Advanced search

Tony Scott was a British-born film director and producer. He was the youngest of three brothers, one of whom is fellow film director Ridley Scott. He was born in North Shields, Northumberland, England to parents Jean and Colonel Francis Percy Scott. As a result of his father's career in the British military, his family moved around a lot. Their mother loved the going to the movies and instilled a love of cinema in her children. At age 16, Tony made his first appearance on screen as 'the boy' in his brother's directorial debut, the short film Boy and Bicycle (1965). In 1969, Tony directed his own short film One of the Missing (1969) about a soldier in the American civil war.

Tony had a talent for art and painting. He spent a year in Leeds College of Art and Design and went on to study for a fine arts degree at the School of Art at the University of Sunderland. He won a scholarship to study for his Masters of fine arts at the Royal College of Art. Following university, he spent several years as a painter. But life as a painter proved a struggle, so he decided to forge a different career path and partnered with Ridley in advertising at Ridley Scott Associates. It was there that he began shooting commercials. In 1971 he wrote, produced and directed Loving Memory however his vampire movie The Hunger (1983) starring Susan Sarandon, David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve wasn't a critical success but it attracted attention from Hollywood. He was asked by producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer to direct Top Gun (1986) starring Tom Cruise. He would work again with Cruise on another high adrenaline film Days of Thunder (1990), which proved less successful. He followed the success of Top Gun with the sequel Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) with Eddie Murphy, which was well received.

In 1993, he directed True Romance (1993), which was written by emerging director Quentin Tarantino. Scott had a lot of control over the film and received some great reviews.

Tony has worked five times with actor Denzel Washington with Crimson Tide (1995), The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), Deja Vu (2006), Man on Fire (2004) and Scott's final film in the director's chair Unstoppable (2010).

Tony Scott passed away at age 68 on August 19, 2012 in California, USA.

Len Chandler was born on 27 May 1935 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He was a writer, known for Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (2015) and Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show (1984). He was married to Olga James. He died on 28 August 2023 in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Johnny Luther was born on 3 August 1908 in Sedalia, Missouri, USA. He was an actor, known for Stormy (1935), Two Gun Law (1937) and The Texas Tornado (1932). He died on 30 July 1960 in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA.

John Lane was born on 11 May 1940 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He was an actor, known for Justice for Lizzie (2022) and Intoxicating (2003). He was married to Antoinette Girgenti. He died on 2 May 2024 in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Mae Babitz was born on 1 November 1911 in Crowley, Acadia, Louisiana, USA. Mae was married to Sol Babitz. Mae died on 15 January 2003 in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Gilbert Bustamante was born on 28 July 1959 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Gilbert died on 4 June 2017 in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA.