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Jon Landau (film producer)

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Not to be confused with Jon Landau or John Landau.
Jon Landau
Head and shoulders images f Jon Landau looking to right of camera at 2022 press conference in Tokyo
Landau in 2022
Born(1960-07-23)July 23, 1960
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 5, 2024(2024-07-05) (aged 63)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Memorial Park Cemetery, Culver City, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Southern California
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1987–2024
SpouseJulie Lamm
Children2
Parents

Jon Landau (/ˈlændaʊ/; July 23, 1960 – July 5, 2024) was an American film producer, best known for his collaborations with filmmaker James Cameron. He notably produced Cameron's epic romantic disaster film Titanic (1997), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Picture, as well as Cameron's Avatar film series (2009-present). As of 2025, Titanic, Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) are three of the four highest-grossing films of all time, with Avatar in the top spot.

Other notable credits include Solaris (2002) and Alita: Battle Angel (2019), both produced alongside Cameron, as well as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) and Dick Tracy (1990). Following his death from cancer in 2024, Landau's final works will be the next three Avatar films, for which he will be credited posthumously. His memoir The Bigger Picture: My Blockbuster Life & Lessons Learned Along The Way, written after his cancer diagnosis, will be published in November 2025, featuring a foreword by Cameron.

Early life

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Landau was born in New York City on July 23, 1960,[1] as the son of Edie, a producer, and Ely A. Landau, a studio executive and producer. He had two half-brothers, Neil Landau and Les Landau, and two sisters, Tina Landau and Kathy Landau.[2] His family moved to Brentwood during his junior year of high school[3], where he attended Brentwood School[4], graduating in 1978. He later returned to Brentwood School to coach Varsity Football before embarking on his movie career. He attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts, graduating in 1983.[5] Landau was Jewish.[6][2]

Career

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Throughout the early 1990s, Landau was executive vice president of feature film production at Twentieth Century Fox.[7] In 1993, he would meet James Cameron while he was, as Cameron put it, "serving as the studio ‘suit’ assigned to oversee True Lies."[8] According to Cameron, he "lured" Landau "away from Fox to join my production company, Lightstorm."[8]

He was best known for producing Titanic (1997), a film which won him an Academy Award and became the highest-grossing film of all time, the first ever to reach $1 billion in gross revenues. The film reached $1.84 billion, more than double the $914 million of then-record-holder Jurassic Park (1993). Titanic later went on to gross another $300 million in 2012, pushing the film's worldwide total to $2.18 billion, becoming the second film to ever hit $2 billion, as a result.[9] In addition to producing Titanic, Landau also was responsible for building Baja Studios where the movie was filmed, in a record five months.[10]

Jon Landau in 2019

In 2009, Landau and James Cameron produced the science fiction blockbuster Avatar,[11] which has since surpassed their earlier collaboration, Titanic, to become the new highest-grossing film of all time, with $2.92 billion. Avatar earned Landau his second Academy Award nomination. Shortly after his death in July 2024, James Cameron stated that it was Landau who was in fact "the heart of the Avatar family” and "the center of gravity of our bubble universe."[8]

Personal life

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For nearly 40 years, Landau was married to Julie Lamm.[12][13] They had two sons, Jamie and Jodie.[13][14][15]

Death

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Landau died in Los Angeles on July 5, 2024, at the age of 63.[16] Variety reported that he died of cancer.[17] He had been diagnosed over a year prior to his passing, and choose to write a memoir as a result.[18] Avatar: Fire and Ash, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, which were produced by him prior to his death, will be released posthumously. Landau was mourned along with other former students, one of which was the daughter of his USC classmate and frequent collaborator, Rodney Liber[19].

Awards

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  • Florida Film Critics Circle Award Winner – Titanic – (1997)
  • Golden Globe Award Winner– Titanic – (1998)
  • Producers Guild of America Darryl F Zanuck Theatrical Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award Winner – Titanic – (1998)
  • Academy Award Winner – Titanic – (1998)
  • Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Award Winner – Titanic – (1998)
  • MTV Movie Award Winner– Titanic – 1997
  • People Choice Award Winner – Titanic – (1999)
  • Golden Globe Award Winner – Avatar – (2010)
  • Producers Guild of America Darryl F Zanuck Theatrical Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award Nomination – Avatar – (2010)
  • Academy Award Nomination – Avatar – (2010)
  • Golden Globe Award Nomination – Avatar: The Way of Water – (2023)
  • Producers Guild of America Darryl F Zanuck Theatrical Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award Nomination – Avatar: The Way of Water – (2023)
  • Academy Award Nomination – Avatar: The Way of Water – (2023)

Filmography

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Producer

Co-producer

References

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  1. ^ "Jon Landau". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Pat Sierchio (March 1, 2010). "Producer Landau: Interpreter of Dreams". JewishJournal.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  3. ^ Barnes, Mike (July 6, 2024). "Producer Jon Landau, James Cameron's Right-Hand Man on 'Titanic' and the 'Avatar' Films, Dies at 63". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  4. ^ McKenzie, Jeanie Pyun Editor,Profiles by Lesley (August 24, 2018). "The Hollywood Insider's Guide to L.A. Private Schools 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 5, 2025. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Appelo, Tim (September 20, 2017). "Top 50 Film Schools of 2017 Ranked, From USC to Full Sail". TheWrap. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Postal, Bernard; Silver, Jesse; Silver, Roy (1965). "Harry Rudolph". Encyclopedia of Jews in Sports. New York: Bloch Publishing Co.
  7. ^ "Jon Landau has been named senior vice..." Los Angeles Times. February 14, 1990. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Thomas, Carly (July 8, 2024). "James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and More Remember Jon Landau: "He Gave Everyone a Sense of Purpose and Belonging"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 7, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "Titanic becomes second ever film to take $2 billion". The Telegraph. April 16, 2012. Archived from the original on April 16, 2012.
  10. ^ Eller, Claudia (March 20, 1998). "The Other Captain". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  11. ^ "James Cameron & Jon Landau Land In New Zealand Ahead Of 'Avatar' Production Restart". Deadline. June 1, 2020. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "Julie Lamm | Additional Crew, Stunts, Actress". IMDb.
  13. ^ a b McCartney, Anthony (July 6, 2024). "Jon Landau, Oscar-winning 'Titanic' and 'Avatar' producer, dies at 63". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Richards, Bailey (July 6, 2024). "Producer Jon Landau, Known for Titanic and the Avatar Films, Dies at 63: Reports". People. Archived from the original on July 7, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Barnes, Mike (July 6, 2024). "Producer Jon Landau, James Cameron's Right-Hand Man on 'Titanic' and the 'Avatar' Films, Dies at 63". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Kaloi, Stephanie (July 6, 2024). "Jon Landau, 'Titanic' and 'Avatar' Producer, Dies at 63". TheWrap. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  17. ^ Shanfield, Ethan (July 6, 2024). "Jon Landau, Oscar-Winning 'Titanic' and 'Avatar' Producer, Dies at 63". Variety. Archived from the original on July 7, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  18. ^ ‘Avatar’ and ‘Titanic’ Producer Jon Landau Memoir: Cover First Look (EXCLUSIVE)
  19. ^ "A Tribute to Sami Liber '26". www.bwscampus.com. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
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