Landau won an Academy Award for producing “Titanic.”
Jon Landau, the Oscar-winning film producer for “Titanic” who also produced “Avatar” and “Avatar: The Way of Water,” has died, his family said.
Landau died on July 5 in Los Angeles, according to his obituary. He was 63.
“The Avatar family mourns the loss of our friend and leader. His legacy is not only the films he produced, but the personal example he set — indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique,” Landau’s longtime collaborator James Cameron — who directed “Titanic” and the “Avatar” films — said in a statement.
“He produced great films not by wielding power, but by spreading warmth and the joy of making cinema. He inspired us all to be the best we could be, every day. I have lost a dear friend and my greatest collaborator of 31 years. A part of me has been ripped away,” Cameron said.
The films Landau produced with Cameron were three of the four highest-grossing films of all time. “Titanic” and the two “Avatar” films each grossed more than $2 billion.
He “dedicated his career to bringing that sense of wonder to audiences around the world and to everything he touched. Landau was a champion of filmmaking, the importance of the theatrical experience and the power of storytelling to bring people together,” his obituary said.
“Jon was a visionary whose extraordinary talent and passion brought some of the most unforgettable stories to life on the big screen. His remarkable contributions to the film industry have left an indelible mark and he will be deeply missed. He was an iconic and successful producer, but also an even greater person and a true force of nature who inspired everyone around him,” said Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.
Landau also served as a producer on the third film in the “Avatar” film series, scheduled for release in 2025.
“Words are hard to find right now, your passing hits me hard. You left us far too soon, my thoughts are with you and your family at this time,” “Avatar” star Zoe Saldana said on Instagram.
“Your legacy will continue to inspire and guide us on our journey,” she continued.
Landau was born in New York City and attended the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. He was executive vice president of feature production at 20th Century Fox and later became chief operating officer of Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment.
In the 1990s, Landau co-produced “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” and “Dick Tracy.” He later produced Steven Soderbergh’s “Solaris” and “Alita: Battle Angel,” directed by Robert Rodriguez.
Landau is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Julie Landau, and their two sons, Jamie Landau and Jodie Landau. He is also survived by his two sisters, Tina Landau and Kathy Landau, his brother Les Landau, and a large extended family.