John Nash (left) was portrayed by Russell Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind".

25 May – John Nash, the mathematician whose real life inspired 2001 Russell Crowe-starrer "A Beautiful Mind", was reported to have passed away in a car accident.

Nash and wife Alicia were travelling in a taxi near Interchange 8A in Monroe Township, New Jersey, US, according to NJ.com, when the Ford Crown Victoria lost control as it tried to pass a Chrysler, causing both cars to crash into the guard rail.

The Nashes were ejected from the taxi, and pronounced dead on the scene about 50 minutes after the crash was reported at 4.30pm. They appeared to not have been wearing seatbelts when the incident occurred, State Police Sgt. Gregory Williams said.

The taxi driver, Tarek Girgis, 46, was flown to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. A passenger was in the Chrysler was treated for neck pain.

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

Russell Crowe's post on Twitter.

"Stunned...my heart goes out to John & Alicia & family. An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts." Russell Crowe posted on Twitter after learning of Nash's death.

Crowe portrayed the mathematical genius in "A Beautiful Mind", which won Best Picture at 2002 Academy Awards.

Inspired by Sylvia Nasar's best-seller, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated 1998 book of the same name, the biographical drama film tells of Nash's breakthrough in maths, earning him the 1994 Nobel Prize in Economic, as well as his struggles with schizophrenia.

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

Director Ron Howard also posted his condolences on Twitter.

Director Ron Howard, who received Best Director for the film, also posted on Twitter: "RIP Brilliant #NobelPrize winning John Nash & and his remarkable wife Alicia. It was an honor telling part of their story #ABeautifulMind"

Nash married Alicia Larde in 1957 but divorced in 1962 after he developed severe schizophrenia, though Alicia remained his caretaker. His condition improved in the '80s and the two remarried in 2001.

John and Alicia Nash at the Oscars in 2002 (Photo source: bbc.co.uk).

Just a few days prior to the accident, Nash and longtime colleague Louis Nirenberg were awarded the Abel Prize for Mathematics from King Harald V in Norway.

Nash was 86 and his wife 82.

(Photo source: ziaruldeiasi.ro)