Jason Constantine, co-president of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group who has been with the film studio for the last 25 years, nearly since the company’s inception, has passed away following a long fight with cancer. He was 55.
In his time with Lionsgate Constantine has overseen some of the studio’s biggest franchises, including “John Wick” and “Saw,” having pushed for the latter after seeing just a brief concept short, and he’s been closely associated with “The Expendables” and award-winning films like “Crash,” “Precious,” “Knives Out,” “I Can Only Imagine,” and many more. Constantine was elevated to the co-president role in 2023.
“With his fearless spirit, creative energy, and enduring talent relationships, Jason embodied the very best of our studio and our industry. His influence will continue to be felt in many of our most successful franchises,” Lionsgate said in a statement. “His career was built around the principles that a great idea can come from anywhere, a box office triumph is meant to be shared by an entire team, and our creative choices need to be bold and daring. We mourn the passing of a highly respected executive, a trusted partner and a cherished friend, and we extend our deepest condolences to his wife Kristin, his three children and his entire family.”
Constantine began his career as a junior director of acquisitions at the company that preceded Lionsgate, Trimark Pictures, and he had been a passionate lover of the movies and being a part of the business from an early age. He received his B.A. from Princeton University and his M.F.A in film production from Loyola Marymount University. He wrote and directed two short films: a rom-com called “For Whom The Wedding Bell Tolls” and a drama called “Ashes” that won a PGA award for Best Student Short Film.
A “boombox” account has been set up for people to send written stories and photos for the Constantine family. The family and studio encourages people to upload any written stories or photos to the following link here.
In lieu of flowers, the Constantine family requests those who wish to make gifts in Jason’s memory consider funding the brain cancer research conducted by Jason’s neurosurgeons, led by Dr. Michael Lim, or Jason’s neuro-oncology team at UCLA, led by Dr. Tim Cloughesy and Dr. Robert Chong.
