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David Zucker

David Zucker

Highest Rated: 97% Airplane! (1980)

Lowest Rated: 4% Scary Movie V (2013)

Birthday: Oct 16, 1947

Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

With his younger brother Jerry and childhood pal Jim Abrahams, writer-producer-director David Zucker was responsible for a series of hilarious spoofs of a wide swath of popular movie genres. After forming a comedy troupe in college, the trio made their film debut with the cult classic, "The Kentucky Fried Movie" (1977), which featured a string of vignettes. But it was their next spoof, "Airplane!" (1980), that marked their first major hit and established the three as an influential comedic force. After "Airplane," the Zuckers and Abraham made an attempt at television with "Police Squad!" (ABC, 1982) before returning to the big screen with "Top Secret!" (1984). With the trio going their separate ways, Zucker began making more mainstream movies, directing "Ruthless People" (1986) and the successful film franchise, "The Naked Gun - From the Files of Police Squad!" (1988), which revitalized the Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) character from "Police Squad" and spawned two hit sequels. From there, Zucker directed "BASEketball" (1998) and flew solo to direct the romantic comedy "My Boss' Daughter" (2003). On his own, Zucker breathed new life into the "Scary Movie" franchise, directing the third and fourth installments. Zucker remained, along with his two cohorts, a true pioneer of the spoof comedy.

Photos

David Zucker at arrivals for Amazon Originals'' THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE Series Premiere, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, NY November 2, 2015. Photo By: Abel Fermin/Everett Collection SCARY MOVIE 3, Leslie Nielsen, Charlie Sheen, director David Zucker on the set, 2003, (c) Dimension BASEKETBALL, Trey Parker, David Zucker, Matt Stone, on set, 1998. ©MCA Universal TOP SECRET, Writer-Director team David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, on set, 1984 RUTHLESS PEOPLE, Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, on set, 1986 THE KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE, Rick Baker, (in gorilla suit), screenwriters Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, 1977 AIRPLANE!, Jerry Zucker, Howard Koch, Robert K. Weiss, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, on set, 1980 HIGH SCHOOL HIGH, Writers Robert LoCash and David Zucker, director Hart Bochner, 1996. ©TriStar Pictures SCARY MOVIE 4, Debra Wilson as 'Oprah Winfrey', Director David Zuker, on set, 2006,(c) Dimension SCARY MOVIE 4, Director David Zuker, Leslie Nielsen, on set, 2006,(c) Dimension SCARY MOVIE 4, Anna Faris, Director David Zuker, on set, 2006,(c) Dimension NAKED GUN 2 1/2: THE SMELL OF FEAR, director David Zucker, on set, 1991. ©Paramount Pictures SCARY MOVIE 4, James Earl Jones, Director David Zuker, on set, 2006,(c) Dimension HIGH SCHOOL HIGH, screenwriter David Zucker (plain white t-shirt), director Hart Bochner, on set, 1996. ©Sony Pictures NAKED GUN 2 1/2: THE SMELL OF FEAR, Leslie Nielsen, director David Zucker, 1991, (c)Paramount Pictures SCARY MOVIE 3, George Carlin, director David Zucker on the set, 2003, (c) Dimension
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
4% 38% Scary Movie V Screenwriter,
Producer 		$32.0M 2013
12% 48% An American Carol Director,
Writer 		$7.0M 2008
34% 51% Scary Movie 4 Director $90.7M 2006
35% 54% Scary Movie 3 Director $110.0M 2003
41% 74% BASEketball Director,
Writer,
Producer 		$7.0M 1998
19% 37% High School High Producer $21.0M 1996
46% 75% A Walk in the Clouds Producer $48.0M 1995
58% 53% Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult Producer,
Screenwriter 		$48.1M 1994
58% 65% The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear Director,
Screenwriter 		$84.3M 1991
86% 84% The Naked Gun Director,
Screenwriter,
Executive Producer 		$77.9M 1988
93% 72% Ruthless People Director $70.9M 1986
76% 80% Top Secret! Director,
Writer,
Executive Producer 		- 1984
97% 89% Airplane! Director,
Writer,
Executive Producer 		- 1980

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 88% Impractical Jokers Self 2020
90% 93% Police Squad! Executive Producer,
Director,
Writer 		1982