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.
Early life James Steven Abrahams was born on May 10, 1944, to a Jewish family in Shorewood, Wisconsin, the son of Louise M. (née Ogens), an educational researcher, and Norman S. Abrahams, a lawyer. He attended Shorewood High School. He had a home in Eagle River, Wisconsin, where he spent summers from the time he was a child. 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 Businessand Hot Shots! and its 1993 sequel, Hot Shots! Part Deux.
Personal life Abrahams and his wife, Nancy (née Cocuzzo) co-founded The Charlie Foundation To Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy. 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. He had the disease for twenty years before his death and at one point was in remission until it returned.
Filmography
Film Year TitleDirectorWriterExecutive Producer Notes 1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie 1980 Airplane! Co-directed with David and Jerry Zucker 1984 Top Secret! 1986 Ruthless People 1988 Big Business The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! 1990 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael 1991 Hot Shots! 1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux 1994 An Introduction to the Ketogenic Diet Documentary short 1998 Mafia! 2006 Scary Movie 4
Executive producer only Cry-Baby (1990) The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) Naked Gun 33⅓: 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 Year TitleDirectorWriterCreatorExecutiveProducer Notes 1976 Big John, Little John Episode "Abracadabra" 1997 ...First Do No Harm TV movie 1982 Police Squad! Wrote and directed episode "A Substantial Gift(The Broken Promise)" with David & Jerry Zucker 2018 Voice of the Epilepsies Documentary film
Other credits Year Title Role Notes 1972 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonPerformerPart as Kentucky Fried Theatre in one episode 1974 The Midnight Special 2019 Late Night Berlin Creative producer Episode "Folge 42"
References
External links
Biography, The New York Times (from AllMovie) Charlie's Story; accessed November 25, 2014.