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Jim Abrahams, one of the creative minds behind such comedies as Airplane!, three Naked Gun movies, and the TV series Police Squad!, died November 26, 2024, at his Santa Monica, California home, Deadline reports. He was 80 years old.

Abrahams was born May 10, 1944, in Shorewood, Wi. He grew up with the brothers David and Jerry Zucker, and the trio often referred to as "Zaz" got their start in Hollywood with The Kentucky Fried Movie. Written by Zaz and directed by John Landis, the film consists of a series of crude, sometimes offensive vignettes something which, by modern standards, could never be made today. Abrahams and the Zucker brothers appeared in the movie alongside James Bond actor George Lazenby, Donald Sutherland, and The Incredible Hulk star Bill Bixby, among others.

The trio got their big break in 1980 with Airplane!, a send-up of '70s disaster flicks like Airport and The Poseidon Adventure. Starring Leslie Nielsen,...

Filmmaker Jim Abrahams, whose work includes co-directing the iconic comedy movie Airplane!, has passed away.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Jim Abrahams died on Tuesday at his home in Santa Monica, California. According to his son, Joseph, the filmmaker's passing was due to natural causes. He was 80 years old.

Abrahams has long been known for his work on several popular slapstick comedy movies. He frequently collaborated with filmmaking brothers Jerry and David Zucker, and the trio co-wrote John Landis' 1977 comedy Kentucky Fried Movie. They followed this up by co-writing and co-directing Airplane!, the 1980 spoof of disaster movies starring Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Robert Stack.

With a budget of less than $4 million, the comedy earned over $171 million at the box office. The film also won a WGA Award for Best Adapted Comedy. It is still remembered fondly as one of the best slapstick comedies ever made, often quoted by...

Jim Abrahams, the comedy legend who brought some of the most beloved movie quotes of all time into the zeitgeist as the co-director of “Airplane” and co-writer of “The Naked Gun,” has died of natural causes at the age of 80. The news was first broken by The Hollywood Reporter.

Born in Wisconsin in 1944, Abrahams is best known for his career-spanning collaboration with his childhood friends David and Jerry Zucker. Working under the moniker Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker, the three men developed a distinct brand of unapologetically goofy, gag-a-minute comedy that often spoofed other popular forms of media.

The trio broke through in 1977 when they co-wrote “The Kentucky Fried Movie,” a star-studded collection of sketches that lampooned many of the era’s lowbrow film genres, including Kung-fu movies and softcore porn. Directed by Max Landis, the film proved to be the perfect introduction to the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker sense of humor, in which landing the perfect...

Jim Abrahams, a film director and writer behind hit slapstick comedies like “Airplane!,” “Hot Shots!,” the “Naked Gun” series and more, died Tuesday, his son Joseph confirmed to Variety. He was 80.

With his childhood friends Jerry and David Zucker, Abrahams formed the filmmaking trio, called Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker, and popularized the spoof genre of the 1980s.

“Jim Abrahams redefined the boundaries of humor through groundbreaking works like ‘Airplane!’ and ‘The Naked Gun’ series. Together with Jerry and David Zucker, he transformed satire into an art form, inspiring generations of comedians and filmmakers and leaving an indelible mark on the world of comedy,” said the National Comedy Center executive director Journey Gunderson in a statement.

With the Zucker brothers, Abrahams founded the The Kentucky Fried Theater while they all attended college together at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1971. That led to them making their film debut with the indie sketch...

One of the greatest crime movies of all time, "The French Connection" is William Friedkin's gritty drama based on a true story. Gene Hackman stars as Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, a no-nonsense, rule-breaking cop who gets caught up investigating a case in which the Italian mob is bringing drugs into America with the help of a French heroin-smuggling syndicate. But this isn't an open-and-shut case. The lawmen are seemingly foiled at every turn, and things end on a shocking, bleak note. It's an amazing movie with one of the best chase sequences ever captured on film. "The French Connection" was released nearly 53 years ago, which means many of its cast members have left us, along with director Friedkin, who died last year. But a few are still around. So here are the only major actors still alive from "The French Connection."

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Gene...

Hey, remember when they released that picture of the CGI movie Sonic the Hedgehog and it was so freakish and unnerving that animators had to work overtime to fix it? Anywho, Sonic the Hedgehog is coming to Hulu this month.

The heroic blue hedgehog who just wants to go fast is far from the only exciting new film or TV show coming to Hulu in February 2021. The library titles are unusually packed this month. In addition to Sonic, the sublimely goofy Mars Attacks!, 2020 horror film Possessor, and the first six Star Trek films all arrive on Feb. 1. Later on in the month are Antebellum (Feb. 5) and Nomadland (Feb. 19).

It’s a good thing that the library titles are strong because Hulu isn’t brining many originals of note to the table in February 2021. Into the Dark continues on its spooky mission with the Valentine-centric Tentacles dropping on Feb. 12. That will...

Sundance Institute today announced the latest additions to the programming slate of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, which kicks off Thursday, January 28th at Festival.Sundance.org and via a network of Satellite Screens across the U.S.

Thursday evening’s Opening Night Welcome on the Festival platform, at 6pm Mt, will feature remarks from Institute CEO Keri Putnam, Festival Director Tabitha Jackson, musical performances from Red Spirit and Rhiannon Giddens, and messages from Festival alumni. February 2’s Awards Night, whose juries were announced last week, will be hosted by actor and comedian Patton Oswalt, and feature special appearances from Alison Brie, Shira Haas and Diego Luna alongside the jurors.

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“What makes Sundance, Sundance is of course more than simply the films,” said Jackson. “We are excited that the conversations, provocations, performances, and celebration of this community are even richer this...

Gregory Sierra, the actor known for his roles on “Barney Miller” and “Sanford and Son,” has died at the age of 83, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

A family spokesperson told THR that Sierra died earlier this month after a long battle with cancer.

Sierra was best known for co-starring on the first two seasons of “Barney Miller” as the emotionally volatile Sgt. Miguel “Chano” Amanguale. He also appeared on three seasons of “Sanford and Son” as the Sanfords’ Puerto Rican neighbor Julio Fuentes.

His other TV credits include “Hill Street Blues,” “Soap,” “Miami Vice,” “Murder, She Wrote” and the short-lived “A.E.S. Hudson Street.” His film credits include “The Flying Nun,” “The Towering Inferno,” “The Trouble with Spies” and “Mafia!”

Gregory Sierra’s final acting credit was the long-delayed Orson Welles film “The Other Side of the Wind,” which was released on Netflix in 2018 with footage shot by the late director in the 1970s.

Gregory Sierra, who was a key part of two major 1970s sitcoms as Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son and Sgt. Miguel “Chano” Amenguale on Barney Miller, has died. He was 83.

Sierra died Jan. 4 in Laguna Woods, California, from cancer, according to a family spokesman. His death just became public today.

Born in New York’s Spanish Harlem, Sierra worked with the National Shakespeare Company and in the New York Shakespeare Festival. He also appeared in off-Broadway plays and was a standby on Broadway for The Ninety Day Mistress in 1967.

Moving to Los Angeles, Sierra had guest appearances on such shows as It Takes a Thief, Medical Center, The High Chaparral, Mod Squad, The Flying Nun and Kung Fu.

In films he was also a supporting actor in Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Getting Straight (1970), Papillon (1973), The Towering Inferno (1974) and the Orson Welles project The Other Side of the Wind.

Kollywood To be bankrolled by Drumsticks Productions, the film will go on floors in February and will release in August 2021.Digital NativeActor Arun Vijay, who has been around for over two decades, is one of the most underrated actors of Tamil cinema. Director Hari is now all set to team up with Arun Vijay for a project for the first time. Though the news was already taken over the internet with fans sharing it across all social media platforms, It was announced officially on Monday. To be bankrolled by Drumsticks Productions who had bankrolled Trisha Illana Nayanthara, Imaikka Nodigal, En Aaloda Seruppa Kaanom and Igloo. The film will go on floors in February and will release in August 2021. Touted to be a high-budget film in Arun Vijay's career the film is said to be a complete family entertainer with director Hari's elements. It is well known that Director Hari is...

KollywoodThe children’s film will be directed by debutant Sarov Shanmugam.Digital NativeDigital NativeActor Suriya has been actively involved in production apart from acting over the last few years. From backing his wife Jyothika in her comeback film 36 Vayadhinile to bankrolling Sudha Kongara’s Soorarai Pottru, the star has made some really exciting choices as a producer. The latest update is that he will be launching actor Arun Vijay’s son in his next production venture. The details about the project are yet unknown; however, it has been confirmed that it will be a children’s film. Arun Vijay took to Twitter to share the news about his son’s acting debut. He wrote: “With all your blessings, extremely happy to announce that my son Arnav Vijay is making his debut today! Proud that he will be launched by Actor @Suriya_offl’s @2D_ENTPVTLTD. Feels good to continue the camaraderie generation after generation.

Juicy J has dropped his video for “1995” featuring Logic. The song appears on his newly released The Hustle Continues via eOne.

In the Justin Fleischer and Mike Holland-directed video, Juicy J and Logic reflect on how and what they were doing in the year 1995 and how that relates to where they are now. Logic opens with his verse. “My lane different, too sufficient, my brain different,” he raps of that time period. “I’m ill though, 15, mastered the skill though.” Juicy J recalls “Whipping through North Memphis back in 1995/Screamin’ ‘Mafia’ had my city hypnotized.

Actor Namit Das shared a fond memory from his small screen days on the occasion of World Television Day on Saturday.

Namit recalled his stint on the popular sitcom "Sumit Sambhal Lega". He played the titular character Sumit, a reckless young man who is responsibility-phobic.

"I have very fond memories of 'Sumit Sambhal Lega' because I was on set two days after my marriage, thanks to my lovely wife who waited for the honeymoon," shared Namit.

"What I remember of my television days is that it polishes you for the other things you will do in life as an actor. You can't get that kind of practice anywhere else," he added.

Namit Das is married to actress Shruti Vyas. The couple tied the knot on February 15, 2015.

On World Television Day, Namit got nostalgic about his TV debut. "My association with television goes back to when I was a college boy and had started acting.

New Delhi, Nov 17 (Ians) The advent of Ott has not only been a boon for fresh talent. Many senior actors are also seeing a fresh lease of life to the careers thanks to the digital domain.

Ians lists names of actors who saw a new life to their career all thanks to OTTs.

Sushmita Sen

The actress, who was last seen in the 2015 Bengali film "Nirbaak", made her acting comeback with a fierce avatar through the web series "Aarya". The show is about how her protagonist Aarya is pulled into the narcotics business when her family is threatened. The series streams on Disney+ Hotstar VIP. Sushmita now looks forward to the second season of the show.

"The response to ‘Aarya' has been overwhelmingly great. An entire team of fantastic people put this show together and we knew we were creating something magical with ‘Aarya'. However, even we could not fathom...

SNL alumni Taran Killam will host Mafia 4 ‘Merica, an evening of charity and comedy, on Saturday, October 24th, at 7 Pm Pt/10Pm Et via the Looped app. All proceeds from the evening will benefit When We All Vote, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization founded by Michelle Obama and others.

Fred Armisen, Vanessa Bayer, Jillian Bell, Adam Brody, Will Forte, Natasha Lyonne, Bobby Moynihan, Randall Park, Sam Richardson, Andrea Savage, Ben Schwartz, Cobie Smulders and others will play the popular party game Mafia. Audience members will know everyone’s role, but the players will not.

Mafia consists of two secretly predetermined teams, an informed minority (The Mafia), and an uninformed majority (The Villagers). At the start of the game, each player is confidentially assigned a role affiliated with one of these teams (Mafia or Villager).

The game has two alternating phases. First, everyone closes their eyes and The Mafia must decide secretly...

Polly Bergen, “Kisses for My President” (1964)

President Leslie McCloud was a real pioneer — but the plot focuses on Fred MacMurray as the First Husband struggling to find a purpose. And to add insult to injury, she resigns when she learns she’s pregnant.

Patty Duke, “Hail to the Chief (1985)

In this short-lived ABC sitcom, Duke played President Julia Mansfield who had to deal with a cheating first husband, a rogue Air Force general and multiple schemes for her impeachment.

Christina Applegate, “Mafia!” (1998)

In this spoof of “The Godfather Part II,” Applegate plays a version of Diane Keaton’s Kay Adams-Corleone — named Diane — who leaves the Michael-like Mob boss (Jay Mohr) and goes on to become president of the U.S. Sadly, she puts a nuclear disarmament deal on hold to return to her ex.

Geena Davis, “Commander in Chief” (2005-06)

Davis’ Mackenzie Allen was a former congresswoman and political independent...

Mafia was by-far one of the best action role-playing games of its time, but when Hangar 13 and publisher 2K announced the first installment was to be remade from the ground up I as many other we’re excited to jump back in this amazing and beautiful world. Today, Hangar 13 and publisher 2K have announced […]

The post Mafia: Definitive Edition Launching September 25 Due to Covid-19; Gameplay Coming July 22 appeared first on Cinelinx | Movies. Games. Geek Culture..

The cult classic Mafia series is getting a re-release this year called the Mafia Trilogy, which will feature remastered versions of Mafia 2 and Mafia 3 as well as a full remake of the original Mafia, which 2K is calling “the centerpiece of the collection.”

“The original Mafia made such a lasting impact on how video games can tell serious stories, and we know how much the series’ fans still revere it,” said Haden Blackman, president and Cco at Hangar 13, in a press release. Blackman, who previously served as director and writer of Mafia 3, is leading the development of Mafia: Definitive Edition. “Nearly 20 years after the Mafia series started, we now have an amazing opportunity to introduce this beloved game to a new generation of players and give longtime fans a chance to relive Tommy’s story with a stellar modern presentation, as well as new story elements and gameplay features.”

2K...

Though it was teased last week, today brings all the details on the Mafia Trilogy remasters including Two that are available now and what fans can expect. The Mafia games are coming back as one big bundle you can actually play two of them starting today! The trilogy bundle arrives on August 28th, but if […]

The post Mafia Trilogy Delivers Full Remasters of the Crime Franchise appeared first on Cinelinx | Movies. Games. Geek Culture..

Jason Davis, a former child star and voice actor on the Disney Channel animated series Recess, died Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 35.

On Recess, Davis voiced the character of Mikey Blumberg from 1997-2001 during the show’s six-season run. In addition to his voice work, he appeared on Dave’s World and Roseanne as a child, as well as in a string of films including Rush Hour, Beverly Hills Ninja and Mafia!, according to his IMDb page.

Davis’ cause of death is not yet known. He co-founded Cure Addiction Now, which helps fund research for people suffering from substance abuse. He had been open about his own struggles with addiction, and in the 2010-2011 season appeared on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.

Davis was the grandson of philanthropist Barbara Davis and late studio chief Marvin Davis. His grandfather bought 20th Century Fox in 1981. Four years later, the oilman sold the company to Rupert Murdoch.

Jason Davis, best known as the voice of Mikey Blumberg on Disney Channel’s “Recess,” died on Sunday. He was 35.

“I am so heartbroken to share the saddest news of my life that my son Jason Davis passed away this morning in Los Angeles. Jason had a true heart of gold with such a zest for life. He was such a caring soul to everybody who ever knew him. He loved his friends and his family above all else. We ask for privacy as we take time to grieve this most devastating loss,” his mother, Nancy Davis, said in a statement.

The cause of death is unknown at this time.

Also Read: Nikita Pearl Waligwa, Disney's 'Queen of Katwe' Actress, Dies at 15

Davis, who was the grandson of the late studio Fox chief Marvin Davis and philanthropist Barbara Davis, struggled with substance abuse and appeared on “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew...

Jason Davis, a voice actor on the Disney Channel show “Recess,” died in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 35.

“I am so heartbroken to share the saddest news of my life that my son Jason Davis passed away this morning in Los Angeles. Jason had a true heart of gold with such a zest for life. He was such a caring soul to everybody who ever knew him. He loved his friends and his family above all else. We ask for privacy as we take time to grieve this most devastating loss,” his mother, Nancy Davis, said in a statement to Variety.

Davis appeared in a few movies as a kid, including “Rush Hour,” “Beverly Hills Ninja” and “Mafia!” He voiced the character Mikey Blumberg on Disney Channel’s animated series “Recess” through its six seasons on air from 1997-2001. He also lent his voice to the character in several spinoff movies.