Jerry Zucker

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.

Works

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty

A fast-break series chronicling the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined an era, both on and off the court.

Release Date:2022-03-06

Character:Jerry Zucker

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:147

The History of Comedy

Explore what makes us laugh, why, and how that's influenced our social and political landscape throughout history.

Release Date:2017-02-09

Character:Self

Episode Count:14

Vote Count:9

Asthma

A young musician takes a beautiful tattoo artist on a ride in a stolen classic car.

Release Date:2015-10-23

Character:Gus' Father

Vote Count:77

Friends with Benefits

Dylan is done with relationships. Jamie decides to stop buying into the Hollywood clichés of true love. When the two become friends they decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction - but without any emotional attachment.

Release Date:2011-07-21

Department:Production

Job:Producer

Vote Count:7983

Fair Game

A devoted wife and mother leads a secret life as a CIA agent until her husband’s article exposes a scandal, putting her identity and loved ones at risk. As her world crumbles, she must navigate the fallout of her double life.

Release Date:2010-05-20

Department:Production

Job:Producer

Vote Count:787

Ghost Stories: The Making of a Classic

The making of Ghost

Release Date:2007-03-13

Character:Self

Unconditional Love

After her husband leaves her, a woman travels to London for the funeral of the pop star, Victor Fox, she's adored all her life. There, she meets the lover of the dead pop star, and convinces him to come back to Chicago with her to figure out who killed the singer.

Release Date:2002-08-23

Department:Production

Job:Producer

Vote Count:53

Making Rat Race

Release Date:2002-01-29

Character:Himself

Rat Race

In an ensemble film about easy money, greed, manipulation and bad driving, a Las Vegas casino tycoon entertains his wealthiest high rollers -- a group that will bet on anything -- by pitting six ordinary people against each other in a wild dash for $2 million jammed into a locker hundreds of miles away. The tycoon and his wealthy friends monitor each racer's every move to keep track of their favorites. The only rule in this race is that there are no rules.

Release Date:2001-08-17

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1803

Ghost: Remembering the Magic

The Making of Ghost

Release Date:2001-04-24

Character:Self

Vote Count:1

My Best Friend's Wedding

When she receives word that her longtime platonic pal Michael O'Neal is getting married to debutante Kimberly Wallace, food critic Julianne Potter realizes her true feelings for Michael -- and sets out to sabotage the wedding.

Release Date:1997-06-19

Department:Production

Job:Producer

Vote Count:2687

First Knight

The timeless tale of King Arthur and the legend of Camelot are retold in this passionate period drama. Arthur is reluctant to hand the crown to Lancelot, and Guinevere is torn between her loyalty to her husband and her growing love for his rival. But Lancelot must balance his loyalty to the throne with the rewards of true love.

Release Date:1995-07-07

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1224

A Walk in the Clouds

World War II vet Paul Sutton falls for a pregnant and unwed woman who persuades him -- during their first encounter -- to pose as her husband so she can face her family.

Release Date:1995-05-27

Department:Production

Job:Producer

Vote Count:1026

Your Studio and You

A parody of 1950s corporate/industrial films, commissioned by Universal Pictures executives after the studio's purchase by Seagrams, and featuring cameos by many stars and directors.

Release Date:1995-02-01

Character:Jerry Zucker

Vote Count:29

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult

Frank Drebin is persuaded out of retirement to go undercover in a state prison. There he has to find out what top terrorist, Rocco, has planned for when he escapes. Adding to his problems, Frank's wife, Jane, is desperate for a baby.

Release Date:1994-03-18

Department:Production

Job:Executive Producer

Vote Count:2104

My Life

It seems that Bob Jones has everything a man could want, namely a fulfilling job and a beautiful, pregnant wife, Gail. But Bob's life is turned upside-down when he is diagnosed with cancer and given four months to live -- not even enough time to see his first child's birth. To cleanse himself of demons in his remaining days, Bob makes a video diary, hoping to pass along some wisdom to his future child. Along the way, he discovers a lot about himself.

Release Date:1993-11-12

Department:Production

Job:Producer

Vote Count:217

Brain Donors

Three manic idiots—a lawyer, a cab driver and a handyman—team up to run a ballet company to fulfil the will of a millionaire. Stooge-like antics result as the trio try to outwit the rich widow and her scheming big-shot lawyer, who also wants to run the ballet.

Release Date:1992-04-17

Department:Production

Job:Executive Producer

Vote Count:63

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear

Bumbling lieutenant Frank Drebin is out to foil the big boys in the energy industry, who intend to suppress technology that will put them out of business.

Release Date:1991-06-28

Department:Production

Job:Executive Producer

Vote Count:2271

Ghost

After a young man is murdered, his spirit stays behind to warn his lover of impending danger, with the help of a reluctant psychic.

Release Date:1990-07-13

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:5636

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

When the incompetent Lieutenant Frank Drebin seeks the ruthless killer of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.

Release Date:1988-12-02

Department:Production

Job:Executive Producer

Vote Count:3760

Ruthless People

A couple, cheated by a vile businessman, kidnap his wife in retaliation—without knowing that their enemy is delighted they did.

Release Date:1986-06-26

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:405

Top Secret!

Popular and dashing American singer Nick Rivers travels to East Germany to perform in a music festival. When he loses his heart to the gorgeous Hillary Flammond, he finds himself caught up in an underground resistance movement. Rivers joins forces with Agent Cedric and Flammond to attempt the rescue of her father, Dr. Paul, from the Germans, who have captured the scientist in hopes of coercing him into building a new naval mine.

Release Date:1984-06-08

Department:Writing

Job:Screenplay

Character:German Soldier in Prop Room (uncredited)

Vote Count:1195

Police Squad!

In this cult parody of cop dramas, replete with farce and sight gags, Lieutenant Frank Drebin and his fellow officers from Police Squad bungle their way though crime investigations.

Release Date:1982-03-04

Department:Writing

Job:Writer

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:357

Airplane!

An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.

Release Date:1980-07-02

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Character:Ground Crewman #1

Vote Count:4565

Rock 'n' Roll High School

A group of rock-music-loving students, with the help of the Ramones, take over their school to combat its newly installed oppressive administration.

Release Date:1979-04-20

Department:Directing

Job:Second Unit Director

Vote Count:139

The Kentucky Fried Movie

A series of loosely connected skits that spoof news programs, commercials, porno films, kung-fu films, disaster films, blaxploitation films, spy films, mafia films, and the fear that somebody is watching you on the other side of the TV.

Release Date:1977-08-10

Department:Writing

Job:Writer

Character:Various

Vote Count:319

1000 Miles

The true story of William and Ellen Craft, who escaped enslavement in Georgia by disguising themselves as a white slave owner and his slave.

Department:Production

Job:Producer