Jim Abrahams, Shorewood native and co-creator of classic comedy 'Airplane,' passes away

He was a Shorewood native who helped produce one of Hollywood's comedy classics. CBS 58 has learned Jim Abrahams has died at the age of 80. 

Abrahams teamed up with Jerry and David Zucker, who grew up with him in Shorewood, to create the movie "Airplane" in 1990. It was a disaster movie spoof that used well-known actors, delivering funny lines with a straight face and it was a huge hit. 

"Airplane" was inspired by a 1957 thriller called "Zero Hour" and Abrahams talked about that during a CBS interview last year. 

"I mean we were sitting, doing this little theater, knowing we didn't want to do that forever, trying to figure out a movie to write, and all of a sudden 'Zero Hour' just landed in our laps," Abrahams said. 

Abrahams worked with the Zucker brothers on other projects, including "Top Secret" and "The Naked Gun" TV series with Leslie Nielson. 

His death has been reported by several sources, citing family members.