Oscar-winning film producer Jeremy Thomas dies aged 77

Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas, known for films including The Last Emperor and Sexy Beast, has died aged 77, his publicist has said.

A statement to the Press Association confirmed that Thomas “passed away peacefully” surrounded by his family and loved ones at his country home in Oxfordshire on Friday.

Thomas was a celebrated figure in the film industry who had worked with international directors including Bernardo Bertolucci, David Cronenberg and Matteo Garrone through his decades-long career.

His other best-known films include 1990 drama The Sheltering Sky, led by John Malkovich and Debra Winger, as well as 2015 dystopian thriller High-Rise, starring Tom Hiddleston and Jeremy Irons.

The British producer carved a name for himself with the mainstream success of The Last Emperor, a 1987 biographical drama film about the life of Puyi, the final monarch of China’s Qing dynasty.

The film, directed by Bertolucci and starring Joan Chen, Peter O’Toole and Vivian Wu, received high critical acclaim and won nine Academy Awards including best picture.

Thomas went on to have four other collaborations with Bertolucci during his film career extending into the early 2000s, on The Sheltering Sky, Little Buddha, Stealing Beauty and The Dreamers.

Thomas started his career in the film industry working on the cutting-room floor before landing his first producing role on Mad Dog Morgan – a 1976 Australian biographical about the 19th-century outlaw.

Despite being based in London throughout his career, Thomas dedicated himself to working with directors from across the world and often opted for individual and independent projects.

He received an outstanding European achievement in world cinema award from the European Film Academy in 2006.

His vast film credits include three with acclaimed director Nicolas Roeg, including 1980 mystery Bad Timing, 1983 thriller Eureka and the 1985 comedy-drama Insignificance.

The veteran producer also worked on Nagisa Oshima’s 1983 war film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, starring the late David Bowie as a defiant British soldier named Major Jack “Strafer” Celliers.

Thomas’ credits also include A Dangerous Method, directed by Canadian film-maker Cronenberg and starring Keira Knightley and Michael Fassbender in a historical drama about psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.

His recent projects include The Good Boy and he is listed as producer on the 2025 psychological thriller – which saw Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough play a married couple who abduct a misbehaving teenager portrayed by Anson Boon.

Thomas has also worked with acclaimed British directors on many of their earlier works, including Wheatley, as well as Jonathan Glazer, Stephen Frears, Julien Temple and David Mackenzie.

He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year honours.

Thomas’ latest collaboration with Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, titled Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo, premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday.