Legendary film producer Jeremy Thomas passes away at 77 years-old
He was not on the list.
The British producer, a longtime friend of A Rabbit’s Foot Editor-in-chief Charles Finch, helped bring to life over 80 films across six incredible decades in the film industry. He leaves behind a monumental legacy.
We are saddened to learn that Jeremy Thomas has passed away at 77 years-old.
The legendary British producer and Oscar winner helped bring to life over 80 films across six decades in the film industry. From Nagisa Oshima’s Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and Bernardo Bertolucci’s Best Picture winner The Last Emperor to Jonathan Glazer’s Sexy Beast and David Cronenberg’s Crash, Thomas made a name for himself as a champion of international cinema and of daring, boundary-pushing auteur filmmakers.
Born Jeremy Jack Thomas on 26 July 1949 in London, he came from a film family—his father Ralph Thomas directed the Doctor series, and his uncle Gerald Thomas helmed the Carry On franchise. He started young, working his way up from the processing labs to the cutting room as an assistant editor, before producing his first film, Mad Dog Morgan, in 1976 after working in Australia with director Philippe Mora. He leaves behind a monumental legacy.
Charles Finch, founder and Editor-in-chief of A Rabbit’s Foot, remembers Thomas as a longtime friend. “He made great movies, and was a loyal and dear friend. His father, Ralph, made a film with my father, Peter, called No Love for Johnnie. We spent plenty of time talking movies, cars, and praising the devilled kidneys at Wilton’s. On behalf of the entire team at A Rabbit’s Foot, we thank him for his work, wisdom, writing, and unwavering support of our publication.”
you can revisit a special piece that Thomas wrote for our first issue, in which he reflects on his adventures at the Cannes Film Festival, mixing with the jet-set and Japanese cinema icons of his time. Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fasterds, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival lasr week, and Takashi Miike’s Bad Liutenant: Tokyo, premiering on September 14th at the Toronto International Film Festival, will cap off Thomas’ magnificent career.
His father was the film director Ralph Thomas, best known
for directing the 'Doctor' film series. His Uncle was Gerald Thomas, director
of the "Carry On" film series. Films were part of Jeremy's life since
childhood, when holiday were spent on locations or in the studios. From the age
of ten, his only ambition was to make films. Originally, he wanted to be a
director but ended up as a producer. He started from school, working in the
processing labs, then, a year later, he was in the cutting rooms as an assistant,
graduating to editor. After helping director Phillipe Mora edit 'Brother Can
You Spare a Dime', he went with him to Australia in 1974 and produced his first
film, 'Mad Dog Morgan', which Phillipe directed. After two years, he returned
to Britain and put together 'The Shout', which won the 'Grand Prix de Jury at
Cannes Film Festival. He now found himself on the producing circuit, his output
ranging from 'The Great Rock 'n Roll Swindle' to 'Bad Timing' and to 'Merry
Christmas Mr Lawrence. In 1985, he set up his own film distribution company,
Record Releasing, and took over the Gate Cinema in London's Notting Hill Gate
and the Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh. In 1986, he won the Vittorio de Sica prize,
while the following year he was invited to be a member of the Cannes Film
Festival Jury.
Producer
Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo
producer
Completed
2026
Wilder & Me
producer
Pre-production
Stages
executive producer
Filming
Lost and Found in Paris
producer
Pre-production
Becoming Capa
producer
Post-production
Kate Mara and Rooney Mara in Bucking Fastard (2026)
Bucking Fastard
6.6
producer
2026
I Am Curious Johnny (2025)
I Am Curious Johnny
4.7
producer
2025
Stephen Graham, Kit Rakusen, Andrea Riseborough, and Anson
Boon in Heel (2025)
Heel
6.8
produced by
2025
Grand Maison Paris (2024)
Grand Maison Paris
6.2
producer
2024
Irène Jacob in Shikun (2024)
Shikun
4.8
executive producer
2024
Daniel Brühl, Esther Garrel, Riccardo Scamarcio, Volker
Bruch, and Katie Clarkson-Hill in Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia (2024)
Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia
5.8
producer
2024
Viggo Mortensen, Garret Dillahunt, Danny Huston, and Vicky
Krieps in The Dead Don't Hurt (2023)
The Dead Don't Hurt
6.4
producer
2023
Ryūichi Sakamoto in Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus (2023)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus
8.0
executive producer
2023
Anselm (2023)
Anselm
7.2
executive producer
2023
EO (2022)
EO
6.7
executive producer
2022
Stephen Dorff, Danny Huston, and Tony Todd in Traveling
Light (2021)
Traveling Light
5.2
producer
2021
Shane MacGowan in Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane
MacGowan (2020)
Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan
7.7
executive producer
2020
Pinocchio (2019)
Pinocchio
6.3
producer
2019
Sakurako Konishi and Masataka Kubota in First Love (2019)
First Love
6.7
producer
2019
Danny Huston, Etsushi Toyokawa, Munetaka Aoki, Mirai
Moriyama, Shôta Sometani, Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu, and Yûta Koseki in
Samurai Marathon (2019)
Samurai Marathon
6.2
producer
2019
Jonathan Pryce, Stellan Skarsgård, Olga Kurylenko, Adam
Driver, and Joana Ribeiro in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
6.3
executive producer
2018
Dogman (2018)
Dogman
7.2
producer
2018
Jo Brand and Alan Yentob in Imagine (2003)
Imagine
7.6
TV Series
executive producer
2018
2 episodes
Habaneros (2017)
Habaneros
7.5
executive producer
2017
Takuya Kimura in Blade of the Immortal (2017)
Blade of the Immortal
6.7
producer
2017
Thinley Dorji in Hema Hema (2016)
Hema Hema
6.7
executive producer
2016
Willem Dafoe and Maria Fernanda Cândido in My Hindu Friend
(2015)
My Hindu Friend
5.8
executive producer
2015
Jeremy Irons, Elisabeth Moss, Sienna Guillory, James
Purefoy, Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, and Louis Suc in High-Rise
(2015)
High-Rise
5.5
producer
2015
Wojciech Mecwaldowski in 11 Minutes (2015)
11 Minutes
5.7
executive producer
2015
Salma Hayek, John C. Reilly, Vincent Cassel, Toby Jones, and
Stacy Martin in Tale of Tales (2015)
Tale of Tales
6.4
producer
2015
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Marie-Josée Croze, James Franco, and
Rachel McAdams in Every Thing Will Be Fine (2015)
Every Thing Will Be Fine
5.5
executive producer
2015
Vara: A Blessing (2013)
Vara: A Blessing
6.9
executive producer
2013
Jude Law in Dom Hemingway (2013)
Dom Hemingway
6.1
producer
2013
Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston in Only Lovers Left Alive
(2013)
Only Lovers Left Alive
7.2
producer
2013
Kon-Tiki (2012)
Kon-Tiki
7.1
producer
2012
Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley, and Michael Fassbender in
A Dangerous Method (2011)
A Dangerous Method
6.4
producer
2011
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011)
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai
7.3
producer
2011
Pina (2011)
Pina
7.6
executive producer
2011
Yael
Short
executive producer
2010
13 Assassins (2010)
13 Assassins
7.5
executive producer
2010
Vincent Gallo in Essential Killing (2010)
Essential Killing
6.1
executive producer
2010
Paul Bettany in Creation (2009)
Creation
6.6
producer
2009
Empire of Silver (2009)
Empire of Silver
6.1
executive producer
2009
Two Fists, One Heart (2008)
Two Fists, One Heart
5.9
executive producer
2008
Ryan Phillippe, Sam Riley, and Eva Green in Franklyn (2008)
Franklyn
6.0
producer
2008
Palermo Shooting (2008)
Palermo Shooting
6.1
executive producer
2008
Fast Food Nation (2006)
Fast Food Nation
6.3
producer
2006
Glastonbury (2006)
Glastonbury
6.6
executive producer
2006
Tideland (2005)
Getting Gilliam
6.5
executive producer
2005
Jampa Kalsang Tamang and Tenzin Chokyi Gyatso in Dreaming
Lhasa (2005)
Dreaming Lhasa
6.4
executive producer
2005
Tideland (2005)
Tideland
6.3
producer
2005
Don't Come Knocking (2005)
Don't Come Knocking
6.6
executive producer
2005
Promised Land (2004)
Promised Land
5.5
executive producer
2004
Heimat 3: A Chronicle of Endings and Beginnings (2004)
Heimat 3: A Chronicle of Endings and Beginnings
8.1
TV Mini Series
executive producer: UK
2004
Travelers and Magicians (2003)
Travelers and Magicians
7.4
executive producer
2003
Louis Garrel, Michael Pitt, and Eva Green in The Dreamers
(2003)
The Dreamers
7.1
producer
2003
Young Adam (2003)
Young Adam
6.3
producer
2003
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
Rabbit-Proof Fence
7.4
executive producer
2002
Mira Sorvino, Ben Kingsley, Jay Rodan, and Fiona Shaw in The
Triumph of Love (2001)
The Triumph of Love
5.8
executive producer
2001
Ben Kingsley and Ray Winstone in Sexy Beast (2000)
Sexy Beast
7.3
producer
2000
Takeshi Kitano, Omar Epps, and Claude Maki in Brother (2000)
Brother
7.1
producer: Recorded Picture Company
2000
Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Ryûhei Matsuda, and Shinji
Takeda in Taboo (1999)
Taboo
6.8
executive producer
1999
The Cup (1999)
The Cup
6.9
executive producer
1999
All the Little Animals (1998)
All the Little Animals
6.7
producer
1998
The Brave (1997)
The Brave
6.1
executive producer
1997
Victory (1996)
Victory
6.2
executive producer
1996
Jennifer Lopez, Jack Nicholson, and Stephen Dorff in Blood
and Wine (1996)
Blood and Wine
6.0
producer
1996
John Malkovich in The Ogre (1996)
The Ogre
6.8
executive producer
1996
Rosanna Arquette, Elias Koteas, James Spader, and Deborah
Kara Unger in Crash (1996)
Crash
6.4
executive producer
1996
Liv Tyler in Stealing Beauty (1996)
Stealing Beauty
6.5
producer
1996
Keanu Reeves and Alex Wiesendanger in Little Buddha (1993)
Little Buddha
6.2
producer
1993
Naked Lunch (1991)
Naked Lunch
6.9
producer
1991
Christopher Eccleston in Let Him Have It (1991)
Let Him Have It
7.1
executive producer
1991
The Sheltering Sky (1990)
The Sheltering Sky
6.7
producer
1990
Nick Nolte and Debra Winger in Everybody Wins (1990)
Everybody Wins
5.1
producer
1990
Richard Vuu in The Last Emperor (1987)
The Last Emperor
7.7
producer
1987
Good to Go (1986)
Good to Go
5.1
executive producer
1986
Theresa Russell and Michael Emil in Insignificance (1985)
Insignificance
6.4
producer
1985
John Hurt and Laura del Sol in The Hit (1984)
The Hit
7.0
produced by
1984
Eureka (1983)
Eureka
5.9
producer
1983
David Bowie, Takeshi Kitano, Tom Conti, Ryūichi Sakamoto,
and Jack Thompson in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
7.2
producer
1983
Art Garfunkel in Bad Timing (1980)
Bad Timing
6.9
producer
1980
Paul Cook, Steve Jones, John Lydon, Glen Matlock, Malcolm
McLaren, Sid Vicious, and Helen Wellington-Lloyd in The Great Rock 'n' Roll
Swindle (1980)
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
6.4
executive producer
1980
The Shout (1978)
The Shout
6.5
producer
1978
Dennis Hopper in Mad Dog Morgan (1976)
Mad Dog Morgan
6.1
producer
1976
Editorial Department
Daniel Schweiger, Robert Maschio, Jeff Tschida, and Rachael
Hastings Adair in Date or Disaster (2003)
Date or Disaster
8.2
Short
additional editor
2003
Moments (1974)
Moments
6.8
assistant editor
1974
John Phillip Law and Caroline Munro in The Golden Voyage of
Sinbad (1973)
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
6.8
assistant editor
1973
Assassin (1973)
Assassin
6.1
assistant editor
1973
The Love Ban (1973)
The Love Ban
4.7
assistant editor
1973
Jimmy Cliff in The Harder They Come (1972)
The Harder They Come
6.8
assistant editor
1972
Sandy Ratcliff in Family Life (1971)
Family Life
7.5
first assistant editor
1971
Tam Lin (1970)
Tam Lin
5.7
second assistant editor (uncredited)
1970
Additional Crew
Vincent Gallo in Essential Killing (2010)
Essential Killing
6.1
presents
2010
Paul Bettany in Creation (2009)
Creation
6.6
presenter
2009
Rosanna Arquette, Elias Koteas, James Spader, and Deborah
Kara Unger in Crash (1996)
Crash
6.4
presenter
1996
Naked Lunch (1991)
Naked Lunch
6.9
presenter
1991
Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, and Pete
Townshend in The Kids Are Alright (1979)
The Kids Are Alright
8.0
special consultant
1979
Editor
Maxine Cantway in Brother Can You Spare a Dime (1975)
Brother Can You Spare a Dime
7.0
Editor
1975
A Misfortune
3.3
TV Short
Editor
1973
St. Adolf II
Short
Editor
1971
Director
All the Little Animals (1998)
All the Little Animals
6.7
Director
1998
Actor
I Think I Cannes (1997)
I Think I Cannes
2.5
1997
Production Management
Isabelle Adjani, Isabelle Huppert, and Marie-France Pisier
in The Brontë Sisters (1979)
The Brontë Sisters
6.4
production manager
1979
Thanks
Think of England (2025)
Think of England
8.0
thanks
2025
Ryūichi Sakamoto in Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (2017)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda
7.6
special thanks
2017
S Is for Stanley (2015)
S Is for Stanley
6.9
thanks
2015
Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn (2015)
Brooklyn
7.5
thanks
2015
Lindsay Duncan, Dougray Scott, and Kara Tointon in Last
Passenger (2013)
Last Passenger
5.7
special thanks
2013
Michael Caine in Harry Brown (2009)
Harry Brown
7.2
thanks
2009
David Schneider in Clive Hole (2008)
Clive Hole
TV Movie
special thanks
2008
Guantanamero (2007)
Guantanamero
4.8
special thanks
2007
Brenda Blethyn and Peter Mullan in On a Clear Day (2005)
On a Clear Day
6.9
thanks
2005
Outside the Window: Events in France, May 1968
7.1
Video
very special thanks
2004
John Diehl and Michelle Williams in Land of Plenty (2004)
Land of Plenty
6.4
special thanks
2004
Festival Express (2003)
Festival Express
7.5
special thanks
2003
Besieged (1998)
Besieged
6.8
special thanks
1998
Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills in When the Wind Blows (1986)
When the Wind Blows
7.7
special thanks
1986
The Man Who Left His Soul on Film (1984)
The Man Who Left His Soul on Film
5.7
TV Movie
special thanks
1984
Self
Joie de vivre
Self - Interviewee
2026
Dustin Hoffman, Mark Wahlberg, and Denzel Washington in Días
de cine (1991)
Días de cine
6.7
TV Series
Self - Interviewee
2021–2022
3 episodes
Jeremy Thomas in The Storms of Jeremy Thomas (2021)
The Storms of Jeremy Thomas
6.4
Self
2021
Festival de Cine de San Sebastián (1989)
Festival de Cine de San Sebastián
TV Series
Self (video)
2020
1 episode
Mad Dog Morgan: Extended 'Not Quite Hollywood' Interviews
(2019)
Mad Dog Morgan: Extended 'Not Quite Hollywood' Interviews
Video
Self - Producer of 'Mad Dog Morgan'
2019
Arena (1975)
Arena
7.7
TV Series
Self
2015
1 episode
The Reel Britain (2014)
The Reel Britain
Short
Self
2014
Poster design by Jean-Michel Alberola at Item Editions,
France
The Last Impresario
7.0
Self - Interviewee
2013
Seduced and Abandoned (2013)
Seduced and Abandoned
6.6
Self
2013
One Plus One (2011)
One Plus One
7.1
TV Series
Self - Film producer
2013
1 episode
Seile sin egen sjø (2012)
Seile sin egen sjø
6.3
Self
2012
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom (2011)
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
7.2
TV Movie
Self
2011
Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!
(2008)
Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!
7.6
Self
2008
The Making of 'Tideland' (2007)
The Making of 'Tideland'
6.3
Video
Self
2007
The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation' (2007)
The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation'
6.1
Video
Self
2007
The 2006 European Film Awards
6.9
TV Special
Self
2006
Tideland (2005)
Getting Gilliam
6.5
Self
2005
Trade Secrets (2005)
Trade Secrets
Video
Self
2005
Cinema Sex Politics: Bertolucci Makes 'The Dreamers'
7.5
TV Movie
Self
2003
Rabbit-Proof Fence: Cast and Crew Interviews (2002)
Rabbit-Proof Fence: Cast and Crew Interviews
Video
Self - Executive Producer
2002
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano (2000)
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
7.6
TV Movie
Self
2000
David Cronenberg, Peter Weller, and William S. Burroughs in
Naked Making Lunch (1992)
Naked Making Lunch
7.1
Self
1992
Moving Pictures (1990)
Moving Pictures
5.8
TV Series
Self
1991
1 episode
The 60th Annual Academy Awards (1988)
The 60th Annual Academy Awards
5.7
TV Special
Self - Winner
1988
Fanny Ardant in La nuit des César (1976)
La nuit des César
5.5
TV Series
Self - Winner
1988
1 episode
The 45th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1988)
The 45th Annual Golden Globe Awards
4.7
TV Special
Self - Winner
1988
Jean-Paul Belmondo and Anna Karina in Pierrot le fou (1965)
Cannes Film Festival
6.7
TV Series
Self - Jury Member
1987
2 episodes
David Bowie in The Oshima Gang: The Making of 'Merry
Christmas Mr. Lawrence' (1983)
The Oshima Gang: The Making of 'Merry Christmas Mr.
Lawrence'
6.1
Video
Self
1983
Renato Casaro - Il futuro che scopre il passato
Renato Casaro - Il futuro che scopre il passato
Self
Archive Footage
Biography (1987)
Biography
7.7
TV Series
Self (archive footage)
2003
1 episode
Extreme Close Up with...
TV Series
Self (archive footage)
2001
1 episode
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