Jon Landau, the Oscar-winning ‘Titanic’ and ‘Avatar’ producer, dies at 63

Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who labored intently with director James Cameron on three of the most important blockbusters of all time, “Titanic” and two “Avatar” movies, has died. He was 63.

Landau’s household introduced his dying Saturday. No reason for dying was given.

Landau’s partnership with Cameron led to 3 Oscar nominations and a greatest image win for 1997’s “Titanic.” Collectively the pair account for among the largest blockbusters in film historical past, together with “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Method of Water.”

“Jon Landau believed within the dream of cinema. He believed that movie is the last word human artwork kind, and to make movies you need to first be human your self,” Cameron stated in a prolonged assertion posted by The Hollywood Reporter. “He can be remembered as a lot for his huge generosity of spirit as for the flicks themselves.

“I labored with Jon Landau for 31 years and I by no means noticed him downcast as soon as,” Cameron stated. “He led with a stability of humor and fierce will, and true pleasure within the work.”

Landau’s profession started within the Eighties as a manufacturing supervisor, and he progressively rose by means of the ranks, serving as a co-producer on “Honey I Shrunk the Children” and “Dick Tracy.”

He took on the producer position on “Titanic,” Cameron’s costly epic in regards to the notorious 1912 maritime catastrophe. The guess paid off: “Titanic” turned the primary film to cross $1 billion in world box-office earnings and went on to win 11 Oscars, together with greatest image.

“I am unable to act and I am unable to compose and I am unable to do visible results, so I suppose that is why I am producing.” Landau stated whereas accepting the award with Cameron.

Their partnership continued, with Landau changing into a prime govt at Cameron’s Lightstorm Leisure. In 2009 the pair watched as “Avatar,” a sci-fi epic filmed and proven in theaters with groundbreaking 3D know-how, surpassed the box-office success of “Titanic.” It stays the top-grossing movie of all time.

Its sequel, “Avatar: The Method of Water,” is third on the checklist.

“Your knowledge and help formed so many people in methods we’ll all the time be pleased about,” Zoe Saldaña, one of many stars of the “Avatar” franchise, stated in an emotional tribute on Instagram. “Your legacy will proceed to encourage us and information us in our journey.”

Landau has been a key participant within the “Avatar” franchise, which noticed frequent delays of the discharge of “The Method of Water.” Landau defended the sequel’s progress and Cameron’s bold plans to movie a number of sequels without delay to maintain the franchise going.

“So much has modified however rather a lot hasn’t,” Landau informed The Related Press in 2022, a couple of months forward of the sequel’s launch. “One of many issues that has not modified is: Why do individuals flip to leisure as we speak? Similar to they did when the primary ‘Avatar’ was launched, they do it to flee, to flee the world by which we reside.”

“Jon was a visionary whose extraordinary expertise and keenness introduced among the most unforgettable tales to life on the massive display. His exceptional contributions to the movie business have left an indelible mark, and he can be profoundly missed. He was an iconic and profitable producer but a fair higher particular person and a real drive of nature who impressed throughout him,” Alan Bergman, Disney Leisure co-chairman, stated in an announcement.

Landau was named an govt vp of function motion pictures at twentieth Century Fox when he was 29, which led him to supervise main hits together with “Residence Alone” and its sequel, in addition to “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “True Lies,” the place he first began working intently with Cameron.

Landau was additionally influential in bringing the manga adaptation “Alita: Battle Angel” to the massive display in 2019. Cameron supported the venture, however his “Avatar” commitments stored him from directing it. As an alternative, Landau labored with director Robert Rodriguez to get the movie accomplished.

Born in New York on July 23, 1960, Landau was the son of movie producers Ely and Edie Landau. The household moved to Los Angeles within the Seventies, and Landau went on to graduate from the College of Southern California’s movie faculty.

Ely Landau died in 1993. Edie Landau, the Oscar-nominated producer of movies like “Lengthy Day’s Journey Into Night time,” “Hopscotch” and “The Lethal Sport,” died in 2022.

Jon Landau is survived by his spouse of almost 40 years, Julie; their sons, Jamie and Jodie; and two sisters and a brother.

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