Jim Abrahams

James S. Abrahams (born May 10, 1944) is an American movie director and writer, best known as a member of Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker.

Jim Abrahams
Born
James S. Abrahams

(1944-05-10) May 10, 1944
Shorewood, Wisconsin, U.S.
OccupationFilm director, film producer, screenwriter
Years active1972–present
Spouse(s)Nancy Cocuzzo

Life and career

Abrahams was born 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] His family was Jewish; he attended Shorewood High School.[2] He has a home in Eagle River, Wisconsin where he has spent summers since he was a child.[3]

He may be 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.

Abrahams and his wife, Nancy (née Cocuzzo) co-founded The Charlie Foundation To Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy.

Filmography

Films
Year Title Director Writer Executive Producer Notes
1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie No Yes No
1980 Airplane! Yes Yes Yes
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

Acting Roles
Year Title Role Note
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

Television
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1982 Police Squad! Yes Yes Executive Creator;
Episode "A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise)"
1997 ...First Do No Harm Yes No Executive TV Movie
2019 Late Night Berlin No 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
  1. Desser, David; Friedman, Lester D. American Jewish Filmmakers. p. 166. ISBN 9780252071539.
  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.
  3. Up-North Escape – All Ways Forward Retrieved 2018-11-01.
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