Renowned Hollywood producer Jon Landau, aged 63, succumbed to a 16-month battle with cancer.
On Friday, Jon Landau, the acclaimed Hollywood producer behind blockbuster hits Titanic and Avatar, passed away at the age of 63 after a 16-month struggle with cancer. His family announced his death on Saturday, as reported by DPA, referencing American media sources.
Landau achieved extraordinary commercial success with the film Titanic (1997), which he produced alongside its director, James Cameron. The film earned Landau one of its 11 Oscars and became the first movie to gross over one billion dollars at the box office.
Landau later teamed up with Cameron again to produce the highly successful sci-fi film Avatar (2009), known for its groundbreaking 3D technology, and its sequel Avatar: The Way of Water (2022).
Avatar surpassed Titanic’s commercial success, and its first sequel ranks third in box office earnings. Three more Avatar sequels are slated for release in 2025, 2029, and 2031.
“Jon was a visionary whose extraordinary talent and passion brought to life some of the most unforgettable stories on the screen. His remarkable contributions to the film industry have left an indelible mark, and he will be deeply missed,” said Alan Bergman of Disney Entertainment, noting that Landau would have turned 64 on July 23.
Cameron, who co-founded Lightstorm Entertainment with Landau, told Deadline that Landau was “unyielding, caring, tireless, empathetic, and absolutely unique.” He added, “He produced great films not by wielding power but by spreading the joy of filmmaking.”
Born in New York City, Landau was one of three children of television producers Ely and Edie Landau. During high school, his family moved to California. Landau first participated in film production in 1987 with the comedy Campus Man. He also co-produced films like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) and Dick Tracy (1990).
At the age of 29, Landau became Vice President of Feature Films at 20th Century Fox, overseeing hits such as Home Alone and its sequel, Mrs. Doubtfire, and True Lies, where he first collaborated with Cameron.
