Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas, celebrated for his work on films such as "The Last Emperor" and "Sexy Beast," has died at the age of 77. A statement confirmed that Thomas "passed away peacefully" surrounded by family and loved ones at his country home in Oxfordshire on Friday.
Thomas was a prominent figure in the film industry, collaborating with international directors including Bernardo Bertolucci, David Cronenberg, and Matteo Garrone throughout his career. His notable films also include the 1990 drama "The Sheltering Sky" and the 2015 dystopian thriller "High-Rise."
His breakout success came with "The Last Emperor," a 1987 biographical drama about Puyi, the last monarch of China's Qing dynasty. The film, directed by Bertolucci, garnered significant critical acclaim and won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Thomas later collaborated with Bertolucci on four other projects: "The Sheltering Sky," "Little Buddha," "Stealing Beauty," and "The Dreamers."
Thomas began his career in the film industry working in editing before taking on his first producing role for "Mad Dog Morgan," a 1976 Australian biographical film. Despite being based in London, he frequently worked with directors worldwide and often chose independent projects.
His extensive filmography includes three collaborations with director Nicolas Roeg: "Bad Timing" (1980), "Eureka" (1983), and "Insignificance" (1985). He also produced Nagisa Oshima's 1983 war film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," starring David Bowie, and "A Dangerous Method" (2011), directed by Cronenberg and featuring Keira Knightley and Michael Fassbender.
Thomas's recent projects include the 2025 psychological thriller "The Good Boy." He was recognized for his contributions to cinema with an Outstanding European Achievement in World Cinema award from the European Film Academy in 2006 and was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year honours.
His latest film, "Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo," a collaboration with Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, was set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday.