Abrahams on the set of Hot Shots! Photo: 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection Jim Abrahams, a frequent collaborator of Jerry and David Zucker and the writer-director of such films as Airplane! , Top Secret! , and Hot Shots! , died of natural causes at the age of 80, his son Joseph confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on November 26. Abrahams got his first break in the industry co-writing with the Zucker brothers, who were his childhood friends, the sketch-heavy The Kentucky Fried Movie in 1977.