Jeremy Thomas, the Oscar-winning British film producer renowned for his work on "The Last Emperor" and "Sexy Beast," has died at the age of 77. According to a statement from his publicist, Thomas passed away peacefully on Friday at his country home in Oxfordshire, surrounded by his family.

Thomas was widely respected in the film industry for his collaborations with prominent international directors including Bernardo Bertolucci, David Cronenberg, and Matteo Garrone. His production of "The Last Emperor," a 1987 biographical drama chronicling the life of Puyi, the last emperor of China’s Qing dynasty, marked a significant achievement in his career. Directed by Bertolucci and featuring actors such as Joan Chen, Peter O’Toole, and Vivian Wu, the film earned critical acclaim and went on to win nine Academy Awards, further highlighting Thomas’s standing in global cinema.

In recognition of his contributions to the industry, Thomas received the Outstanding European Achievement in World Cinema award in 2006. Throughout his career, he was known for his ability to bridge art-house and mainstream success, producing a diverse range of films that showcased his keen eye for storytelling and cinematic innovation.

Thomas’s most recent project was "Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo," directed by Takashi Miike. The film was set to make its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, underscoring Thomas’s ongoing engagement with contemporary and international filmmakers up until the end of his life.

His death marks the loss of a significant figure in the world of film production, whose work helped shape global cinema over several decades.