Cancer death - Hollywood mourns the death of "Titanic" producer Jon Landau
Producer Jon Landau, known for the film classic "Titanic" and the "Avatar" movies, is deceased. According to several American media outlets, Landau, who was Oscar-awarded, passed away on July 5 at the age of 63. Variety reported that he had been suffering from cancer for 16 months. His son Jamie confirmed the sad news over The Hollywood Reporter.
Jon Landau was involved in many cult films
As a close collaborator of James Cameron (69), the producer from Brooklyn, New York, produced, besides "Titanic" (1997), also "Avatar - Journey to Pandora" (2009) and its sequel from 2022 - three of the highest-grossing films of all time. He was also the Chief Operating Officer of Cameron's production company Lightstorm Entertainment. There, the duo produced films like "Solaris" (2002) and "Alita: Battle Angel" (2019) and planned the future of the Avatar series. Before that, Landau was the Executive Vice President of Film Production at 20th Century Fox. During this time, he oversaw cult films like "Die Hard 2", "Mrs. Doubtfire", and "Power Rangers".
"Titanic" was the first film to surpass the billion-dollar mark at the worldwide box office. The three-hour film also won record-breaking eleven Oscars, including for Best Picture. The producer once said that he fell in love with the script at the very first draft. "It wasn't just the script, but also the idea that this could be the last time an epic, old-fashioned film with hundreds and hundreds of extras, not digital, would be made."
Colleagues pay tribute to the deceased
While James Cameron has yet to comment on the loss of his close associate, "Titanic" star Frances Fisher (72) paid tribute to the deceased on July 6. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote: "Rest in peace, Jon." John Bergman, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, issued a statement, acknowledging Landau's indelible mark on the film industry: "Jon was a visionary, whose exceptional talent and passion brought some of the most unforgettable stories to the screen. He was an iconic and successful producer, but an even better human being and a true force of nature, who inspired all around him."
Filmmakers Peter Jackson (62) and Fran Walsh (65), whose company Weta FX provided the visual special effects for the "Avatar" films, also released a statement: "We speak for the entire team at Weta FX when we say we are devastated by the loss of Jon Landau. Jon was not only a monumental figure in the film industry, but also a respected colleague and friend. He brought an unparalleled passion into the projects."
Landau leaves behind his wife Julie, whom he had been married to for almost 40 years, and their two sons Jamie and Jodie, according to Variety.
See above in the video: In the 1997 film "Titanic", Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, dances with a little girl below deck. The then nine-year-old girl is named Alex Owens-Sarno and is now 35 years old. She often reminisces about the past with nostalgic posts on Instagram.
- The news of Jon Landau's passing was shared by his son Jamie through The Hollywood Reporter, following his death on July 5 at the age of 63.
- In addition to producing "Titanic" and the "Avatar" movies with James Cameron, Landau also worked on films like "Alita: Battle Angel" and "Die Hard 2" during his time at 20th Century Fox.
- James Cameron has not yet commented on Landau's death, but colleagues like Frances Fisher, John Bergman, Peter Jackson, and Fran Walsh have paid tribute to his legacy in the film industry.
- The Hollywood Reporter reported that Landau had been suffering from cancer for 16 months before his death.
- Landau leaves behind his wife Julie and their two sons Jamie and Jodie.
