Jerry Gordon Zucker

Place: Milwaukee

Born: 1950

Biography:

Jerry Gordon Zucker is an American film producer, director, and writer known for his role in directing comedy spoof films such as Airplane! and Top Secret!, and the Best Picture-nominated supernatural drama film Ghost. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 11, 1950. Zucker's early career work started with Jim Abrahams and brother David Zucker, performing in Madison, Wisconsin as a sketch and comedy troupe called Kentucky Fried Theater.

Early Life and Education

Zucker graduated from Shorewood High School and later attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His paternal grandfather was Leonard Zucker, who emigrated from Russia to the United States and became a naturalized citizen.

Career

Zucker's most notable films include Airplane! (1980), Top Secret! (1984), and Ruthless People (1986). In 1990, he lent his directorial skills to the dramatic genre with Ghost, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. Zucker's films have been ranked among the greatest comedies of all time: Airplane! was ranked at the top of Entertainment Weekly's list of best comedy films and AFI listed it as #10.

• Notable works: Airplane!, Top Secret!, Ghost
• Collaborations: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker
• Awards: Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture

Artistic Style and Legacy

Zucker's films often feature his mother, Charlotte, and his sister, Susan Breslau, in small roles. Along with Jim Abrahams, the Zuckers constitute the ZAZ team of directors. Zucker's legacy continues to be celebrated through his work, including Airplane!, which was ranked as one of the best comedy films by Entertainment Weekly. For more information on Jerry Gordon Zucker and his works, visit Top Secret!. To learn about other notable artists and their contributions to the world of art, explore Kentucky Fried Theater or Top Secret!.