James Becket: key obituary facts
Is James Becket dead? Yes. James Becket died on September 22, 2026, at age 89.
Cause of death: James Becket's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was James Becket known for?
He was an American journalist.
More about James Becket
Born: 5 October 1936.
Place of birth: New York City.
Gender: male.
Occupation: journalist, writer, director, filmmaker, film director, film screenwriter, film producer, jurist.
Nationality: United States.
Also known as: Jim Becket.
Occupations: Writer, filmmaker.
James Becket, an American filmmaker and human rights lawyer, died on September 22, 2026, aged 89.
Born in New York City on October 5, 1936, he built a career that moved between journalism, law, and film. Becket used documentary filmmaking to examine social justice and environmental issues, and earlier wrote, directed, and produced independent features.
As a journalist and human rights lawyer, he reported on political events and social problems in Europe and Latin America. He also moved to Los Angeles in 1981 to pursue filmmaking and later founded Becket Films in 1999, turning to documentary work focused on health and ecology.