Cinema Mourns: Oscar-Winning Producer Jeremy Thomas Passes Away at 77

Jeremy Thomas, a revered independent film producer whose career spanned over half a century, has passed away at the age of 77. His team confirmed he died peacefully on Friday, September 11, at his Oxfordshire home, surrounded by loved ones. Thomas was a towering figure in cinema, responsible for bringing more than 80 feature films to life, consistently championing both international cinema and the bold visions of auteur filmmakers.

Throughout his illustrious career, Thomas founded the influential Recorded Picture Company and later co-founded Hanway Films, platforms through which he cultivated a vast and diverse library of films. Among his most celebrated achievements was winning a Best Picture Oscar in 1988 for Bernardo Bertolucci’s epic "The Last Emperor," which garnered nine Academy Awards. This marked one of five features he would produce with the Italian director over 17 years, illustrating his enduring commitment to creative partnerships. His extensive list of collaborations included working with acclaimed directors such as Jonathan Glazer on his debut "Sexy Beast," David Cronenberg on "Crash," Christopher Hampton on "A Dangerous Method," and Nagisa Oshima on "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence." Beyond these, Thomas also partnered with filmmakers like Jim Jarmusch, Stephen Frears, Werner Herzog, Terry Gilliam, and many others, often on multiple projects.

His dedication to cinema continued until the very end, with his latest collaboration, Takashi Miike’s "Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo," set to premiere globally in Toronto on September 14. Thomas received widespread recognition for his contributions, including a European Film Award for Outstanding European Achievement in World Cinema in 2006. In his later years, his remarkable career became the subject of documentaries, notably Mark Cousins’ "The Storms of Jeremy Thomas" (2021), which premiered at Cannes, and Luca Guadagnino’s "Joie De Vivre," a film about Bertolucci's life and work that premiered in Venice and also featured Thomas.

Born in London in 1949, Jeremy Thomas came from a cinematic lineage, being the son of director Ralph Thomas and nephew of Gerald Thomas, known for the "Doctor" and "Carry On" films, respectively. He entered the film industry directly after school, initially working in cutting rooms on films like "The Harder They Come" and "Family Life," and even editing Ken Loach’s 1973 TV short "A Misfortune." Though he initially aspired to direct, Thomas found his calling in producing. His first producing credit came in 1976 with "Mad Dog Morgan," a feature he made in Australia at the age of 27 for director Phillipe Mora. Upon returning to the U.K., he established his Recorded Pictures Company and produced Jerzy Skolimowski’s 1978 horror film "The Shout," which not only competed for the Palme d’Or at Cannes but also won the prestigious Grand Prix de Jury prize.