About

Known credits:
40
Birthday:
1944-05-10
Place of birth:
Shorewood, Wisconsin, USA
Website:
N/A

Jim Abrahams

Overview

Jim Abrahams (May 10, 1944 – November 26, 2024) was an American movie director and writer. Abrahams was born in Shorewood, Wisconsin, to a Jewish family, and attended Shorewood High School. He was 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. Abrahams later produced 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.

Known for

Acting

2019 FAT: A Documentary Actor Self - Father / Founder, Charlie Foundation / Filmmaker 59
Average
2015 Kareem: Minority of One Actor Self 59
Average
1993 Hearts of Hot Shots! Part Deux—A Filmmaker's Apology Actor 59
Average
1991 Oscar Actor Postman (uncredited) 60
Fair
1988 Coming to America Actor Face on Cutting Room Floor 67
Fair
1984 Top Secret! Actor German Soldier in Prop Room (uncredited) 67
Fair
1983 Cocaine Blues Actor Himself N/A
N/A
1980 Airplane! Actor Religious Zealot #6 71
Good
1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie Actor Various 60
Fair

Directing

1998 Jane Austen's Mafia! Directing Director 57
Average
1997 ...First Do No Harm Directing Director 59
Average
1994 An Introduction to the Ketogenic Diet Directing Director 59
Average
1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux Directing Director 64
Fair
1991 Hot Shots! Directing Director 64
Fair
1990 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael Directing Director 59
Average
1988 Big Business Directing Director 60
Fair
1986 Ruthless People Directing Director 62
Fair
1984 Top Secret! Directing Director 67
Fair
1982 Police Squad! Directing Director 60
Fair
1980 Airplane! Directing Director 71
Good

Writing

2006 Scary Movie 4 Writing Screenplay 55
Average
1998 Jane Austen's Mafia! Writing Screenplay 57
Average
1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux Writing Characters 64
Fair
1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux Writing Screenplay 64
Fair
1991 Hot Shots! Writing Writer 64
Fair
1991 The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear Writing Original Series Creator 66
Fair
1988 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Writing Writer 71
Good
1984 Top Secret! Writing Screenplay 67
Fair
1982 Police Squad! Writing Writer 60
Fair
1980 Airplane! Writing Writer 71
Good
1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie Writing Writer 60
Fair

Production

1997 ...First Do No Harm Production Producer 59
Average
1994 Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult Production Executive Producer 63
Fair
1992 Brain Donors Production Executive Producer 59
Average
1991 The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear Production Executive Producer 66
Fair
1990 Cry-Baby Production Executive Producer 63
Fair
1988 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Production Executive Producer 71
Good
1984 Top Secret! Production Executive Producer 67
Fair
1982 Police Squad! Production Producer 76
Good
1980 Airplane! Production Executive Producer 71
Good