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Jim Abrahams | |
|---|---|
 Abrahams in 2015 | |
| Born | James Steven Abrahams (1944-05-10)May 10, 1944 Shorewood, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | November 26, 2024(2024-11-26) (aged 80) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Years active | 1976–2019 |
| Spouse | Nancy Cocuzzo |
| Children | 3 |
James Steven Abrahams (May 10, 1944 – November 26, 2024) was an American film director and writer, best known as a member ofZucker, Abrahams and Zucker.
James Steven Abrahams was born on May 10, 1944, to aJewish family[1] inShorewood, Wisconsin, the son of Louise M. (née Ogens), an educational researcher, and Norman S. Abrahams, a lawyer.[2][3] He attendedShorewood High School.[3] He had a home inEagle River, Wisconsin, where he spent summers from the time he was a child.[4]
He is best known for thespoof movies that he co-wrote and produced with brothersJerry Zucker andDavid Zucker, such asAirplane! (for which he was nominated for aBAFTA Award for Best Screenplay) andThe Naked Gun series. The team ofZucker, Abrahams and Zucker (also referred to as "ZAZ") really began when the three men grew up together inMilwaukee, Wisconsin. He directed movies on his own, such asBig Business, and further honed his skills in parody withHot 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 PediatricEpilepsy.[5] He was an advocate of theketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy.
Abrahams had three children. His daughter, Jamie Abrahams, is also a comedy writer.
He died from leukemia at his home inSanta 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]
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Executive Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Kentucky Fried Movie | No | Yes | No | |
| 1980 | Airplane! | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-directed withDavid andJerry 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
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 |
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Creator | Executive Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Big John, Little John | No | Yes | No | No | Episode "Abracadabra" |
| 1997 | ...First Do No Harm | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | TV movie |
| 1982 | Police Squad! | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Wrote and directed episode "A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise)" with David & Jerry Zucker |
| 2018 | Voice of the Epilepsies | No | No | No | Yes | Documentary film |
Other credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Performer | Part asKentucky Fried Theatre in one episode |
| 1974 | The Midnight Special | ||
| 2019 | Late Night Berlin | Creative producer | Episode "Folge 42" |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
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