Jeremy Thomas, British Producer Behind 'The Last Emperor' and 'Sexy Beast,' Dies at 77
Jeremy Thomas, the British producer who won the best picture Oscar for Bernardo Bertolucci's 'The Last Emperor,' died Friday at his home in Oxfordshire. He was 77. Over his career, he produced more than 80 films, including David Cronenberg's 'Crash' and Jonathan Glazer's 'Sexy Beast.'
Thomas came from a distinguished British filmmaking dynasty, with his father Ralph directing the classic thriller The 39 Steps and his uncle Gerald helming the beloved Carry On comedies. Rather than lean on that legacy, he built his own path through independent production, launching the Recorded Picture Company and later HanWay Films to support ambitious international auteurs.
His final months saw continued activity, with two of his productions appearing on the fall festival circuit: Werner Herzog's Bucking Fastard at Venice and Takashi Miike's Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo slated for Toronto. At Edinburgh just weeks before his death, he spoke of adapting to an evolving industry, acknowledging the need to "mutate" to remain relevant beyond cinema's golden era.
Thomas's passing could mark a quiet turning point for independent and art-house cinema, as he represented a generation of producers who championed daring international voices over commercial formulas. His model of supporting visionary directors may inspire younger producers to take similar risks, though the industry's shifting economics could make such gambles harder to replicate.