Jim Abrahams, Director of ‘Is There a Pilot on the Plane?’, Dies at 80

The American director and screenwriter was known for his parodies, written and produced with his two friends from the Zaz trio.

Known for his parody cinema, the American director, screenwriter and producer Jim Abrahams died Tuesday, November 26 at the age of 80 in Santa Monica (California), his son Joseph announced at Hollywood Reporter. With the Zucker brothers (Jerry and David), he was part of the famous Zaz trio, known for its parody comedies like Is there a pilot on the plane?

Born in 1944 in Wisconsin, he began his career as a screenwriter for the film Hamburger movie sandwichdirected by John Landis (1977), co-written with brothers David Zucker and Jerry Zucker. Three years later, Is there a pilot on the plane? The trio’s first production, a film directed by the trio, is a triumph.

They continue with Police Squad ! (1982), a six-episode series that won them the Emmy for Best Writing. Then, they shoot the feature film Top Secret !(1984), parody of spy films and Is there anyone to kill my wife ? in 1986.

Abrahams then began a solo career with When twins get tangled (1988), Roxy (1990), Hot Shots ! et Hot Shots ! 2 (parodies of The Making of Heroes for the first and war films for the second).

After a TV movie in 1997 with Meryl Streep (At the risk of losing you), he directs his last film, The Prince of Sicily in 1998, another parody, of Godfather this time. In 2006, he co-wrote the film with David Zucker Scary Movie 4. Also a producer, Jim Abrahams notably produced in 1990 Cry-Baby, with Johnny Depp.