Jerry Gordon Zucker (born March 11, 1950) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. With his brother David and Jim Abrahams, he is part of the filmmaking trio Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker.
He is best known for his role in writing and directing comedy spoof films like Airplane! (1980) and Top Secret! (1984), and for co-creating the television series Police Squad!, which was later adapted into The Naked Gun film series.
He is also the director of the Academy Award-winning supernatural drama film Ghost (1990), the first box-office topper of the 1990s.
Early life Zucker was born to a Jewish family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Charlotte A. (Lefstein) (d. 2007) and Burton C. Zucker, who was a real estate developer.David Zucker Biography (1947-) He graduated from Shorewood High School."25 years and still laughing: 'Airplane!' maintains its cruising altitude with a non-stop zany attitude" , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 11, 2005. Accessed September 17, 2007. "The event is in honor of the volunteer service and philanthropy of Louise Abrahams Yaffe and her son Jim Abrahams, who wrote and directed "Airplane!" with fellow Shorewood High School and University of Wisconsin–Madison graduates David and Jerry Zucker." His paternal grandfather was Leonard Zucker who emigrated from Russia to the United States and became a naturalized citizen.
Career Zucker's early career work started with Jim Abrahams and brother David Zucker. The trio performed in Madison, Wisconsin as a sketch and comedy troupe called "Kentucky Fried Theater.” They later adapted several of these sketches into a comedy anthology film, The Kentucky Fried Movie, directed by John Landis and released in 1977.
From there the three went on and together co-directed Airplane! in 1980 and then went on to do Top Secret! in 1984, and Ruthless People in 1986. Along with Jim Abrahams, the Zuckers constitute the "ZAZ" team of directors.
In 1987, both Jerry and David Zucker through Zucker Brothers Productions had signed an agreement with Paramount Pictures for a two-year non-exclusive production agreement and development deal with the studio. The brothers had anticipated cranking out four comedies for Paramount Pictures during the life of the pact; the first film was a feature film version of the early 1980s television show Police Squad!, which was originally cancelled after six episodes on the air.
In 1990, he lent his directorial skills to the dramatic genre with Ghost, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture and won Whoopi Goldberg her only Oscar. Zucker's most recent directorial effort is the 2001 film Rat Race.
Zucker's films have been ranked among the greatest comedies of all time: Airplane! was ranked at the top of Entertainment Weekly's list of best comedy films and AFI listed it as #10; Top Secret! made Entertainment Weeklys Top 100 list.
Personal life Like his brother David Zucker, Jerry often cast his mother, Charlotte (who died in 2007), and his sister, Susan Breslau, in small roles in his films.
Filmography
Film Year Title Director Writer ProducerNotes 1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie 1980 Airplane! Co-director with Jim Abrahams & David Zucker 1984 Top Secret! 1986 Ruthless People 1988 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! 1990 Ghost 1991 The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear 1994 Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult 1995 First Knight 2001 Rat Race 2025 The Naked Gun Producer onlyYear TitleDirectorNotes 1992 Brain DonorsDennis DuganExecutive producer 1993 My LifeBruce Joel Rubin1995 A Walk in the CloudsAlfonso Arau 1997 My Best Friend's WeddingP. J. Hogan 2002 Unconditional Love 2010 Fair GameDoug Liman 2011 Friends with BenefitsWill Gluck 2012 MentalP. J. HoganActing roles Year Title Role(s) Notes 1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie Technician #3 / Man / Beaver / Hands 1980 Airplane! Ground Crewman #1 1984 Top Secret! East German Soldier 1995 Your Studio and You Himself Short film 2014 Asthma Gus' Father
Television Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes1976Big John, Little Johnwriter of episode "Abracadabra"1982Police Squad! director and writer of episode "A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise)"1987Our Planet TonightTV movie2013Dear Dumb Diary2019Late Night BerlinEpisode "Folge 42"Acting roles' Year Title Role Note 1972 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Performer Part as Kentucky Fried Theater in one episode1974The Midnight Special
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