John Nash, Nobel Prize winner, dies in car crash

NOBEL Prize winner John Nash - who was played by Russell Crowe in the film A Beautiful Mind - has been killed in a car crash.

Mathematician John Nash, pictured in 1994. Picture: AP

The 82-year-old died alongside his wife, Alicia, when they were thrown from a taxi on the New Jersey Turnpike.

The driver of the car lost control and hit a rail at 4.30pm yesterday, American news reported.

Mr Nash, a University of Princeton mathematician, was portrayed by Crowe in the 2001 Academy award-winning film which depicted his groundbreaking work in game theory as well as his struggle with schizophrenia.

Australian Crowe tweeted that he has been shocked by the news.

He said: “Stunned...my heart goes out to John & Alicia & family. An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts.”

Mr Nash won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1994.