Jon Landau, the Oscar-winning producer who produced some of the world’s highest-grossing films such as “Titanic” and “Avatar,” has died at the age of 63.
Landau, the longtime producing partner of film producer James Cameron, died Friday after suffering from cancer for more than a year, according to reports.
His sister Tina confirmed his death on social media, calling him “the best brother a girl could ever dream of”.
“My heart is broken but also filled with pride and gratitude for his most extraordinary life, the love and gifts he gave me, and everyone who knew him or his films,” she wrote.
Landau, the son of Hollywood producers Ely and Edie Landau, was a former executive at film production company 20th Century Fox, where he oversaw The Last of the Mohicans ” and movies such as “Die Hard 2”.
Together with Cameron, he produced the 1997 hit film “Titanic,” which was the first film to cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office.
Later films, “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: Waterfall,” released in 2009 and 2022 respectively, later broke Titanic’s record.
Landau also co-produced other hit films, including “Honey,” “I Shrunk the Kids” and “Dick Tracy,” and held a management role at Cameron’s production company, Lightstorm Entertainment.
After news of Landau’s death broke, Cameron told The Hollywood Reporter that “a great producer and a great man has left us.”
“Jon Landau believed strongly in the dream of cinema. He believed that cinema was the ultimate human art form and that in order to make a movie you have to be human first,” he said.
“He will be remembered for his immense generosity of spirit and for the film itself.”
Director Sir Peter Jackson and his screenwriter wife Fran Walsh, whose visual effects company worked on the Avatar films, said in a statement that they were “devastated by the passing of Jon Landau.”
“Jon brings unparalleled passion to the projects he works on, and his impact will continue to inspire for years to come.”
Actor Zoe Saldana, who starred in the “Avatar” movies, left a message for Landau on Instagram, saying Landau’s death “hit hard.”
“Your wisdom and support have shaped so many of us and we will be forever grateful.”
