Jeremy Thomas obit

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