Jim began his comedy career in 1973 by joining a popular New York comedy trio, Divided We Stand, which was a regular act at the Improvisation Cafe and other New York Clubs, including The Bitter End, Catch a Rising Star, and The Bottom Line. However, the trio spent most of their time touring colleges and other nightclubs, performing at hundreds of colleges in forty-seven states and Europe, sharing the stage with renowned artists such as Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons, The Beach Boys, The Commodores, Jimmy Buffet, The Righteous Brothers, Bill Withers, War, Shana, and The Temptations.
In 1980, Jim had the opportunity to write for television in Los Angeles and made the move with his actress wife Annie Gagen to Hollywood. There, he wrote and produced popular television shows, including Silver Spoons, Punky Brewster, Mama's Family, Three's Company, Sanford, The Facts of Life, Empire, Kate and Allie, Too Close For Comfort, It's Gary Shandling's Show, Boys Will Be Boys, The Van Dyke Show, Amen, and Family Matters. Additionally, he co-created and executive produced The Suite Life of Zack and Cody for the Disney Channel, which later became The Suite Life on Deck. The "Zack and Cody" franchise is about to enter its seventh record-breaking season, earning Jim two Emmy nominations.
Jim also has a background in playwriting for the theater. His critically-acclaimed play Only Kidding ran off-Broadway for 500 performances, earning two Drama Desk Award nominations, including Outstanding New Play. The play was later bought by Home Box Office, published by Samuel French, and has been produced at regional theaters across the country, including the Cleveland Playhouse, Wisdom Bridge in Chicago, the Asolo, and the Odyssey in Los Angeles.
Jim's play Light Sensitive premiered at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, was published by Samuel French, and has seen over forty productions around the United States. The play was nominated for the coveted Jefferson Theater Award in Chicago, seven Drama-Logue Awards in Los Angeles, an Ovation Nomination, and five Bay Area Critics Awards.
His play Two Gentlemen of Corona had its world premiere at the West Coast Ensemble in Los Angeles, where it won an LA Ovation Award. The play has recently been published by Samuel French. Jim has also written the book and lyrics to UG, a musical comedy about the discovery of theater by cavemen. UG had its world premiere at the San Jose Stage Company and has been published by Dramatists Play Service.
