Along with his fellow filmmakers David and Jerry Zucker, he revolutionized film comedy with a straight-faced, fast-paced style of parody.

Jim Abrahams, who has died aged 80, was one of three badly behaved American schoolboys who went on to reinvent screen comedy with quick-fire spoofs such as Airplane! and The Naked Gun.

Jim Abrahams, who along with Jerry and David Zucker made up the filmmaking trio behind the spoof comedies 'Airplane!' and 'Naked Gun,' has died at 80.