carrying.
ReplyDeleteAgent - Isn't it just so amazing?? I was doing it for pain so the attitude adjustment was a surprise.
ReplyDeletedia - I found the oil was more economical for me. The flakes were $15 and should last me a year. Before I learned about tanks and oils I was doing Epsom salt baths. I was in a better place for that at the time.
I also drink Epsom salts regularly, to flush the pipes. I started this because I was medicated and knew pharmaceuticals were dangerous to kidneys and liver. From what I've read I now understand this should prevent stones. I can believe it.
Good luck to anyone dealing with sickness and depression. I found the magnesium
Info by studying. It's very low risk, does not interact with my drugs, and is low cost. Maybe it can work for you too.
Bless him
ReplyDeleteHemlock Society - worth reading about. I have had "The Talk" with my spouse and others re end of life wishes. Not a scary topic and we research it as well.
ReplyDeleteAgent: Thanks for the reminder on the Hemlock Society. My husband and I have also spoken about this.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to his friends and family and to everyone on here (Amber, Reeses, et.al) who have been touched by suicide. It's a tough thing to deal with and I don't think anyone ever gets over it.
Update: DM has all the details. Also says his boys were born in 2000, so only 12 years old. So sad. Inoperable Brain Cancer
ReplyDeletedoesn't it seem like someone in his position would have had other ways to do this? less dramatic? seems he wanted this to be BIG, to show the world "yes, its come to this". why con't we let people choose when to die, especially in cases like this. we lost a dear, dear friend in a sad way years ago. she had breast cancer and the "end" was awful. it was painful and drawn out and a really ugly way to die.
ReplyDeleteI've tried and ended up in the psych ward. Sucks being in there, I can tell ya!
ReplyDeleteBut as someone who has spent periods of time being suicidal my whole life (hit me first around 6th grade/11 yrs old), it is just something that gets into you, like a disease.
You just want to CHECK OUT and that's that.
Selfish? Sure. But in that state of mind, you don't give a fuck about anyone else. Harsh, but that's the reality, at least for me.
My demon has been quiet for a year or so now...hope it stays that way.
A psychic once told me that for me it's "chemical," whatever that means.
selenakyle - check out magnesium comments and float tanks. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteMe - this way his family didn't have to find the body. That's all I got. I didn't see it as dramatic but the opposite of that , for his family.
Now TMZ is saying that Mr. Scott did not have inoperable brain cancer, and that his family said he didn't have any severe medical issues that would cause him to take his life.
ReplyDeleteThis whole situation is so completely sad. I feel badly for all parties involved, but as a mother I am just devastated for those 2 boys in particular.
For those readers above who have thought about suicide, or attempted suicide and survived: Somebody ALWAYS cares. Things do get better. And I'm glad you're still here with us. I believe miracles do happen, and you survivors are proof of that
Sunny you beat me to it!
ReplyDeleteVery true words: Somebody ALWAYS cares. Things do get better. Miracles do happen
I checked in on him last night and saw him sitting at the top of a grassy hill looking down on some giant old trees (a very English looking setting). He seemed at peace. I hope his family and friends will get the answers they need. The whole thing is so sad.
My father committed suicide 28 years ago, our family was never the same. We went through the entire process of guilt, anger, sorrow, blame, my mother became an alcoholic. Prior to his death we were a close knit family, we tried to maintain it afterwards, but each of us were to fragile and now we don't have regular contact despite living in the same city. My father was ill and in constant physical pain, I understood why, but sometimes understanding is not enough.
ReplyDeleteWow, Tony Scott did not have cancer? That's strike 3 for ABC.
ReplyDeleteSo tragic for his wife and children.
Can't imagine the pain of losing somebody to suicide, redronnie.
my bf killed himself. suicide is a life-long plague for the living who they leave behind, which is a HUGE wake of devastation. miss him.
ReplyDeletesorry for Tony Scott's kids, family, close friends and anyone who heart he touched.
Epsom salts can make an EKG go wacky and, since these are salts, blood pressure issues are possible. Keep it in mind.
ReplyDeletedia, the link you posted opens up in Blogger and I can't get the web address. I went to acupuncture today to get the article but it was down. Would you mind terribly posting the link directly so I can copy and paste? Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteNo problem Lisa B.
ReplyDeleteIdentifying and Fixing Brain Chemical Imbalances
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32621
Anna, good point. I only soak in it. Moving up to a magnesium soak (maybe):)
ReplyDeleteThanks Dia, fascinating read. I am a vegetarian who eats very well and much like the diet describes (I actually don't like sweets.)
ReplyDeleteI have a friend though who does not-she has wild mood swings 30-60 minutes after dessert and they last for about two hours. She thinks it has nothing to do with how she eats and blood sugar. I'm sending her this NOW.
You are so welcome Lisa! Have a great night :D
ReplyDeleteI live in San Pedro. I can see the Vincent Thomas Bridge from my house and I drive it every day to work. I didn't take it today. So sad.
ReplyDeleteThis is just so sad and unfortunately for his family it is all over the news. My brother killed himself 5 months ago yesterday and even though I didn't know this man or his family my heart broke. Unfortunately for us there was no note so we will never know why. I hope his letters will at least give his family a few words of coomfort.
ReplyDeleteUnknown. Really sorry for your loss. I'd like to think that most people who chose this path aren't in their right minds. They just want to pain to stop. I think @selenakyle expressed this very well.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in purgatory or some horrible place for suicide victims. I like to think they go to a hospital-type place on the other side. Like Club Med where they get all the help they couldn't get here. God loves all his children. I know your brother is being watched over by the angels and when he's ready he'll give you a sign that he's OK.
Just know that it wasn't your fault. He doesn't want you up suffer either. Keep praying for him and tell him how much you love him. It will get better. I promise. I know it doesn't feel like that right now. Laugh, sing, dance. Do the things that bring you joy. It will help heal you both. Blessings to you :)