Industry pioneer and IMAX co-founder Robert Kerr died on Thursday of natural causes. He was 80. The news was announced Friday by his business partner Jonathan Barker, with whom he co-founded Toronto production house SK Films in 1997.

‘Robert was the quintessential gentleman, with a deep passion for both art and science. He was an exceptional person and was our champion. He will be deeply missed,’ said Barker in a release.

Kerr was born in Galt, ON, now part of Cambridge, in 1929. He was mayor of Cambridge for two years, but left political life behind to develop the wide-screen IMAX system alongside Graeme Ferguson and Roman Kroitor. He was at IMAX from 1967 to 1994 in various roles including chairman, president, and CEO.

His interest in large-format film continued at SK Films. The company produces and distributes 3D and 2D films for IMAX and other wide-screen theaters worldwide.

Kerr is survived by his children Nancy and Barbara Kerr, his wife Margaret Seward Kerr and stepdaughters Suzanne Seward-Stouffer and Frances Seward.

A memorial is planned for the weekend of May 14 in Toronto, with the exact date and place to be confirmed.