The producer behind films like Titanic and Avatar, Jon Landau, has passed away at the age of 63.
According to a Disney spokesperson, Landau died on Friday in Los Angeles after a 16-month battle with cancer.
Jon Landau filmography
Landau, the son of movie producers, grew up in the film industry. His father was an Oscar nominee, and Landau himself carried on the family legacy with a career in storytelling and filmmaking. He produced films like “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” (1989) and “Dick Tracy” (1990) before transitioning to an executive role at Fox.
During his tenure at Fox, he oversaw the production of several high-profile projects, including “Die Hard 2” (1990), “The Last of the Mohicans” (1992), “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993), and James Cameron’s “True Lies” (1994).
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Landau’s collaboration with James Cameron proved particularly fruitful. Together, they produced “Titanic,” which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time and won 11 Academy Awards. Their partnership continued with the “Avatar” series.
Tributes from co-workers
Following the news of his passing, many people in the film industry have paid tribute to Landau’s legacy. Zoe Saldaña, who starred in “Avatar” (2009) and “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022), shared her tribute in an Instagram post:
She wrote: “Words are hard to put together right now, your passing is hitting hard. You are leaving us too soon, my thoughts are with you and your family right now. Your wisdom and support shaped so many of us in ways we will always be grateful for. The memories we shared will always hold a special place in my heart. Your legacy will continue to inspire us and guide us in our journey. Rest in peace, dear Jon. You will be deeply missed.”
James Cameron, who co-produced “Titanic” with Landau, also shared his sentiments in a statement: “A great producer and a great human being has left us. Jon Landau believed in the dream of cinema. He believed that film is the ultimate human art form, and to make films you have to first be human yourself. He will be remembered as much for his vast generosity of spirit as for the movies themselves.”
