James Cameron pays a heartfelt tribute to 'Avatar' producer Jon Landau: A part of myself has been torn away

James Cameron is mourning the loss of his longtime friend and collaborator, Jon Landau, who passed away on July 5 after a 16-month battle with cancer. Landau, who was 63, was the producer behind the blockbuster films 'Titanic' and 'Avatar'.

In a heartfelt statement to Deadline, Cameron remembered Landau as a central figure in the 'Avatar' universe and shared, "The Avatar family grieves the loss of our friend and leader, Jon Landau. His zany humor, personal magnetism, great generosity of spirit and fierce will have held the center of our Avatar universe for almost two decades."

“His legacy is not just the films he produced, but the personal example he set — indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique. He produced great films, not by wielding power but by spreading warmth and the joy of making cinema. He inspired us all to be and to bring our best, every day. I have lost a dear friend, and my closest collaborator of 31 years. A part of myself has been torn away,” further shared the filmmaker.

Jon Landau began his career as EVP of Feature Productions at 20th Century Fox before joining Cameron's newly formed Lightstorm Entertainment. Their collaboration led to the creation of 'Titanic' in 1997, which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time, a record it held until another Cameron-Landau project, 'Avatar', surpassed it in 2009.

Landau is survived by his wife Julie, with whom he shared nearly 40 years of marriage, and their sons Jamie and Jodie.