'A Beautiful Mind' mathematician John Nash dies in car accident

Nobel Prize winning mathematician John Nash, who inspired the movie "A Beautiful Mind," has been killed in a car accident with his wife Alicia in New Jersey.

The couple were in a taxi cab whose driver lost control and crashed into a guard rail,and hit another car.

The driver survived and was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

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Police decline to say if Nash was wearing a seat belt

John Nash won the Nobel Prize for economics in 1994. Credit: ITV News

Police in New Jersey have declined to comment on whether Nobel Prize winning mathematician John Nash and his wife were wearing seat belts when they were killed in a car crash.

Nash, 86, and his wife Alicia, 82, died after being thrown from the car when the driver lost control and hit a rail guard and another car on Saturday.

The academic's struggle with mental illness inspired the film A Beautiful Mind, starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly.

Princeton University pay tribute to 'inspirational' scholar

Princeton University Credit: Reuters

Princeton University today paid tribute to John Nash who it said "inspired generations of mathematicians, economists and scientists who were influenced by his brilliant, groundbreaking work in game theory."

Princeton-University scholar Nash, who inspired the film A Beautiful Mind, was awarded the Nobel Price for economics in 1994.

John's remarkable achievements inspired generations of mathematicians, economists and scientists who were influenced by his brilliant, groundbreaking work in game theory.

The story of his life with Alicia moved millions of readers and moviegoers who marveled at their courage in the face of daunting challenges

– Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber

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Russell Crowe 'stunned' at death of John Nash

Russell Crowe was nominated for an Oscar for his role in A Beautiful Mind. Credit: Reuters

Russell Crowe has said he was "stunned" to hear of the death of John Nash, the mathematician who he portrayed in the film A Beautiful Mind.

The actor tweeted: "My heart goes out to John & Alicia [Nash's wife who was also killed in a car crash]. An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts."

'A Beautiful Mind' mathematician dies in car accident

John Nash with his wife Alicia, who also died in the crash. Credit: Reuters

Nobel Prize winning mathematician John Nash, who inspired the movie "A Beautiful Mind," has been killed in a car accident with his wife in New Jersey, ABC News reports.

The couple were in a taxi cab whose driver lost control and crashed into a guard rail, the network reported, citing state police.

Nash was 86 and his wife Alicia was 82, according to ABC News, which reported the couple were living in Princeton, New Jersey.

The academic, a Princeton University scholar, was awarded the Nobel Price for economics in 1994.

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