James Burrows, Cheers Co-Creator and Will & Grace Director, Dies at 85 (Exclusive)
He also helped shape hit TV series like 'Friends' and 'The Big Bang Theory'
He was not on the list.
James Burrows has died at the age of 85.
His family confirmed the news in a statement to PEOPLE. Burrows had a decades-long career in television that began with The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He co-created the hit series Cheers. The 11-time Emmy winner also directed every episode of Will & Grace during its original run, and worked behind the camera on shows like Taxi, Frasier, Friends and 3rd Rock from the Sun.
"We celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James 'Jimmy' Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family," the Burrows family shared in a statement to PEOPLE on June 19. "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."
"Over the course of his unparalleled career, Burrows directed more than 1,000 episodes of television and was instrumental in creating some of the most iconic series ever produced, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and The Big Bang Theory, among many others," the statement continued.
"But beyond his remarkable achievements, Burrows will be remembered for something even greater: his kindness, generosity, and unwavering belief in the people around him. He possessed a rare ability to make everyone better and was known for remembering every person he met by name, making colleagues at every level feel seen, valued, and appreciated."
"Burrows understood that great comedy was never simply about laughter. It was about humanity, connection, and truth. That understanding became the foundation of a career that forever changed television," his family wrote. "His influence will continue to be felt for generations through the countless artists he inspired, the stories he helped tell, and the millions of people whose lives were brightened by his work."
The statement concluded, "Above all else, Burrows was a
devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife,
Debbie, his four daughters, and his seven grandchildren. He will be profoundly
missed and forever remembered. Our thoughts are with Debbie, his children and
grandchildren, his family, friends, collaborators, and all those whose lives he
touched. May his memory be a blessing."
Burrows was born in Los Angeles in 1940. His father, Abe Burrows, was a writer and composer, best known for co-writing the books for the musicals Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. When Burrows was young, the family moved to New York, where he attended the High School of Music & Art. He graduated from Oberlin College and then completed a graduate degree from Yale School of Drama.
Burrows returned to California, where he worked as an assistant stage manager for the 1967 play Holly Golightly, where he met Mary Tyler Moore. He eventually began directing plays across the country, and in 1970 he directed the short-lived Broadway play The Castro Complex.
Burrows wrote to Moore to ask if she had any work for him,
and her production company MTM Enterprises hired him to direct episodes of Mary
Tyler Moore and The Bob Newhart Show and assigned him a mentor. He quickly
found success and also directed shows like Phyllis, Rhoda and Laverne &
Shirley, becoming a master of the multi-camera sitcom genre.
His theater background was key, he told IndieWire in 2023. “I’m not a film director. The camera, I leave that to Spielberg and Scorsese,” he explained. “I’m a theatre rat. I stage a play every week, a 20- to 25-minute play and then my camera comes in and covers it. I understand characters, I understand what’s funny, I understand the essence of keeping it moving and keeping the energy going. It’s all theatrical. If it doesn’t happen on that stage, it’s never gonna happen on film. You can cut it nine ways to Sunday, but nothing will work unless it works on that stage.”
Burrows directed over 70 episodes of the sitcom Taxi, which was produced by brothers Glen and Les Charles, former MTM employees. He won his first two Emmys for that series. The trio wanted to have more control over their next show, and together they created Cheers. Burrows ultimately directed all but 35 of the 275 episodes of Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 1993. He earned six Emmys for the series.
“There were a number of shows about bars,” Burrows told Smashing Interviews in 2022 of creating the series. “Cheers was ultimately successful because we did it better than anybody else.” While working on Cheers, Burrows also helmed episodes of The Hogan Family, Dear John and Night Court. When Cheers was spun off into Frasier, which premiered in 1993, he directed the pilot episode, which won him an Emmy. He directed 32 episodes of the show.
Then, Burrows was asked to direct the pilot for a new series
— Friends. He wrote in his 2022 memoir Directed by James Burrows, "I had a
good sense about Friends and knew two things immediately: one, I didn't have
time to direct it, and two, I had to direct it. It became the last pilot shot
that year.”
He continued, "I fell in love with these six kids on
the page immediately. Ninety-five percent of the original pilot script made it
to air." Burrows’ specialty was in making an ensemble of actors feel like
close, personal friends, each with unique dynamics, and he worked that magic on
Friends. He famously brought the Friends cast to Las Vegas and gave them each
$200 for gambling.
“I knew the show had a chance to really take off and told the kids, 'This is your last shot at anonymity. Once the show airs, you guys will never be able to go anywhere without being hounded.' None of them believed me,” he wrote in his memoir. He also directed other season 1 Friends episodes, including "The One with the Blackout," which earned him another Emmy nod. His work on 3rd Rock From the Sun and Dharma & Greg was also honored with nominations.
Burrows directed every episode of Will & Grace during its original run, from 1998 to 2006. He was also one of the show’s producers, and in total he received 12 Emmy nominations for the sitcom, with one win. “I’ll never forget on the pilot, one of the NBC executives came over to me and said, ‘Too many gay jokes,’ ” Burrows told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. “I said, ‘If not here, then where?’ ”
In 2006, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
He later directed episodes of both the Will & Grace and Frasier revival
series.
Burrows also directed the pilots of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory and was behind the camera for many episodes of Mike & Molly. He directed his 1,000th episode of television in 2016. In total, he had 46 Emmy nominations with 11 wins. In 2014, he received the inaugural Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award for television.
Burrows was honored in a 2016 TV tribute that aired on NBC
and featured the Friends and Will & Grace casts. He said during the
special, “I’m so glad you did this when I’m still around because I wouldn’t
want to miss it.”
He noted he’d done “40 years, 1,000 shows, 5,000 rehearsal days, 10,000 rewrites, 500,000 network notes and a million laughs, and I’ve had so much fun, but I could not have done this alone.”
“Thanks for laughing, embracing and loving the characters for all of those years, and still on occasion, when somebody walks into a bar, hollering, ‘NORM!’ ” he said, referencing George Wendt’s beloved Cheers character.
Burrows married Linda Solomon in 1981. They shared three children and divorced in 1993. In 1997, he married Debbie Easton, a hairstylist.
Burrows is survived by his wife and children.
Director
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Director
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Director
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4 episodes
Phyllis (1975)
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Producer
Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham in
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executive producer
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executive producer
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Mullally in Will & Grace (1998)
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'Good Times'
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executive producer
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executive producer
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executive producer
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executive producer
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Urie in Partners (2012)
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13 episodes
Melissa McCarthy and Billy Gardell in Mike & Molly
(2010)
Mike & Molly
6.6
TV Series
executive producer
2010–2012
47 episodes
Alyssa Milano, Josh Lawson, Kelly Stables, and Kyle
Bornheimer in Romantically Challenged (2010)
Romantically Challenged
5.3
TV Series
executive producer
2010
4 episodes
Jay Mohr in Gary Unmarried (2008)
Gary Unmarried
6.7
TV Series
executive producer
2008–2010
36 episodes
Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton in Back to You (2007)
Back to You
6.5
TV Series
executive producer
2007–2008
16 episodes
The Class (2006)
The Class
7.7
TV Series
executive producer
2006–2007
19 episodes
Last Dance
4.4
TV Movie
executive producer
2001
Tikiville (2001)
Tikiville
5.5
TV Movie
executive producer
2001
Peter Gallagher, Mitch Rouse, and Bradley Whitford in The
Secret Lives of Men (1998)
The Secret Lives of Men
7.7
TV Series
executive producer
1998
JoBeth Williams, Mark Blum, and Harriet Sansom Harris in
Gloria Vane (1993)
Gloria Vane
7.2
TV Movie
executive producer
1993
Ted Danson, Shelley Long, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt,
Nicholas Colasanto, and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)
Cheers
8.0
TV Series
executive producerproducer
1982–1993
270 episodes
Dan Hedaya, Mandy Ingber, Jean Kasem, Carlene Watkins,
Timothy Williams, and Aaron Moffatt in The Tortellis (1987)
The Tortellis
5.2
TV Series
executive producer
1987
13 episodes
Bess Armstrong, Carol Kane, Terence Knox, and Shawnee Smith
in All Is Forgiven (1986)
All Is Forgiven
7.6
TV Series
executive producer
1986
Ted Danson in Cheers (1982)
Cheers: Uncle Sam Malone
7.0
TV Movie
producer
1982
Writer
Ted Danson, Shelley Long, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt,
Nicholas Colasanto, and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)
Cheers
8.0
TV Series
created by
1982–1993
270 episodes
Cheers: Last Call! (1993)
Cheers: Last Call!
7.5
TV Short
creator
1993
Dan Hedaya, Mandy Ingber, Jean Kasem, Carlene Watkins,
Timothy Williams, and Aaron Moffatt in The Tortellis (1987)
The Tortellis
5.2
TV Series
created by
1987
13 episodes
Ted Danson in Cheers (1982)
Cheers: Uncle Sam Malone
7.0
TV Movie
created by
1982
Actor
Lisa Kudrow in The Comeback (2005)
The Comeback
7.9
TV Series
Jimmy Burrows (uncredited)
2005–2026
8 episodes
Just Jack & Will with Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack
(2023)
Just Jack & Will with Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack
9.1
Podcast Series
2023
1 episode
Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, and Megan
Mullally in Will & Grace (1998)
Will & Grace
7.4
TV Series
James Burrowscustomer at 'Queers' (uncredited)
2005–2020
2 episodes
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc,
Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer in Friends (1994)
Friends
8.8
TV Series
Director (uncredited)
1994
1 episode
The Bob Newhart Show (1972)
The Bob Newhart Show
8.1
TV Series
Maintenance Man
1977
1 episode
Phyllis (1975)
Phyllis
6.5
TV Series
Telephone Man
1975
1 episode
Valerie Harper in Rhoda (1974)
Rhoda
6.9
TV Series
Agent
1974
1 episode
Additional Crew
Steven Weber, Chris Elliott, Wendell Pierce, and Amy Pietz
in Cursed (2000)
Cursed
6.4
TV Series
executive consultant
2000–2001
16 episodes
Gabriel Byrne, Roy Dotrice, and John Hensley in Madigan Men
(2000)
Madigan Men
6.7
TV Series
consultant
2000
1 episode
Brooke Adams, Brian Corcoran, Joel Davison, and Burl Ives in
O.K. Crackerby! (1965)
O.K. Crackerby!
7.0
TV Series
dialogue coach
1965
5 episodes
Thanks
Walt Disney in The Magical World of Disney (1954)
The Magical World of Disney
8.3
TV Series
special thanks (as Jim Burrows)
1990
1 episode
Mickey's 60th Birthday (1988)
Mickey's 60th Birthday
7.0
TV Movie
special thanks
1988
Self
Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody
Harrelson (Sometimes) (2024)
Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody
Harrelson (Sometimes)
7.0
Podcast Series
Self
2025
1 episode
Behind the Lens with Pete Hammond (2017)
Behind the Lens with Pete Hammond
TV Series
Self - Guest
2024
1 episode
Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie in Today (1952)
Today
4.6
TV Series
Self - Guest
2022–2023
3 episodes
Frasier Inside the Series (2023)
Frasier Inside the Series
Short
Self - Interviewee
2023
Andy Kaufman in Thank You Very Much (2023)
Thank You Very Much
7.3
Self - Director, Taxi
2023
Just Jack & Will with Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack
(2023)
Just Jack & Will with Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack
9.1
Podcast Series
Self - Guest
2023
1 episode
Mary Tyler Moore in Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)
Being Mary Tyler Moore
7.5
Self (voice)
2023
Al Jackson, Jeff Schroeder, Samantha Schacher, Tory Shulman,
Stefanie Rycraft Jones, Erica Cobb, and Lindsey Granger in Daily Blast Live
(2015)
Daily Blast Live
4.0
TV Series
Self
2022
1 episode
Kara Mayer Robinson in Really Famous with Kara Mayer
Robinson (2017)
Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson
6.9
TV Series
Self - Guest
2019–2022
2 episodes
Back to You Podcast (2019)
Back to You Podcast
Podcast Series
Self - Guest
2022
1 episode
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend (2018)
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend
9.1
Podcast Series
Self - Guest
2022
1 episode
Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes in SmartLess
(2020)
SmartLess
9.1
Podcast Series
Self - GuestSelf - Host
2022
2 episodes
Jimmy Kimmel and Guillermo Rodriguez in Jimmy Kimmel Live!
(2003)
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
6.4
TV Series
Self
2003
1 episode
Jamie De Roy in Great Performances (1971)
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
7.9
Self
2021
Stars in the House (2020)
Stars in the House
6.3
TV Series
Self
2021
1 episode
A Will & Grace-ful Goodbye
8.4
TV Short
Self
2020
Jay Sandrich, Geraldine Laybourne, and Robert A. Iger in
25th Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame (2020)
25th Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame
TV Special
Self
2020
The 72th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards
TV Special
Self - Winner
2020
James Lipton in Inside the Actors Studio (1994)
Inside the Actors Studio
8.6
TV Series
Self - Guest
2003–2019
2 episodes
Gilbert Gottfried in Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal
Podcast (2014)
Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast
9.6
Podcast Series
Self - Guest
2019
1 episode
Harry Connick Jr. in Harry (2016)
Harry
5.6
TV Series
Self
2017
1 episode
The Paley Center Salutes the Best of Will & Grace
TV Movie
SelfSelf - Executive Producer & Director
2017
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, and
Michael Richards in The Nineties (2017)
The Nineties
8.1
TV Mini Series
Self - Executive producer, 'Cheers'Self - Director,
'Frasier'
2017
1 episode
Madonna in The Eighties (2016)
The Eighties
8.2
TV Mini Series
Self - Executive producer and co-creator, 'Cheers'
2016
1 episode
Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg (2016)
Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg
7.0
Self
2016
Must See TV: A Tribute to James Burrows (2016)
Must See TV: A Tribute to James Burrows
6.9
TV Special
Self
2016
The Story Behind: Will & Grace (2015)
The Story Behind: Will & Grace
TV Movie
Self
2015
67th Annual Directors Guild Awards
TV Special
Self
2015
The 30th Annual Television Critics Association Awards
TV Special
Self - Presenter
2014
Alan Thicke in Unusually Thicke (2014)
Unusually Thicke
3.3
TV Series
Self
2014
1 episode
Friends: Friends from the Start (2012)
Friends: Friends from the Start
8.6
Video
Self
2012
2 Broke Girls (2011)
2 Broke Girls: 2 Girls Going for Broke
7.2
Video
Self
2012
The 26th Annual Charlie Awards
TV Special
Self - Presenter
2012
Tavis Smiley in Tavis Smiley (2004)
Tavis Smiley
5.7
TV Series
Self
2010
1 episode
Biography (1987)
Biography
7.7
TV Series
Self
2004–2009
2 episodes
The 11th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards (2009)
The 11th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards
TV Special
Self - Winner: Honorary Award
2009
TV Land Moguls (2004)
TV Land Moguls
6.5
TV Mini Series
Self
2009
2 episodes
Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America (2009)
Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America
7.5
TV Series
Self - Director
2009
2 episodes
Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser (2006)
Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser
7.4
TV Movie
Self
2006
The 4th Annual TV Land Awards (2006)
The 4th Annual TV Land Awards
7.2
TV Special
Self
2006
The 100 Most Memorable TV Moments (2004)
The 100 Most Memorable TV Moments
4.6
TV Mini Series
Self
2004
Archive of American Television (1997)
Archive of American Television
7.0
TV Series
Self
2003
1 episode
The 55th Annual Directors Guild Awards
TV Special
Self
2003
20 Years of Must See TV (2002)
20 Years of Must See TV
6.1
TV Special
Self
2002
The 54th Annual Writers Guild Awards
TV Special
Herself
2002
The 10th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (1999)
The 10th Annual GLAAD Media Awards
TV Special
Self
1999
The 'Frasier' Story (1999)
The 'Frasier' Story
8.1
TV Movie
Self
1999
Intimate Portrait (1990)
Intimate Portrait
7.5
TV Series
Self
1998
1 episode
Behind the Laughs (1998)
Behind the Laughs
3.8
TV Movie
Self
1998
60 Minutes (1968)
60 Minutes
7.4
TV Series
Self - Director (segment "Jim Burrows")
1996
1 episode
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards (1996)
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards
6.4
TV Special
Self
1996
Cybill Shepherd and Jason Alexander in The 47th Annual
Primetime Emmy Awards (1995)
The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
7.4
TV Special
Self - Nominee
1995
The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1994)
The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
7.2
TV Special
Self - Winner
1994
The 46th Annual Director's Guild Awards
6.4
TV Special
Self - Winner
1994
The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1993)
The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
6.5
TV Special
Self - Nominee
1993
Cheers: Last Call! (1993)
Cheers: Last Call!
7.5
TV Short
Self (uncredited)
1993
Daphne Zuniga and Grant Show in The 19th Annual People's
Choice Awards (1993)
The 19th Annual People's Choice Awards
5.4
TV Special
Self - Accepting Special Award for Cheers
1993
Alan Rachins in The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1991)
The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
4.9
TV Special
Self - Winner
1991
Ted Danson, Shelley Long, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt,
Nicholas Colasanto, and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)
Cheers
8.0
TV Series
Self
1990
1 episode
The 39th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1987)
The 39th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
5.9
TV Special
Self - Nominee
1987
The 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1986)
The 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
6.1
TV Special
Self - Nominee
1986
The 35th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1983)
The 35th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
8.8
TV Special
Self - Winner
1983
The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1981)
The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
8.3
TV Special
Self - Winner
1981
The Midnight Special (1972)
The Midnight Special
8.6
TV Series
Self
1981
1 episode
The 32nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1980)
The 32nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
7.1
TV Special
Self - Winner
1980
Archive Footage
TV We Love (2025)
TV We Love
8.1
TV Series
Self (archive footage)
2025
1 episode
Strictly Top-Shelf: The Guys Behind the Bar
Video
Self (archive footage)
2004
