American television director James Burrows died on Friday at the age of 85. Over nearly five decades, he directed more than 100 successful sitcoms, including "Cheers," "Friends," and "Will & Grace." He also co-created "Cheers" and directed every episode of "Will & Grace."
Burrows was especially known for his skill with pilot episodes and for helping launch actors early in their careers, including the cast of "Friends." Technically, he is credited with modernizing the classic sitcom production setup by adding a fourth camera to the three-camera system that had been standard until then.
His professional career began in theater after he studied drama at Yale University, where he worked as a stage manager and director of touring productions. He moved into television in 1974 by directing an episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and after that worked almost entirely in TV. His long list of credits also includes "Taxi," "Frasier," "The Big Bang Theory," "Two and a Half Men," and "Mike & Molly."
During his career, Burrows won 11 Emmy Awards and five Directors Guild of America Awards. In 2014, the DGA gave him its lifetime achievement award. He was the son of Abe Burrows, a well-known Broadway playwright and director. He is survived by his second wife, Debbie Easton, and three children from his first marriage to Linda Solomon.
