Culture 3 min read By Morgan Griffin
Jeremy Thomas, Producer of 'The Last Emperor' and 'Crash', Dies at 77
Jeremy Thomas, the veteran British producer behind more than 40 films including 'The Last Emperor' and 'Crash', died on September 11 at the age of 77. His family announced his death in a statement on Saturday, September 12, prompting tributes from across the film industry.
Jeremy Thomas, the veteran British producer whose filmography spanned more than 40 features and included such acclaimed works as «The Last Emperor» and «Crash», has died at the age of 77. His family announced his death in a statement on Saturday, September 12, confirming that he died on September 11.
Thomas was one of the most distinctive figures in British and international cinema, known for backing ambitious, director-driven projects that major studios often avoided. His career stretched across five decades and multiple continents, and he worked with filmmakers including Bernardo Bertolucci, David Cronenberg, Nicolas Roeg, and Terry Gilliam.
His best-known credit, «The Last Emperor», swept the Academy Awards in 1988, winning nine Oscars including Best Picture. The epic drama, directed by Bertolucci, told the story of China's final imperial ruler, Puyi, and became a landmark of international co-production. Thomas also produced «Crash», Cronenberg's controversial 1996 adaptation of J.G. Ballard's novel, which provoked fierce debate over its depiction of sex and violence and went on to win the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Beyond those two titles, Thomas's producing credits included «Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence», «The Sheltering Sky», «Naked Lunch», «Little Buddha», «Sexy Beast», and «Only Lovers Left Alive». His willingness to take creative risks made him a trusted collaborator for auteurs and a fixture at major festivals.
Tributes from across the industry began arriving over the weekend, with colleagues and admirers remembering Thomas as a producer who put artistic vision ahead of commercial calculation. The breadth of the response reflected his standing not only in British film but in the wider global filmmaking community, where he was regarded as a link between the independent sector and the awards-stage mainstream.
Thomas's death was announced by his family, who described him as a celebrated British producer. The statement did not give a cause of death. He was 77 years old.
For readers of culture coverage, Thomas's career represents a particular model of producing that has become rarer in the modern industry: the independent-minded champion who assembles international financing, protects a director's intent, and delivers films that endure in the canon. His name appears in the credits of works that continue to be taught, restored, and debated, from historical epics to transgressive literary adaptations.
His legacy also extends through the filmmakers and crews he supported over the years, many of whom went on to shape contemporary cinema. As the industry continues to shift toward franchise-driven production, Thomas's filmography stands as a reminder of what a single producer with conviction can bring to the screen.
