Hollywood - "Titanic" and "Avatar" producer Jon Landau dies
Hollywood producer Jon Landau is deceased. The American had produced the film "Titanic" (1997) with director James Cameron and received an Oscar for it. Later, he put together the Science-Fiction film "Avatar" (2009) and its sequels. He passed away shortly before his 64th birthday.
His family announced the death on Saturday. "The best brother, whom every girl could dream of - my brother Jon - is gone. My heart is broken, but it also bursts with pride & gratitude for his extraordinary life", wrote his sister, playwright and theater director Tina Landau, on X. According to The Hollywood Reporter, citing a spokesperson from Disney Entertainment, Landau died on Friday in Los Angeles after a 16-month battle with cancer.
Landau was born on July 23, 1960, in New York. He was one of three children of television producers Ely and Edie Landau. During his high school years, he moved with his family to California. In 1987, he was involved in the production of his first film, "Campus Man". He was a co-producer on the films "Dick Tracy" and "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids". In 1997, he produced "Titanic" with Cameron, a film that won eleven Oscars and, according to BBC News, became the first to earn more than one billion US dollars.
"Titanic" was surpassed as the highest-grossing film in 2009 by "Avatar – Journey to Pandora", another collaboration between Landau and Cameron. Together, they headed the production company Lightstorm Entertainment. In 2022, "Avatar: The Way of Water" was released.
Kate Winslet: Landau, the dearest of all people
Cameron spoke of Landau's personal qualities on the industry portal "Deadline". Landau was "relentless, caring, integrative, indefatigable, sensitive, and absolutely unique" according to Cameron. "He produced great films not by wielding power, but by spreading warmth and joy in filmmaking. He inspired us all (...). I have lost a dear friend and my closest collaborator with whom I have worked for 31 years."
"Jon Landau was the dearest and best of all people", said "Titanic" leading actress Kate Winslet (48) to Deadline. "He was a man rich in empathy and exceptionally good at supporting and nurturing teams of phenomenally creative people", she added. Actress Zoe Saldana, who works on the "Avatar" films, paid tribute to Landau on Instagram. "Your wisdom and support have shaped so many of us", wrote the 46-year-old, among other things.
The third "Avatar" film is scheduled to hit theaters in December 2025, "Avatar 4" in 2029, and "Avatar 5" two years later. The three cinema releases were postponed last year due to the Hollywood writers' and actors' strike.
- Jon Landau's sister, Tina Landau, who is a playwright and theater director, expressed her grief and pride on X after learning about her brother's death.
- Landau's family announced his demise on Saturday, with his sister revealing him to be the "best brother" anyone could dream of.
- According to The Hollywood Reporter, citing a spokesperson from Disney Entertainment, Landau passed away on Friday in Los Angeles following a 16-month battle with cancer.
- Born in New York on July 23, 1960, Landau was one of three children of television producers Ely and Edie Landau and moved to California during his high school years.
- In 1997, Landau and director James Cameron produced "Titanic", a film that earned elevent Oscars and became the first to gross over one billion US dollars, as reported by BBC News.
- Duchess Kate also paid tribute to Landau, describing him as "a man rich in empathy and exceptionally good at supporting and nurturing teams of phenomenally creative people".
- The third installment of the "Avatar" series, with James Cameron and Jon Landau's production company Lightstorm Entertainment, is scheduled to hit theaters in December 2025, as mentioned in Deadline.
