Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker (abbreviated to ZAZ ) was an American comedy filmmaking trio consisting of Jim Abrahams and brothers David and Jerry Zucker who specialised in writing slapstick comedy films during the 1980s. Members of the team have often collaborated with writer Pat Proft .
6-572: James Steven Abrahams (May 10, 1944 – November 26, 2024) was an American film director and writer, best known as a member of Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker . 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
12-614: Is also a comedy writer. 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. This article about a United States film director is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker David Zucker , Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker knew each other as children while growing up in Shorewood, Wisconsin and while attending Shorewood High School , which
18-593: Is sometimes referenced in their work. While attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison , the trio founded a small theater known as The Kentucky Fried Theater in 1971 which led to their sketch comedy film The Kentucky Fried Movie in 1977. This was followed by the trio's breakout hit Airplane! in 1980, which remains a revered comedic milestone. Subsequent collaborations include Top Secret! , Ruthless People , and The Naked Gun . All of their projects relied heavily on parodies, visual gags and breaking of
24-422: The 1990s for fiscal and creative reasons, stating that there were "too many guys sitting in the same chair". They also said that they had been treated unfairly by the studios that produced their films, claiming that they failed to see any profits from Ruthless People . Nevertheless, the three still maintained a close friendship. Abrahams died November 26, 2024. The chart below shows which films member(s) of
30-473: The fourth wall, and established a strong 1980s cult following. The notable stylistic exception is Ruthless People , a more traditional farce that was directed by the trio but unlike their other productions, not written by them. The trio's status as a three-person team of co-directors is highly unusual, although some of their later projects were directed by David working solo and with Jerry and Abrahams credited only as producers and/or writers. The trio split up in
36-807: The time he was a child. 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 Business , and further honed his skills in parody with Hot Shots! and its 1993 sequel, Hot Shots! Part Deux . Abrahams and his wife, Nancy (née Cocuzzo) co-founded The Charlie Foundation To Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy . Abrahams had three children. His daughter, Jamie Abrahams,
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