The Hollywood community - specifically crew members - are in mourning on Wednesday after the passing of first assistant director Jamie Christopher.
Christopher, who served as first assistant director on all eight Harry Potter movies plus several Star Wars and Marvel movies, died from heart complications at just 52 years of age, via Deadline.
Shortly after news of his passing surfaced, some of his famous filmmaker friends paid tribute to him, such as MCU president Kevin Feige, DC president James Gunn, director Rian Johnson and more.
Christopher was born into show business, with his father Malcolm J. Christopher a production manager on films like Barry Lyndon, The Man Who Would Be King and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
His mother Penny Christopher was a production coordinator on films like Event Horizon and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
Christopher started out as a production runner on Frederick Forsyth Presents in 1989 before landing a third assistant director job on 1992's Alien 3.
He quickly moved up to second assistant director on films like Golden Eye, The Fifth Element, The Mummy and The Mummy Returns.
He first landed a first assistant director gig on 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, remaining an integral member of the crew for all eight movies.
He also worked on The Da Vinci Code, The Three Musketeers and Resident Evil: Retribution before his first foray into Marvel with Thor: The Dark World.
Christopher was also the 1st AD on Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Justice League, Star Wars: Episode VII: The Last Jedi, Knives Out, Black Widow, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness and his final film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Marvel's Kevin Feige and Louis D'Esposito began in a joint statement, 'We are incredibly saddened by Jamie’s passing.'
'He has been a part of the Marvel Studios team for over a decade, and on productions like Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Widow and more,' the statement added.
'He was a calm presence behind the camera, and a wonderful, supportive crew member on set,' they continued.
Jamie first joined Marvel Studios as an AD on Thor: The Dark World and because of his hard work and diligence was upped to an Executive Producer on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the upcoming Fantastic Four,' they clarified.
'Jamie was a beloved member of our Marvel Studios family, and he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to his family and friends,' the statement concluded.
Rian Johnson added in an Instagram tribute, 'Jamie Christopher was one of the best ADs around, and a good friend. What made Jamie so special was the love he had for the process and history of making movies, but even more than that, it was his love of his crew. A great AD controls a set not by shouting through a bullhorn but by earning a crew’s love and respect. Jamie was one of the all time greats. We’ve lost him too soon.'
Johnson added in another statement to Deadline, 'Jamie was a good friend, and he loved making movies. He loved his crew, loved his job, the process of it and the history of it. He was truly one of the greats, and this is a heartbreaking loss for everyone who was lucky enough to work with him.'
Gunn added in his statement, 'Jamie was one of the best in the film business, period, much less in his field. When I first met him, I didn’t know they made ADs like him, and he changed my view of them entirely. I loved him as a friend and a collaborator, and I’ll miss his laugh. I’m heartbroken to have lost him.'
Marvel's Jeremy Latcham added, 'Truly one of the finest people in the movie business. A good man who was always ready with a wonderful laugh, a fantastic war story and a shoulder to lean on. A friend and a mentor. One of the all time greats. He will be missed by all who knew him.'
Filmmaker Houston Coley added, 'I haven't seen anyone but crew posting about it, but Jamie Christopher passed away this week. He was First Assistant Director on the entire Harry Potter series, most of Marvel Studios' films, Knives Out, The Last Jedi, and many others. A really hardworking guy. RIP, man.'
Christopher is survived by his wife, Carly, their child, Killeon, and three children from a prior marriage: Stella, Teddy, and Ophelia.
PASTED FROM THE DAILY MAIL
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