Writer and director Jim Abrahams passes away at 80

Filmmaker Jim Abrahams, responsible for comedy works such as Airplane! The Naked Gun, and Hot Shots! has passed away. Abrahams passed away from natural causes at his Santa Monica home on November 26, at the age of 80.

With their slapstick humour and ability to parody other genres, Abrahams and his brothers David, and Zucker, created films that represented cinematic humour.

His work included the Police Squad! spoof, which Abrahams co-created with Leslie Nielsen in 1982 as the precursor to the Naked Gun film and its follow-ups, The Naked Gun: 2½ and The Naked Gun 33 ⅓. Abrahams also directed Val Kilmer in Top Secret!, a comedy that parodies WWII espionage films.

In his personal life Abrahams dedicated himself to epilepsy awareness and treatment through the Charlie Foundation, inspired by his son's medical challenges.

Abrahams's storytelling continues to be celebrated by his family, who posted on Instagram commemorating their brother's legacy.

 

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A post shared by David Zucker (@thedavidzucker)