Coroner: No Sign Of Brain Cancer In Tony Scott

Top Gun director Tony Scott showed no obvious signs of a brain tumour in a post-mortem examination, a coroner's official has said.

Reports had suggested brain cancer was the reason for his apparent suicide - a claim dismissed as "absolutely false" by his widow, Donna Wilson.

The British-born filmmaker jumped to his death from a Los Angeles harbour suspension bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Craig Harvey, operations chief for the LA coroner, said Monday's post-mortem revealed Scott, 68, did not appear to have a tumour.

More lab tests are needed to rule out any microscopic traces of cancer that would have been too minute for a physician to detect while Scott was alive, he added.

"The family told us it is incorrect that he had inoperable brain cancer," Mr Harvey said, adding: "They advised us... he had no serious medical issues".

The disclosure added to the mystery surrounding Scott's actions.

It contradicted an earlier unconfirmed ABC News report, attributed by the network to an unidentified source close to Scott, that he had inoperable brain cancer.

Scott was seen to park his car in the middle of Vincent Thomas Bridge on Sunday afternoon, climb an 18ft (5.5m) fence and jump nearly 200ft (61m) into the water below.

His body was recovered about three hours later.

Coroner's officials said a suicide note was found in his office and a list of people to contact was found in his car. The contents of the note have not been disclosed.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter has said investigators lacked any theories about what led Scott, one of the most prolific and successful directors in Hollywood, to kill himself.

The younger brother of Gladiator director Ridley Scott, his directorial work included Beverly Hills Cop II, True Romance, The Hunger and Crimson Tide.

He was reported to be involved in developing several film projects, including a sequel to his biggest hit, the 1986 fighter-jet adventure Top Gun, which turned Tom Cruise into a major star and helped launch Scott's directing career.

Cruise paid tribute to Mr Scott, saying he was a "dear friend" who would be sorely missed.

In a post on Twitter. his Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer said Mr Scott was "the kindest film director I ever worked for".