Jon Landau, Oscar-Winning ‘Titanic’ and ‘Avatar’ Producer, Dies at 63

 

Jon Landau, the Oscar-winning producer behind some of the world's highest-grossing films, including "Titanic" and "Avatar," has passed away at the age of 63. Landau, who was the longtime producing partner of filmmaker James Cameron, reportedly died on Friday after battling cancer for over a year.

His sister, Tina, confirmed his death on social media, describing him as "the best brother a girl could ever dream of." She expressed her heartbreak but also pride and gratitude for his extraordinary life and the love and gifts he shared with her and all who knew him or his films.

Landau, the son of Hollywood producers Ely and Edie Landau, once served as an executive at 20th Century Fox, where he oversaw films such as "The Last Of The Mohicans" and "Die Hard 2." Teaming up with Cameron, he co-produced the 1997 blockbuster "Titanic," the first film to surpass the $1 billion mark at the global box office. He continued to break records with "Avatar" (2009) and its sequel "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022).

Landau also co-produced other successful films like "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" and "Dick Tracy," and held a management position at Cameron's production company, Lightstorm Entertainment.

Following the news of his death, Cameron told The Hollywood Reporter, "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."

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 loss of Jon Landau," praising his unparalleled passion and lasting influence.

Zoe Saldaña, an actor in the Avatar films, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, noting how deeply his death affected her. "Your wisdom and support shaped so many of us in ways we will always be grateful for," she wrote.