TV Director James Burrows Dies at 85, Remembered for ‘Friends’ and ‘Cheers’
6 verified4 unconfirmed
James Burrows, the prolific television director known for shaping modern sitcoms, died on Friday at age 85. Industry figures have publicly remembered him as a master of comedy who guided iconic shows including "Friends," "Cheers," and "Will & Grace." Burrows co-created the bar-set comedy "Cheers" and directed hundreds of episodes across multiple series. His career spanned decades and earned him credit as a driving force behind NBC's "Must See TV" era. Two separate tributes from actress Jennifer Aniston and former NBC executive Warren Littlefield have emphasized his mentorship and influence. Aniston described Burrows as a father figure, while Littlefield credited him as essential to the network's success. Burrows’ work extended to CBS with producer Chuck Lorre on shows like "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory."
What’s verified
James Burrows died on Friday at age 85, as confirmed by multiple sources.
He directed or executive produced episodes of "Friends," "Cheers," "Will & Grace," "Taxi," "Night Court," "Wings," "Frasier," and "3rd Rock from the Sun."
Burrows co-created "Cheers" and directed 236 of its 275 episodes.
He directed every episode of "Will & Grace" from 1998 to 2020.
Jennifer Aniston posted a tribute on Instagram calling Burrows a father figure who taught the cast to love and respect one another.
Warren Littlefield, former NBC Entertainment president, stated that without Burrows there would have been no "Must See TV" on NBC.
Not yet confirmed
One source reported that Burrows directed 75 episodes of "Taxi" and helmed every episode of "Will & Grace" from 1998 to 2020; these numbers are not confirmed by the second source.
One source noted that Burrows executive produced all 275 episodes of "Cheers" and directed 236; the other source did not provide that specific count.
The second source included details about Burrows’ casting decisions for Ted Danson and Kelsey Grammer, which are not mentioned in the first source.
Neither source specified the cause of death or provided details about surviving family.
Key figures
James Burrows (TV director and producer)
Jennifer Aniston (actress, "Friends")
Warren Littlefield (former NBC Entertainment president)
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
