James Burrows, a pivotal figure in American television comedy, died on Friday at the age of 85. His family confirmed his peaceful passing, surrounded by family members, but did not provide details about the location or cause of death. Burrows had a distinguished career, directing over a thousand episodes of iconic sitcoms like ‘Cheers,’ ‘Taxi,’ ‘Friends,’ and ‘Will and Grace.’
Burrows began his television journey at the age of 35 in 1974, directing episodes of ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ ‘The Bob Newhart Show,’ and ‘Laverne & Shirley.’ He co-created ‘Cheers’ and directed 243 of its 273 episodes, as well as all 246 episodes of ‘Will and Grace.’ His work extended to other popular series, including ‘Frasier,’ ‘Friends,’ and ‘Mike & Molly.’ He played a key role in the pilots of ‘Two and a Half Men’ and ‘The Big Bang Theory.’
When I direct a television show, I try to reach that sweet spot where the best script meets the best performance and the best chemistry between performers,” Burrows expressed in his 2022 memoir, “Directed by James Burrows.
“Hitting that exact moment, where these factors land in combination, results in the sweetest and most enduring laugh.
His family praised Burrows for his understanding of comedy as not merely laughter but as a reflection of humanity and truth. He was renowned for his kindness, generosity, and belief in the potential of others, always recognizing and valuing his colleagues.
Most of Burrows’ shows aired on NBC, which promoted its ‘Must See TV’ Thursday night lineup during the early 1990s in which ‘Friends’ and ‘Frasier’ featured prominently. NBC acknowledged his exceptional talent, describing him as a master at extracting humor from every situation.
Born James Edward Burrows on December 30, 1940, in Los Angeles, he moved to New York at age five. He participated in the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus before attending LaGuardia High School of Music & Art. Burrows was the son of Abe Burrows, a celebrated writer, director, and producer of Broadway hits like ‘Guys and Dolls.’ Young Burrows spent significant time in theaters, accompanying his father and meeting notable personalities at his father’s famous parties.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College, he pursued graduate studies at the Yale School of Drama. At Yale, courses in directing sparked his interest, leading to his first job as Burl Ives’ dialogue coach on ‘O.K. Crackerby!’ directed by his father in 1965. He subsequently worked as an assistant on ‘The Patty Duke Show’ and collaborated with Broadway producers.
Burrows eventually returned to New York, managing road productions and meeting influential actors. By 1974, he reached out to Mary Tyler Moore’s production company, leading to his Los Angeles move to direct an episode of her show. His theater experience honed his skills in directing actors and scene blocking. He innovatively expanded multi-camera sitcom shoots to include a fourth camera.
Burrows emphasized shows capturing bonds between friends and chosen families, as seen in ‘Cheers’ or ‘Friends.’ His memoir states, The best sitcoms transcend the screen and reach out and grab the audience by the throat and by the heart.
He took pleasure in discovering new talent, directing over 75 successful pilot episodes. In 2019, Burrows continued his contributions as an executive producer for live versions of ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons.’
Burrows married Debbie Easton, whom he met while working on ‘Frasier,’ in 1997. He had three daughters with his first wife, Linda Solomon. His family includes stepdaughter Paris, sister Laurie Burrows Grad, and seven grandchildren.
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