Jerry Zucker

Jerry Zucker is a well-known American film director. People remember him for his direction of the comedy movies Airplane! ,Naked Gun and also the drama film Ghost.Jerry Zucker was born on 11^th March 1950 to Charlotte Zucker, an actress herself. He started his career along with David Zucker David W. Zucker is a renowned Television executive >> Read More... , his brother; and Jim Abrahams, their childhood friend. The first sketch and comedy performed by them were in Kentucky Fried Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin. Going ahead, they went on to work together in Airplane! in 1980, Top Secret! in 1984, and Ruthless People in 1986. Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and David Zucker together comprised the ZAZ team of directors.

From his previous comedy directions, he decided to move to the dramatic genre and thus directed the movie Ghost on his own. The trio also tried their luck with a TV series called Police Squad. Even though the Television audience liked the show, it was cancelled due to issues between the team of directors and the studio.

The movie Ghost which was directed by him got a nomination for an Academy Award for the Best Picture. Several of the movies directed by the trio bagged Oscars, BAFTA, and Golden Globe awards as well as various nominations for the same. Jerry Zucker received a WGA Award for Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium for Airplane! along with  David Zucker and Jim Abrahams. He also shares with the ZAZ team of directors, a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for the television show Police Squad.

He believes that it is important for a person who directs films to understand the differences in directing parody or farce and other forms of comedy. The way of direction should be such, so as to induce emotion from his audience, be it laughter or tears, according to him. After a career of 30 successful years, it could be aptly said that his words have come to real effect.