Jim Abrahams, part of the team behind such comedy touchstones as Airplane!,' the 'Naked Gun' films and Police Squad!, died November 26 in Santa Monica at 80.

Jim Abrahams, a writer and director behind slapstick comedies like “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” series, has died. He was 80 years old.

Jim Abrahams, a writer-producer-director who partnered with childhood friends Jerry and David Zucker to create slapstick comedy classics including “Airplane!,” “Police Squad!” and “The Naked Gun,” died Tuesday at age 80.