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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.
He is best known for the Parody 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) 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. 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.
| 1977 | The Kentucky Fried Movie | ||||
| 1980 | Airplane! | Co-directed with David Zucker and Jerry Zucker | |||
| 1984 | Top Secret! | ||||
| 1986 | Ruthless People | ||||
| 1988 | Big Business | ||||
| 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
Acting roles
| 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 |
| 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
| 1972 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Performer | Part as Kentucky Fried Theatre in one episode |
| 1974 | The Midnight Special | ||
| 2019 | Late Night Berlin | Creative producer | Episode "Folge 42" |
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