It is a heavy loss for the entertainment industry: James Burrows, one of the most influential comedy directors in US television history, has passed away. The eleven-time Emmy winner died on Friday at the age of 85, according to a statement from his family. For over five decades, he shaped entire generations of comedy as a director, mentor, and creative force, bringing viewers worldwide immeasurable joy, the statement says.
Burrows was among the most prolific and respected in his field. For the cult series Cheers, which he created together with Glen and Les Charles, he directed 236 of the 270 episodes. He was also behind Will & Grace - both in the original series and in the revival from 2017 to 2020.
From Taxi to Friends
His signature still marks a remarkably large portion of the comedy landscape today: Burrows directed 75 episodes of Taxi, 49 of Mike & Molly, 32 of Frasier, and 15 episodes of Friends. Most recently, he was responsible for all ten episodes of the 2025 series Mid-Century Modern by Will & Grace creators David Kohan (62) and Max Mutchnick (60). And these are just some stops in an extraordinary career.
Accordingly, the condolences from Hollywood are immense. We lost a giant today, a mentor and a dear friend, Will & Grace star Eric McCormack (63) wrote on Instagram. Burrows was the 800-pound gorilla of TV comedy and leaves behind an incredible legacy.
The Greatest of All Time
His longtime agent Rick Rosen of the WME agency called him the best comedy director in the history of the medium. Taxi star Tony Danza (75) joined in on the platform X: We lost the greatest of all time, without him he wouldn't be where he is today.
His former Taxi colleagues Danny DeVito (81) and Rhea Perlman (78) told the Hollywood Reporter that Burrows had accompanied them through 16 seasons and was the best in his field: "His positive spirit, boundless energy, and tireless dedication embodied everything it takes to run a show and make audiences laugh. He will remain in our hearts forever."
In a detailed Instagram post, Charmed actress Alyssa Milano (53) also expresses her grief. She writes, among other things: There are very few people in the history of television whose work has shaped how we laugh, how we tell stories, and how we understand the sitcom format. James Burrows is one of them.
