'Titanic' producer dies at 63, Cameron mourns

Jon Landau, a producer who worked with renowned director James Cameron for 31 years, has died at the age of 63. The Oscar-winning producer worked with Cameron on blockbusters such as Titanic, Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water.

Landau, who had been battling cancer for the past 16 months, died in Los Angeles on July 5, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Over the weekend, Cameron mourned his collaborator and longtime friend via the official Avatar Twitter account, saying "a part of me was so painfully taken away."

"His zany sense of humor, personal charisma, generosity of spirit and strong will have been at the center of our Avatar universe for nearly two decades. His legacy lies not only in the films he made, but in the personal example he set - relentless, loving, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique."

“He made so many great films by spreading the warmth and joy of filmmaking, rather than wielding power to intimidate others. He inspired all of us to do our best every day.”

Cameron wasn't the only notable commissioner to pay tribute to Landau, who also served as a producer on films like 20:49, Dick T. Kennedy, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. According to Variety, Leonardo DiCaprio also personally expressed his condolences to Landau's family, adding, "Jon was an incredibly kind, commanding and empathetic soul who wanted nothing more than to have a positive impact on everyone and everything he touched."

Landau first met Cameron when he was the 20th Century Fox executive in charge of True Lies. The two continued to collaborate in the decades that followed, with Landau later winning an Oscar for his work on Titanic.