James Burrows, the American Jewish director behind many of U.S. television’s most popular comedies, died on Friday at the age of 85. His family said he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. They called him one of the most influential and beloved directors in TV history for more than five decades, saying he helped shape generations of comedy and brought joy to audiences worldwide.
Burrows co-created "Cheers," directed every episode of "Will & Grace," and also worked on iconic sitcoms including "Friends." He was widely regarded as a master of comic timing and became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after directors. Over his career, he directed more than 50 comedy pilots, including for hits such as "Two and a Half Men," "The Big Bang Theory," and "Perfect Strangers." In a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said his success came from building chemistry among actors rather than controlling them: "I am not a tyrant or a dictator," he said, adding that he would arrange shared meals and even took the "Friends" cast to Las Vegas.
Born James Edward Burrows on December 30, 1940, in Los Angeles to Ruth and Abe Burrows, he grew up in New York around Broadway theaters. He later studied theater at Yale and discovered his directing talent. He began his Hollywood career in 1974 with an episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and went on to direct more than 1,000 television episodes.
Burrows earned more than 40 Emmy nominations and won four Directors Guild of America awards. The guild gave him its lifetime achievement award in 2015. His work was concentrated mainly in sitcoms, but he also directed TV movies and one feature film, "Partners" (1982). He occasionally appeared on screen in guest roles, including as a director in a "Friends" episode. He was married to Linda Solomon from 1981 to 1993, with whom he had three daughters, and later married hair stylist Debbie Easton in 1997.
