James Burrows, Legendary TV Director, Passes Away at 85
James Burrows, the renowned director behind some of America's most cherished sitcoms, has died at the age of 85.
Best known as the co-creator of the hit sitcom Cheers, Burrows directed over 1,000 episodes of other iconic television comedies, including Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and Will & Grace.
Attorney Tom Hoberman confirmed Burrows' passing "with great sadness" to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.
Distinguished Career and Accolades
Spanning more than five decades, Burrows' career earned him 11 Emmy Awards and five Directors Guild of America Awards.
In a statement shared with the US publication People, his family said:
"We celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James 'Jimmy' Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family.
For more than five decades, Burrows was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history. As a legendary director, mentor, and creative force, he helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world."
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in Los Angeles in 1940, Burrows spent much of his childhood in New York.
As a young adult, he attended the graduate program at the Yale School of Drama, where he gained his initial experience in directing.
After several years working behind the camera, he co-created the sitcom Cheers alongside brothers Glen and Les Charles. The show quickly became a major television success in the 1980s in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Legacy and Tributes
The Directors Guild of America described Burrows as "an incredibly generous colleague" who shared his "wisdom, and warm humor with his fellow Guild members and all he worked with."
Actor Eric McCormack, who portrayed Will in Will & Grace, paid tribute on social media, stating that Burrows left "an incredible legacy."
"The 800 lb gorilla of television comedy for fifty years, he was beloved by everyone, and has left not a mark but a footprint," he wrote.
