Jerry Zucker
Producer, Director, Writer, Actor
11 March 1950 (76 years)
Jerry Zucker (born March 11, 1950) is an American director, known for comedy spoof films, and the hit film Ghost.
Zucker was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Charlotte (d. 2007) and Burton Zucker, who was a real estate developer. He graduated from Shorewood High School.
Zucker's early career work started with Jim Abrahams and brother David Zucker at the Kentucky Fried Theatre on Pico Blvd in West Los Angeles where they honed their comedic skills doing skits in front of a live audience. From there the three went on and together co-directed Airplane! in 1980 and then went on to do Top Secret! in 1984, and Ruthless People in 1986. In 1990, he lent his directorial skills to the dramatic genre with Ghost, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. Recent directorial efforts of Zucker's include the 2001 film Rat Race (which re-teamed him with Ghost star Whoopi Goldberg).
Like his brother David Zucker, Jerry often cast his mother, Charlotte (who died in 2007), and his sister, Susan Breslau, in small roles in his films. Along with Jim Abrahams, the Zuckers constitute the "ZAZ" team of directors.
Zucker was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Charlotte (d. 2007) and Burton Zucker, who was a real estate developer. He graduated from Shorewood High School.
Zucker's early career work started with Jim Abrahams and brother David Zucker at the Kentucky Fried Theatre on Pico Blvd in West Los Angeles where they honed their comedic skills doing skits in front of a live audience. From there the three went on and together co-directed Airplane! in 1980 and then went on to do Top Secret! in 1984, and Ruthless People in 1986. In 1990, he lent his directorial skills to the dramatic genre with Ghost, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. Recent directorial efforts of Zucker's include the 2001 film Rat Race (which re-teamed him with Ghost star Whoopi Goldberg).
Like his brother David Zucker, Jerry often cast his mother, Charlotte (who died in 2007), and his sister, Susan Breslau, in small roles in his films. Along with Jim Abrahams, the Zuckers constitute the "ZAZ" team of directors.
Known For
Filmography
| 2013 | Dear Dumb Diary · as Executive Producer |
| 2012 | |
| 2011 | |
| 2010 | Fair GameOn Plex |
| 2002 | |
| 2001 | |
| 1997 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult · as Executive Producer |
| 1993 | |
| 1992 | Brain Donors · as Executive Producer |
| 1991 | The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear · as Executive Producer |
| 1988 | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! · as Executive Producer |
| 1984 | Top Secret! · as Executive Producer |
| 1982 | |
| 1980 | Airplane! · as Executive Producer |
| 2001 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1990 | |
| 1986 | |
| 1984 | |
| 1982 | |
| 1980 |
| 2025 | The Naked Gun · as Original Film Writer |
| 1988 | |
| 1984 | Top Secret! · as Screenplay |
| 1982 | |
| 1980 | |
| 1977 | The Kentucky Fried MovieOn Plex |
| 2014 | Asthma · as Gus' FatherOn Plex |
| 1984 | Top Secret! · as German Soldier In Prop Room (uncredited) |
| 1980 | Airplane! · as Ground Crewman #1 |
| 1977 | The Kentucky Fried Movie · as VariousOn Plex |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson · as Cast |
| 2026 | Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! · as Self - Filmmaker |
| 2022 | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty · as Jerry Zucker |
| 2018 | The Price of Fame · as Self |
| 2017 | The History of Comedy · as SelfOn Plex |
| 2012 | CBS Saturday Morning · as Self |
| 2002 | Making Rat Race · as Himself |
| 1997 | The Directors · as Self |
| 1996 | Life and Times · as Self |
| 1995 | Your Studio and You · as Jerry Zucker |
| 1992 | HBO First Look · as Self |
| 1987 | Biography · as Self |
| 1982 | Late Night With David Letterman · as Self |
| 1972 | The Midnight Special · as Self - Member Of 'kentucky Fried Theater' |
| 2018 | Late Night Berlin · as Creative Producer |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult · as Television Series "police Squad" |
| 1991 | The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear · as Original Series Creator |
| 1979 | Rock 'n' Roll High School · as Second Unit DirectorOn Plex |
| 1976 | Big John, Little John · as Written By |