From Grokipedia
Full articleJerry Gordon Zucker (born March 11, 1950) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He and his brother David Zucker wrote many films that incorporate his humor. Zucker, along with Jim Abrahams, founded the Kentucky Fried Theater in Madison, Wisconsin, and later formed Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker (ZAZ). ZAZ is known for producing comedy spoof films including Airplane! (1980), Top Secret! (1984), the Naked Gun series, and the Emmy Award-winning television series Police Squad! (1982). Zucker directed the successful drama film Ghost (1990), which was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Best Director for him. Other notable directing credits include Ruthless People (1986), My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), and Rat Race (2001).
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Charlotte and Burton Zucker, Jerry grew up with his brother David and sister Susan, all of whom pursued careers in entertainment. He graduated from Shorewood High School and briefly attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison before dropping out to focus on comedy. Zucker married Janet Krausz in 1987; they have two children.
In brief
Jerry Zucker learned comedy in a trio that treated genre as a dare. Airplane! and Top Secret! still teach editors how to cut a joke.
Ghost showed he could leave the spoof behind and still fill theaters. Few directors have a resume that runs from Leslie Nielsen to Demi Moore.
Photographs
Hero photograph: Wikimedia Commons
