Jim Abrahams
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2024) |
Jim Abrahams | |
|---|---|
 Abrahams in 2015 | |
| Born | James S. Abrahams May 10, 1944 |
| Died | November 26, 2024 (aged 80) |
| Occupation(s) | film director film producer screenwriter |
| Years active | 1976–2019 |
| Spouse | Nancy Cocuzzo |
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.
Life and career
James Steven Abraham 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 since 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.[1] [2]
Abrahams died at his home in Santa Monica, California, on November 26, 2024, at the age of 80.[5]
Filmography
Films
| 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
- 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
| 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 | Oscar | Postman |
| 2019 | Fat: A Documentary | Self - Filmmaker & Founder, Charlie Foundation |
Television
Series
| 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
| 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
| 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
- ^ Desser, David; Friedman, Lester D. (2004). American Jewish Filmmakers. University of Illinois Press. p. 166. ISBN 9780252071539.
- ^ Kozeluk, Chris (November 26, 2024). "Jim Abrahams, 'Airplane!,' 'Naked Gun' and 'Hot Shots!' Master of Mirth, Dies at 80". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Kozelukwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
External links
- Jim Abrahams at IMDb
- biodata, The New York Times; accessed April 23, 2014.
- Charlie's Story; accessed November 25, 2014.
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- 1944 births
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- 20th-century American Jews
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- American comedy writers
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- American comedy film directors
- Film directors from Wisconsin
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- Shorewood High School (Wisconsin) alumni
- Writers Guild of America Award winners