Nobel Prize winner John Nash and his wife Alicia have died in a taxi crash in New Jersey.
The Princeton University mathematician - whose life was portrayed in the film A Beautiful Mind - was 86. His wife was 82.
They were thrown from a taxi on the New Jersey Turnpike when the driver lost control and hit a rail at 4.30pm local time on Saturday, New Jersey State Police said.
Mr Nash was the subject of an Oscar-winning film depicting his groundbreaking work in game theory as well as his struggle with schizophrenia.
Russell Crowe, who starred in the movie, tweeted:
Stunned...my heart goes out to John & Alicia & family. An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts. https://t.co/XF4V9MBwU4
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) May 24, 2015
Director Ron Howard also paid tribute to the couple:
RIP Brilliant #NobelPrize winning John Nash & and his remarkable wife Alicia. It was an honor telling part of their story #ABeautifulMind
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) May 24, 2015
Media reports said the pair were not wearing seatbelts, but police have so far refused to comment.
The couple had taken a cab from the airport after returning from receiving an award in Norway, according to mathematician Louis Nirenberg, who had been with them.
"We were all so happy together," Mr Nirenberg said. "It seemed like a dream."
Mr Nash won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1994 and his game theory work on human rivalry is considered one of the most influential ideas of the 20th century.
A Beautiful Mind, which came out in 2001, brought Nash's story to a mass audience and won four Oscars including best picture and best director.
Originally posted at 15.16
