Tony Scott did not have inoperable brain cancer, his family says.

The film director committed suicide when he jumped to his death from Vincent Thomas Bridge into the Los Angeles Harbor this weekend.

An autopsy will attempt to help explain his death, but Scott’s family denied reports that brain cancer was a factor.

“The family told us it is incorrect that he has inoperable brain cancer,” Los Angeles chief coroner Craig Harvey said.

Assistant chief Ed Winter told the Star that the suicide notes Scott left made no reference to health problems.

“No, they did not,” said Winter.

A witness described Scott’s last moments to the Los Angeles Times.

“He was on the roadway close to the fence looking around. He was looking around and fumbling with something at his feet. He looked nervous,” witness David Silva said in an interview with the Times.

“I thought it was some extreme-sports guy.”

Silva said he was a passenger in a car on the north side of the bridge and Scott was on the south side.

Silva said Scott “paused a couple of seconds and then began to climb the fence. He put his foot on the top of the fence and paused again. And then he threw himself off. I immediately thought, that guy is dead.”

At first, Silva and other motorists thought it was an extreme-sports stunt, the Times reported. Then they realized the jumper didn't have a parachute or safety cord.

Silva said he called 911 immediately.

The 68-year-old British-born director was brother to Prometheus director Ridley Scott and is best known for his action films, which include Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II and Enemy of the State.

On Sunday, he was seen parking his car on the cable-suspension bridge that connects the port district of San Pedro to Terminal Island before jumping into the water at 12:30 p.m. local time.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

His body was recovered from the harbour less than three hours later.

Katherine Rowe, the director’s spokesperson, issued a statement saying: “I can confirm that Tony Scott has indeed passed away. The family asks that their privacy be respected at this time.”