Tom Cruise pays tribute to Tony Scott after bridge suicide

Tom Cruise leads tributes for Top Gun director and 'dear friend' Tony Scott in the wake of his tragic suicide

Tom Cruise has paid an emotional tribute to Top Gun director Tony Scott in the wake of his tragic suicide.

'Tony was my dear friend and I will really miss him,' said Cruise, who was spotted leaving a restaurant in LA looking forlorn yesterday, in a statement.

'My deepest sorrow and thoughts are with his family at this time,' he added.

Cruise described Tony, brother to filmaker Ridley Scott, as 'a creative visionary whose mark on film is immeasurable.'

TONY SCOTT DIES AFTER JUMPING FROM BRIDGE

The 68-year-old was seen parking his car and jumping - 'without hesitation,' according to witnesses - from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in LA at about 12.30pm on Sunday. A suicide note was later found in his office.

Actress Keira Knightley, who took the lead in Scott's 2005 action film Domino, called him 'one of the most extraordinary, imaginative men I ever worked with,' and 'one of the world's true originals.'

It had been widely reported in the media that the director had been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, something his family have now dismissed.

Scott is survived by his third wife, actress Donna, who appeared in several of her husband's films, and their twin sons.

LATEST CELEBRITY NEWS