Tom Cruise pays tribute to "creative visionary" Tony Scott

Tom Cruise has paid tribute to his former collaborator Tony Scott.

The film director was found dead on Sunday afternoon (August 19) after apparently committing suicide by jumping from a bridge. He was 68 years old.

WENN / Paramount Pictures

[Tony Scott (centre) with Don Simpson, Robert Towne, Jerry Bruckheimer and Tom Cruise on the set of 'Days of Thunder', 1990]

"Tony was my dear friend and I will really miss him," Cruise said in a statement. "He was a creative visionary whose mark on film is immeasurable.

"My deepest sorrow and thoughts are with his family at this time."

Cruise and Scott worked together on Top Gun and Days of Thunder, and The Hollywood Reporter claims that that the pair had met as recently as last Friday (August 17) to discuss the planned Top Gun sequel.

Watch Digital Spy interview Tony Scott about Unstoppable in 2010 below:

Photo gallery - Tony Scott filmography in pictures:

The Hunger (1983)Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon led the cast of Tony Scott's feature directorial debut, which centred on an Egyptian vampire who survives by drinking the blood of her lovers.

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