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James Steven Abrahams (May 10, 1944 – November 26, 2024) was an American film director and writer, best known as a member of Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker.
Jim Abrahams | |
|---|---|
 Abrahams in 2015 | |
| Born | James Steven Abrahams May 10, 1944 Shorewood, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | November 26, 2024 (aged 80) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1976–2019 |
| Spouse | Nancy Cocuzzo |
Life and career
editJames Steven Abrahams was born on May 10, 1944, to a Jewish family[1] in Shorewood, Wisconsin, the son of Louise M. (née Ogens), an educational researcher, and Norman S. Abrahams, a lawyer.[2][3] He attended Shorewood High School.[3] He had a home in Eagle River, Wisconsin, where he spent summers from the time he was a child.[4]
He is best known for the spoof movies that he co-wrote and produced with brothers Jerry Zucker and David Zucker, such as Airplane! (for which he was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay) and The Naked Gun series. The team of Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker (also referred to as "ZAZ") really began when the three men grew up together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He directed movies on his own, such as Big Business, and further honed his skills in parody with Hot Shots! and its 1993 sequel, Hot Shots! Part Deux. [citation needed]
Abrahams and his wife, Nancy (née Cocuzzo) co-founded The Charlie Foundation To Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy.
Abrahams had three children. His daughter, Jamie Abrahams, is also a comedy writer. He died from leukemia at his home in Santa Monica, California, on November 26, 2024, at the age of 80.[2][5] He had the disease for twenty years before his death and at one point was in remission until it returned.[5]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Executive Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Kentucky Fried Movie | No | Yes | No | |
| 1980 | Airplane! | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed with David & Jerry Zucker |
| 1984 | Top Secret! | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 1986 | Ruthless People | Yes | No | No | |
| 1988 | Big Business | Yes | No | No | |
| The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1990 | Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Hot Shots! | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 1993 | Hot Shots! Part Deux | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 1994 | An Introduction to the Ketogenic Diet | Yes | No | No | Documentary short |
| 1998 | Mafia! | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2006 | Scary Movie 4 | No | Yes | No |
Executive producer only
edit- Cry-Baby (1990)
- The Naked Gun 2+1⁄2: The Smell of Fear (1991)
- Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult (1994)
Acting roles
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Kentucky Fried Movie | Technician #1 / Announcer |
| 1980 | Airplane! | Religious Zealot #6 |
| 1984 | Top Secret! | German Soldier in Prop Room |
| 1988 | Coming to America | Face on Cutting Room Floor |
| 1991 | Hot Shots! | Lounge Singer |
| 1991 | Oscar | Postman |
| 2019 | Fat: A Documentary | Self − Filmmaker & Founder, Charlie Foundation |
Television
editSeries
edit| Year | Title | Creator | Producer | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Big John, Little John | No | No | Yes | writer of episode "Abracadabra" with David & Jerry Zucker |
| 1982 | Police Squad! | Yes | Executive | Yes | Director and writer of episode "A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise)" with David & Jerry Zucker |
Other work
edit| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | ...First Do No Harm | Yes | Executive | TV movie |
| 2018 | Voice of the Epilepsies | No | Executive | Documentary |
| 2019 | Late Night Berlin | No | Creative | Episode "Folge 42" |
Acting roles
edit| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Performer | Part as Kentucky Fried Theatre in one episode |
| 1974 | The Midnight Special |
References
edit- ^ Desser, David; Friedman, Lester D. (2004). American Jewish Filmmakers. University of Illinois Press. p. 166. ISBN 9780252071539.
- ^ a b Kozeluk, Chris (November 26, 2024). "Jim Abrahams, 'Airplane!,' 'Naked Gun' and 'Hot Shots!' Master of Mirth, Dies at 80". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ a b Jan Uebelherr (December 28, 2012). "Louise Abrahams Yaffe: 'Airplane' co-creator's mother set her own course: Yaffe was advocate for the aging, occasional actress". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- ^ Up-North Escape – All Ways Forward Retrieved 2018-11-01.
- ^ a b "'Airplane!' and 'Naked Gun' Creator Jim Abrahams Dead at 80". TMZ. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
External links
edit- Jim Abrahams at IMDb
- biodata, The New York Times; accessed April 23, 2014.
- Charlie's Story; accessed November 25, 2014.
- Jim Abrahams discography at Discogs
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