LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who labored intently with director James Cameron on three of the largest blockbusters of all time, “Titanic” and two “Avatar” movies, has died. He was 63.
Landau’s household introduced his demise Saturday. No explanation for demise was given.
Landau’s partnership with Cameron led to 3 Oscar nominations and a finest image win for 1997’s “Titanic.” Collectively the pair account for a few of the largest blockbusters in film historical past, together with “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Manner of Water.”
Cameron, in a press release, remembered “an expensive buddy, and my closest collaborator of 31 years.” “Part of myself has been torn away,” stated Cameron.
“His zany humor, private magnetism, nice generosity of spirit and fierce could have held the middle of our Avatar universe for nearly 20 years,” stated Cameron. “His legacy is not only the movies he produced, however the private instance he set — indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and completely distinctive.”
Landau’s profession started within the Nineteen Eighties as a manufacturing supervisor, and he steadily rose by means of the ranks, serving as a co-producer on “Honey I Shrunk the Youngsters” and “Dick Tracy.”
He took on the producer function on “Titanic,” Cameron’s costly epic in regards to the notorious 1912 maritime catastrophe. The wager paid off: “Titanic” grew to become the primary film to cross $1 billion in world box-office earnings and went on to win 11 Oscars, together with finest image.
“I can’t act and I can’t compose and I can’t do visible results, so I assume that’s why I’m producing.” Landau stated whereas accepting the award with Cameron.
Their partnership continued, with Landau turning 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 expertise, surpassed the box-office success of “Titanic.” It stays the top-grossing movie of all time.
Its sequel, “Avatar: The Manner of Water,” is third on the listing.
“Your knowledge and help formed so many people in methods we’ll all the time be thankful for,” 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 Manner of Water.” Landau defended the sequel’s progress and Cameron’s formidable plans to movie a number of sequels without delay to maintain the franchise going.
“Lots has modified however so much 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 folks flip to leisure at this time? Similar to they did when the primary ‘Avatar’ was launched, they do it to flee, to flee the world wherein we stay.”
“Jon was a visionary whose extraordinary expertise and fervour introduced a few of the most unforgettable tales to life on the large display. His outstanding contributions to the movie business have left an indelible mark, and he shall be profoundly missed. He was an iconic and profitable producer but a good higher individual and a real drive of nature who impressed throughout him,” Alan Bergman, Disney Leisure co-chairman, stated in a press release.
Landau was named an govt vp of characteristic 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 large display in 2019. Cameron supported the challenge, 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 Recreation,” 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.