Jon Landau, who was behind “Titanic” starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, has died at the age of 63 after a 16-month battle with cancer.
Landau helped director James Cameron make history with ‘Titanic’ which became the first film to cross $1 billion at the global box office.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Jon went on to top his record with 2009’s ‘Avatar’ and its sequel ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ making him the only producer to have three of the top four highest-grossing movies of all time.
Jon Landau’s death was confirmed by his son Jamie Landau.
Along with Titanic and Avatar, he also produced films such as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) and Dick Tracy (1990).
During his five-year stint as an executive at Fox, he led the production on Die Hard 2 (1990), The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Cameron’s True Lies (1994).
Titanic star Kate Winslet mourned his death as she shared that she had known Landau since she was 20 years old.
Winslet played Rose DeWitt Bukater in the movie.
During their journey, Rose falls in love with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack Dawson despite being engaged to Caledon “Cal” Hockley.
Reacting to the news, Kate Winslet said: “Jon Landau was the kindest and best of men.”
“He was a man who was rich with compassion and exceptional at supporting and nurturing teams of phenomenal creative people,” she added.
At Lightstorm Entertainment, Cameron’s production company where Landau served as chief operating officer, the two created numerous films.
This includes Solaris (2002) and Alita: Battle Angel (2019). They were also working on expanding the Avatar franchise.
Before his tenure at Lightstorm, Landau held the position of executive vice president of feature film production at 20th Century Fox. His oversight included movies like Die Hard 2, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Power Rangers, as reported by Variety.
James Cameron expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Jon Landau, a longtime collaborator and friend, known for his pivotal role in producing blockbusters like Titanic and Avatar.
In a poignant statement shared with Deadline, Cameron eulogized Landau as a central figure in the Avatar franchise and a source of inspiration for the entire team.
“The Avatar family grieves the loss of our friend and leader, Jon Landau,” Cameron began. He emphasised Landau’s infectious humour, magnetic personality, and unwavering determination that shaped their creative journey over nearly two decades. “His legacy extends beyond the films he produced; he exemplified resilience, compassion, and a unique vision,” Cameron added.
Reflecting on their 31-year partnership, Cameron described Landau not only as a collaborator but as a dear friend whose absence leaves a profound void. Landau, aged 63, passed away on Friday following a courageous battle with cancer.