NEWS: ‘Avatar’ and ‘Titanic’ Producer Jon Landau Has Passed Away

Jon Landau, producer of the Oscar-winning film Titanic, as well as the Avatar movies, has passed away at the age of 63.

No cause of death has been determined yet, but according to Deadline, his passing was made public first by Titanic actress Frances Fisher.

Landau has worked closely with James Cameron on films that include 1997’s Best Picture Oscar winner Titanic, which was also the largest grossing film of all time, until Avatar, which Landau also produced. His other credits include the Avatar sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, as well as Solaris and Alita: Battle Angel. He also co-produced Dick Tracey and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

Landau’s relationship with James Cameron spanned 27 years, and he produced three of the five highest grossing movies of all time (Avatar, Titanic, and Avatar: The Way of Water. Before partnering with Cameron, Landau served as the head of production at Fox.

According to Variety, Cameron shared his thoughts on the passing of Landau by stating, “His legacy is not just the films he produced, but the personal example he set — indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique. He produced great films, not by wielding power but by spreading warmth and the joy of making cinema. He inspired us all to be and to bring our best, every day. I have lost a dear friend, and my closest collaborator of 31 years. A part of myself has been torn away.”

Joe Rohde, a famous Imagineer who worked with Landau on Pandora in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, took to Instagram to share his condolences:

“Jon Landau has passed away. This is a huge loss of a great spirit. Nobody can feel this loss as acutely as his family, but I will miss him both as a friend and colleague. From 2011 until well past the opening of Pandora in 2017 we worked side by side on an almost daily basis on a project of incredible complexity and challenge. We met and talked, conspired, and debated constantly. He was as honest, sincere, trustworthy and thoughtful of a partner as anyone could wish for. He said what he felt and he did what he said…and that is rare. Jon truly understood people and treated them all with generosity and respect. His creative energy, enthusiasm and optimism were unmatchable and infectious. Because of this, because of how he connected people and held things together from sheer force of personality, he will be especially missed by all. His creative legacy is a matter of public record, but his real legacy is the circle of humans whom he touched with his life. They, and I will miss him dearly.”

Our thoughts are with Landau’s family and friends at this time.