Jim Kouf

Writer/producer Jim Kouf is best known for his action-packed, star-studded features. He broke into film in 1981 as a co-writer on the forgotten indie comedy "Utilities." The next year, he expanded to producing with the wacky neighbor comedy "Pink Motel." His breakthrough came in 1987 with the buddy cop action-comedy "Stakeout," which teamed the curmudgeonly Richard Dreyfuss with a mustachioed Emilio Estevez. The movie was a hit, leading to "Another Stakeout," a sequel that added upcoming comedienne Rosie O'Donnell to the mix. Balancing his writing wit with his producing prowess, Kouf churned out the screenplay for the Disney comedy-adventure "Operation Dumbo Drop" while executive producing "Con Air," the high-flying Nicolas Cage action flick.

It wasn't long before Kouf's action-scripting abilities became his trademark. He penned the culture clash comedy smash "Rush Hour," which co-starred martial arts master Jackie Chan and motor-mouth Chris Tucker, as well as another Cage vehicle, the globetrotting adventure "National Treasure." Since 2000, his producing career has shifted into television, where he served as a consulting producer on the vampire saga "Angel" and the paranormal-themed drama "Ghost Whisperer." Kouf has also contributed several scripts to each series. In 2010, Kouf tried his hand at writing and directing, with the independent crime comedy "A Fork in the Road."