He was behind hit slapstick comedies like “Airplane!,” “Hot Shots!,” the “Naked Gun” series and more.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 08: Director Jim Abrahams speaks onstage during the screening of 'The Kentucky Fried Movie' during the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival on April 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
With the Zucker brothers, Abrahams founded the The Kentucky Fried Theater while they all attended college together at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1971. That led to them making their film debut with the indie sketch comedy “The Kentucky Fried Movie” in 1977. Abrahams wrote the script for the movie, which was directed by John Landis -- a year later Landis was tapped to make “Animal House” after the success of “The Kentucky Fried Movie.
Their ABC series “Police Squad!” starred Nielsen as Detective Frank Drebin and spoofed the police procedural genre. The show was such a hit that it spawned the “Naked Gun” comedies, including “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!” , “The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” and “Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult” . Paramount is releasing a sequel in 2025, starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., directed by Akiva Schaffer and with a story by Seth MacFarlane.
He is survived by his wife Nancy Cocuzzo, daughter Jamie, sons Joseph and Charlie and grandchildren Caleb, James and Isaac.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jim Abrahams, Brilliant Director of ‘Airplane!,’ ‘Naked Gun,’ Dies at 80Source of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Read more »
R.I.P. Jim Abrahams, director of Airplane! and moreR.I.P. Jim Abrahams, director of Airplane! and more
Read more »
Jim Abrahams, Spoof Comedy Legend Behind ‘Airplane’ and ‘Hot Shots,’ Dead at 80Jim Abrahams, the celebrated comedy writer and director best known for his work with brothers David and Jerry Zucker, has died at the age of 80.
Read more »
Live-Action Gundam Movie Finds New Director After Monsterverse Director & Netflix's Quiet ExitsGundam is changing.
Read more »
Your Monster Director Caroline Lindy on Making a Hot MonsterComingSoon spoke to Your Monster director Caroline Lindy about the ambitious horror romantic comedy movie.
Read more »
Trump builds White House staff with Cheung as communications director and Gor as personnel directorPresident-elect Donald Trump has announced that Steven Cheung will serve as his White House communications director and Sergio Gor will run the personnel office.
Read more »