Jim Abrahams

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Jim Abrahams
Jim Abrahams, 2015.jpg
Abrahams in 2015
Born
James Steven Abrahams

(1944-05-10)May 10, 1944
DiedNovember 26, 2024(2024-11-26) (aged 80)
Years active1976–2019
SpouseNancy Cocuzzo
Children3

James Steven Abrahams (May 10, 1944 – November 26, 2024) was an American film director and writer. With David and Jerry Zucker, he was best known as a member of Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker.

Contents

Early life

James 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]

Career

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 ]

Personal life

Abrahams and his wife, Nancy (née Cocuzzo) co-founded The Charlie Foundation To Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy. [5] He was an advocate of the ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy.

Abrahams had three children. His daughter, Jamie Abrahams, is also a comedy writer.

Death

He died from leukemia at his home in Santa Monica, California, on November 26, 2024, at the age of 80. [2] [6] He had the disease for twenty years before his death and at one point was in remission until it returned. [6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitle Director Writer Executive Producer Notes
1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie NoYesNo
1980 Airplane! YesYesYesCo-directed with David and Jerry Zucker
1984 Top Secret! YesYesYes
1986 Ruthless People YesNoNo
1988 Big Business YesNoNo
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! NoYesYes
1990 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael YesNoNo
1991 Hot Shots! YesYesNo
1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux YesYesNo
1994An Introduction to the Ketogenic DietYesNoNoDocumentary short
1998 Mafia! YesYesNo
2006 Scary Movie 4 NoYesNo

Executive producer only

Acting roles

YearTitleRole
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
2019Fat: A DocumentarySelf − Filmmaker & Founder, Charlie Foundation

Television

YearTitleDirectorWriterCreatorExecutive
Producer
Notes
1976 Big John, Little John NoYesNoNoEpisode "Abracadabra"
1997 ...First Do No Harm YesYesNoYesTV movie
1982 Police Squad! YesYesYesYesWrote and directed episode "A Substantial Gift
(The Broken Promise)
" with David & Jerry Zucker
2018Voice of the EpilepsiesNoNoNoYesDocumentary film

Other credits

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson PerformerPart as Kentucky Fried Theatre in one episode
1974 The Midnight Special
2019 Late Night Berlin Creative producerEpisode "Folge 42"

References

  1. Desser, David; Friedman, Lester D. (2004). American Jewish Filmmakers. University of Illinois Press. p. 166. ISBN   9780252071539.
  2. 1 2 Kozeluk, Chris (November 26, 2024). "Jim Abrahams, 'Airplane!,' 'Naked Gun' and 'Hot Shots!' Master of Mirth, Dies at 80". The Hollywood Reporter .
  3. 1 2 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.
  4. Up-North Escape – All Ways Forward Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  5. Abrams, Jim. "Charlie's Story". CURE Epilepsy. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "'Airplane!' and 'Naked Gun' Creator Jim Abrahams Dead at 80". TMZ. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.