Jim Abrahams, Comedy Pioneer Behind 'Airplane!' and 'The Naked Gun,' Dies at 80
The filmmaker, known for his groundbreaking parodies and fearless humor, leaves behind a legacy that reshaped modern comedy.
- Jim Abrahams, part of the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker trio, was instrumental in creating iconic comedies like 'Airplane!' and 'The Naked Gun.'
- Abrahams and the Zucker brothers developed their unique comedic style through their early work in the Kentucky Fried Theatre, which parodied TV ads and films.
- 'Airplane!' became a landmark in film comedy, blending slapstick, visual gags, and deadpan performances to create a relentless 'joke-howitzer.'
- The trio's success extended to TV and other films, including 'Police Squad!' and 'Top Secret!', which further showcased their inventive humor.
- Abrahams spent his later years largely out of the spotlight, founding a pediatric epilepsy charity inspired by his son and directing a TV movie on the subject.
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