Legendary Producer Jeremy Thomas Dies at 77

Veteran British producer Jeremy Thomas, renowned for his Oscar-winning film "The Last Emperor," has died at the age of 77. He passed away peacefully at his home in Oxfordshire on Friday, September 11th. Thomas, whose career spanned over 80 film credits, was a towering figure in independent cinema.

Born into a filmmaking family in 1949, Thomas began his career in various film industry roles before founding the London-based Recorded Picture Company (RPC) in 1974. This venture kicked off with Jerzy Skolimowski's "The Shout," which earned the Grand Prix de Jury at Cannes in 1978. He later co-founded Hanway Films in 1998.

His prolific career included collaborations with renowned directors such as Bernardo Bertolucci, Jonathan Glazer, and David Cronenberg. A crowning achievement was Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor," an independently financed epic that garnered nine Academy Awards in 1987. Thomas's contributions were widely acknowledged, though some felt he deserved greater recognition from major festivals.

News of Thomas's death emerged during the 83rd Venice Film Festival, where his film "Bucking Fastard" was featured. Despite battling cancer in his later years, he remained a tireless worker. He is survived by his wife, Eski, and their three children.