Kate Winslet Pays Tribute to ‘Titanic’ Producer Jon Landau: “The Kindest and Best of Men”
Kate Winslet paid a heartfelt tribute to her longtime collaborator, Jon Landau, the producer of *Titanic* and *Avatar: The Way of Water*, following the news of his death at 63. Winslet praised Landau, saying his passion for filmmaking only grew stronger with age.
Winslet reflected on her decades-long relationship with Landau, stating, “I’ve known Jon since I was 20 years old.” Prior to *Titanic*, Winslet was known for her roles in arthouse films like *Sense and Sensibility* and *Heavenly Creatures*. The Landau-produced, James Cameron-directed 1997 blockbuster *Titanic* catapulted her to international stardom, becoming the highest-grossing film at the time with $2.2 billion in box office receipts (a record later broken by Cameron’s *Avatar* at $2.92 billion). *Titanic* earned Winslet her second Oscar nomination and her first for Best Actress. In the film, Winslet played Rose DeWitt Bukater, a wealthy passenger who falls for Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, the impoverished artist Jack Dawson.
Winslet reunited with Landau and Cameron for 2022’s *Avatar: The Way of Water*, where she played Ronal, a member of the Metkayina sea clan. The sequel grossed $2.3 billion. In the film, Ronal offers refuge to Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family as they flee human invaders.
Winslet described Landau as “a man who was rich with compassion and exceptional at supporting and nurturing teams of phenomenal creative people.” She emphasized his dedication to family, both at home and in the workplace, saying, “His strength in life was knowing the importance of family, at home and at work.”
“He was always full of smiles and gratitude. I can’t believe I am writing this, can’t believe he is gone,” Winslet added, expressing her disbelief and sorrow over Landau’s passing.