Legendary sitcom director James Burrows, known for co-creating “Cheers” and directing “Will & Grace,” has died. He was 85 years old.
“Today we honor the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James “Jimmy” Burroughs, who passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family,” his family told PEOPLE in a statement Friday.
“For more than 50 years, Burroughs has been one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history,” the statement continued. “As a legendary director, mentor and creative force, he helped shape comedy for generations and brought immense joy to audiences around the world.”
Burroughs’ loved ones recalled his “unparalleled career” in which he directed more than 1,000 television episodes. He also created and produced several critically acclaimed shows, including “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Taxi,” “Frasier,” “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory.”
“But beyond his remarkable accomplishments, Burrows will be remembered for something even greater: his kindness, generosity, and unwavering faith in those around him,” the statement continued. “He had a rare ability to make everyone better, remembered everyone he met by name, and was known for making colleagues at all levels feel recognized, valued and appreciated.”
His family remembered the greatness of television as someone who understood that great comedy was more than just laughs.
“It was about humanity, connection and truth,” the statement said. “That understanding was the foundation of a career that changed television forever.”
“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.”
Born in Los Angeles, California, Burroughs was close to figures such as Truman Capote and John Steinbach from an early age. They were family friends, as his father, playwright and director Abe Burroughs, wrote books on such Broadway classics as Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
He moved to New York City as a teenager and graduated from the New York High School of Music and Arts (which merged into the current Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School in 1984).
After graduating from Oberlin College and the Yale School of Drama, he began working as a dialect coach on his father’s 1965 sitcom “OK Crackerby!” He also works as a stage manager for the Broadway show “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (produced by his father).
After Burroughs began his career directing touring plays such as “40 Carats” and “The Odd Couple,” his first major television job was directing “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in 1974.
Burrows became a prolific director of multi-camera sitcoms and won 11 Emmy Awards. He directed 237 episodes of “Cheers” (out of 275 total) and the 1994 “Friends” pilot.
“I did four pilots, and that year, and[Friends]was the last pilot I did, six of them were available,” Burroughs told Indiewire in 2023.
He recalled being surprised by the instant chemistry between Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc.
However, he noted that they were “remnants” of actors “available” at the time. “There’s a lot of luck involved” in megahits like “Friends,” he noted.
In 2016, the cast of “Friends” (minus Perry, who was rehearsing for a play in London at the time) reunited for NBC’s onscreen tribute titled “Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burroughs.”
“I would do anything for Jim Burrows. He truly gave me the opportunity of a lifetime and probably the best 10 years of my acting career that I will remember forever,” Aniston said at the time.
“I think he taught us everything we know about comedic timing, support and collaboration,” she said. “He’s our daddy.”
Aniston isn’t the only star who considers her family. In a 2017 Facebook post, Deborah Messing described him as “the man who inspired my dreams, the great Jimmy Burrows, or as my son calls him, Papa Jimmy.”
In addition to the Friends cast, the 2016 tribute special also featured Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Tony Danza, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Melissa McCarthy, Sean Hayes, Messing, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Jon Cryer, and Charlie Sheen.
Although Burroughs shaped the modern sitcom, his only effort on the big screen was a failure, the 1982 film Partners starring Ryan O’Neal.
Rhea Perlman called him “Maestro” in an interview celebrating “GMA’s” 2022’s “Cheers.”
“Jimmy had a habit of saying, ‘Oh, bu, bu, bu, bu, let’s do it again,’ before he blew it in front of the audience, because when you started running, he could tell you were slipping in the wrong direction,” he recalled, which always caused a “big laugh.”
Perlman starred in the iconic comedy alongside Danson, Long, George Wendt, Kirstie Alley, John Ratzenberger, and Woody Harrelson.
Danson praised Burroughs’ ability to convincingly play former professional baseball player Sam Malone. “Jimmy Burrows really helped me out, telling me, ‘Reach out regularly and get a grip on yourself,’ and we got a lot of close-ups,” Danson said on a 2024 episode of Sirius XM’s “Where Everybody Knows Your Name.”
He quipped that athletes often do such things “for some reason.”
Burrows told Indiewire that he doesn’t consider his job to be similar to directing a movie. “I’ll leave the camera to Spielberg and Scorsese.”
Burroughs described himself as a “theatre rat” and said his job involved putting on a “play” every week.
“I understand character. I understand what’s interesting. I understand the essence of keeping movement and keeping energy. Everything is theatrical.”
When Frasier was revived on Paramount+ in 2023, showrunners Joe Cristalli and Chris Harris told the show that Burroughs directed the pilot, so his “DNA” is reflected throughout the show.
“He was in the audition room with everyone who came. He’s cracking jokes on set… At the end he gives you a big hug. He calls you honey! There’s nothing better than that, I loved it,” said Crystalli.
Burroughs lived in Manhattan with his wife, Debbie Easton, a celebrity hairstylist.
In 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America.
The family statement concluded with the family remembering him as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
“He is survived by his beloved wife Debbie, four daughters and seven grandchildren,” the statement said. “He will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Our thoughts are with Debbie, his children, grandchildren, family, friends, collaborators and all whose lives he touched. May his memory be a blessing.”
Page Six has reached out to his representatives for comment.
