Legendary TV Director James Burrows, Co-Creator of 'Cheers', Passes Away at 85

James Burrows, the celebrated and prolific director who for over three decades stood as television’s preeminent sitcom helmer, passed away on Friday at the age of 85. His family confirmed his death, issuing a statement to People that celebrated his "extraordinary life and enduring legacy." For more than five decades, Burrows was acknowledged as one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history, leaving an indelible mark as a legendary director, mentor, and creative force who shaped generations of comedy and brought immense joy to global audiences.

Throughout his illustrious career, Burrows garnered 11 Emmy Awards, commencing with back-to-back comedy directing trophies in 1980 and 1981 for his exceptional work on ABC’s "Taxi." He was particularly renowned for his unparalleled skill in directing television pilots and his remarkable ability to collaborate with actors, notably guiding inexperienced talents such as the stars of NBC’s iconic series "Friends." Furthermore, Burrows is widely credited with revolutionizing the world of sitcoms by introducing a fourth camera to the traditional three-camera setup, thereby opening up new possibilities for comedic storytelling.

A pivotal figure in some of television’s most beloved comedies, Burrows co-created NBC’s enduring barroom comedy "Cheers" alongside brothers Glen and Les Charles. His directorial touch extended to every single episode of NBC’s critically acclaimed "Will & Grace," from its debut in 1998 through to its conclusion in 2020. In a testament to his incredible longevity and dedication, NBC honored Burrows in February 2016 as he achieved the astonishing milestone of directing his 1,000th sitcom episode on November 24, 2015, while working on the NBC sitcom "Crowded," starring Carrie Preston, Patrick Warburton, and Stacy Keach.

The industry's profound respect for Burrows was prominently displayed during the February 21 special "Must See TV: An All Star Salute to James Burrows." This star-studded tribute, taped on January 24 in Hollywood, brought together a veritable gaggle of stars from his numerous shows over the years. Luminaries such as Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Tony Danza, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Melissa McCarthy, Sean Hayes, Debra Messing, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Jon Cryer, and Charlie Sheen gathered under one roof. Their common goal was to salute "Jimmy," the man crucial in launching or furthering their careers, and, in many cases, ensuring their financial stability through steady syndication payments. The fact that NBC dedicated two hours of prime Sunday real estate to this salute underscores Burrows’ unique and influential status within the entertainment industry, with his impact extending from the distinctive style he infused into his shows to the invaluable mentorship he offered to a generation of helmers.

Born in Los Angeles, James Burrows was the son of renowned writer-director Abe Burrows, who penned the books for Broadway classics like "Guys and Dolls," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," and "Can Can." Although born in L.A. while his father worked for top radio comedies, his family soon relocated to New York City. Growing up, Burrows was deeply immersed in a world populated by writers, actors, directors, and other creative talents, often known as "Abe’s kid" to family friends including literary giants such as John Steinbeck, Edward Albee, and Truman Capote. He pursued his education at Gotham’s High School of Music & Arts, followed by Oberlin College and the prestigious Yale University School of Drama.

Upon graduating, Burrows initially returned to Los Angeles, working as a dialogue coach on a short-lived Burl Ives comedy series, "O.K. Crackerby!," which was created by his father. He then moved back to New York, where he served as a stage manager for a Broadway run of "Breakfast at Tiffany’s," another production involving his father and Edward Albee. It was during this production that Burrows gained his formative directorial experience. This led him to direct touring plays such as "40 Carats," "Mr. Roberts," and "The Odd Couple," further solidifying his reputation in theater.

By 1974, Burrows’ growing acclaim as a theater director caught the attention of television producers James L. Brooks and Allan Burns, who offered him the opportunity to direct an episode of their acclaimed series "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." From this pivotal moment onward, Burrows dedicated his career almost exclusively to the small screen. He went on to direct an astonishing number of over 100 TV series and holds the record for 21 Directors Guild Awards nominations, winning the coveted plaque four times. His extensive filmography includes beloved shows such as "The Bob Newhart Show," "Rhoda," "The Betty White Show," "Laverne & Shirley," "Lou Grant," "The Tony Randall Show," "The Associates," "The Stockard Channing Show," "The Hogan Family," "Night Court," "Dear John," "Ladies Man," "Wings," "Frasier," "NewsRadio," "Third Rock from the Sun," "Pearl," "Dharma & Greg," "Caroline in the City," "George & Leo," "The Class," "Courting Alex," "Back to You," "Two and a Half Men," "The Big Bang Theory," "Hank," "Up All Night," "Better with You," "$#*! My Dad Says," "2 Broke Girls," "Partners," "Mike & Molly," and "The Millers." His single foray into feature films, the 1982 Paramount comedy "Partners," starring Ryan O’Neal and John Hurt, was unfortunately a commercial flop.

Reflecting on his craft, Burrows emphasized the critical role of directors in the creative process, even when joining an existing production for a single episodic job. In a 2013 Q&A at USC’s Comedy @ SCA festival, he famously advised, "Don’t be a traffic cop, get in there and say what you wanna say. It’ll only make things better." Despite having arguably spent more time than anyone else calling the shots on network TV sitcoms, he remained remarkably humble about the complex elements required to generate a hit show. In recognition of his profound impact and distinguished contributions, Burrows was honored with a lifetime achievement award for television direction from the Directors Guild of America in 2014.

In his personal life, James Burrows was married to Linda Solomon from 1981 to 1993. He is survived by his second wife, Debbie Easton, whom he married in 1997, and his three children from his marriage to Solomon.