Jon Landau, ‘Titanic’ and ‘Avatar’ producer, dead at 63
Jon Landau, the producer behind some of Hollywood‘s biggest blockbusters, Titanic and Avatar, passed away at the age of 63.
A frequent collaborator with James Cameron, Landau’s work will long be heralded as some of Hollywood’s finest. According to TheWrap, Landau died on Saturday, July 6th, after battling cancer.
Previously serving as executive vice president of feature film production at Twentieth Century Fox, Landau later shifted his focus to producing, notably partnering with director James Cameron. His work on Titanic was instrumental in making it the first film to gross $1billion at the box office, earning him an Academy Award for ‘Best Picture.’
Landau also collaborated closely with Cameron on 2009’s Avatar and its 2022 sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water. Today, Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Titanic stand among the four highest-grossing films of all time.
Noted for his work with Cameron, the celebrated director shared his love for Landau in a statement to Variety: “The Avatar family grieves the loss of our friend and leader, Jon Landau. His zany humor, personal magnetism, great generosity of spirit and fierce will have held the center of our Avatar universe for almost two decades.”
“His legacy is not just the films he produced, but the personal example he set — indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique. He produced great films, not by wielding power but by spreading warmth and the joy of making cinema. He inspired us all to be and to bring our best, every day,” Cameron said. “I have lost a dear friend, and my closest collaborator of 31 years. A part of myself has been torn away.”
However, Landau’s work was not entirely confined to collaborations with Cameron, he also had producing credits on Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, Dick Tracy, Solaris and Aita: Battle Angel.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.