James Burrows, pioneering sitcom director behind Friends and Cheers, dies at 85

Early life and career start

Born 30 December 1940 in Los Angeles to writer-director Abe Burrows, James Burrows studied at Oberlin College and the Yale School of Drama before starting as a stage director. Mary Tyler Moore helped him transition to television, and in 1975 he directed his first episode for Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, a series created by James L. Brooks. His first Emmy came for directing Taxi, a groundbreaking comedy about a New York taxi company featuring Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman, and Tony Danza.

The sitcom hitmaker

Burrows became the go-to director to launch comedies. He shot the pilot episodes of Cheers (which he co-created with Brooks), Friends, Frasier, Two and a Half Men, and The Big Bang Theory. He stayed on as director for more than 230 episodes of Cheers and all 246 of Will & Grace. In total he directed over 1,000 episodes, perfecting the multi-camera format filmed before a live studio audience.

“When I direct a TV show, I try to reach the ideal point where the best script meets the best acting performance and the best chemistry between the actors.”

Accolades and legacy

With 11 Emmy Awards from 47 nominations, Burrows was the most-awarded director in television history. In 2016, NBC broadcast a special event marking his 40th year in television and his 1,000th episode, bringing together actors from Friends, Cheers, The Big Bang Theory, and Will & Grace. His family said he "helped shape generations of comedy and brought incredible joy to audiences around the world."

“Jimmy Burrows was the genius behind every scene, a comedy genius who made our lives more fun.”

Tributes from colleagues

David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and other actors posted tributes online, recalling the director who set the tone for the Friends ensemble. Lisa Kudrow, who worked with him on The Comeback (where Burrows made a rare on-screen appearance), also honoured him.

“He was unique, a television legend and a brilliant director, responsible for many of the greatest comedy successes of our era.”