Sitcom Directing Icon
James Burrows, Acclaimed Director of Iconic Sitcoms like Cheers and Friends, Dies at 85
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Key Points
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Deadline reported that Burrows "passed away in his sleep" on June 19 after a brief illness.
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Variety said Burrows won 10 Emmy Awards and noted he earned "back-to-back" Comedy Directing Emmys in 1980 and 1981 for his work on ABC’s "Taxi."
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Deadline detailed Burrows’ episode-count record, including directing 236 episodes of "Cheers" and 246 episodes of "Will & Grace" (including the revival).
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Variety reported Burrows reached his 1,000th sitcom episode on Nov. 24, 2015 while working on the NBC sitcom "Crowded," and that NBC honored him in February 2016.
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Variety also described a Feb. 21 special tribute, "Must See TV: An All Star Salute to James Burrows," including how the taped Jan. 24 Hollywood event brought together stars from across his shows.
James Burrows, the director who shaped the American sitcom for more than five decades, died on June 19, 2026, at the age of 85. He passed away in his sleep following a brief illness, Deadline reported. His family confirmed the news, saying he "passed away peacefully" and that he "possessed a rare ability to make everyone better."
Burrows co-created *Cheers* and directed the pilots of *Friends*, *Frasier*, *Will & Grace*, and *The Big Bang Theory*. He directed more than 1,000 sitcom episodes over his career, according to Variety. The industry quickly mourned him as the defining force behind the live-audience, multi-camera comedy format.
A Career Built One Pilot at a Time
Burrows was born on December 30, 1940, in Los Angeles, the son of playwright Abe Burrows. He directed his first TV episode in 1974 on *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*. Over the next 50 years, he directed more than 75 television pilots, according to Deadline. Almost every major NBC comedy of the 1980s and 1990s passed through his hands.
His episode counts were staggering. He directed 236 of *Cheers*' 275 episodes and 246 episodes of *Will & Grace*, including its revival, Deadline reported. He also helmed 76 episodes of *Taxi*. On November 24, 2015, he directed his 1,000th sitcom episode on the NBC show *Crowded*, a milestone Variety noted was unlike anything seen in the industry.
Emmy Wins and the Four-Camera Revolution
Burrows won back-to-back Emmy Awards for Comedy Directing in 1980 and 1981 for his work on ABC's *Taxi*, according to Variety. He went on to earn at least 10 Emmy wins from 45 nominations over his career. Some outlets, including NBC News, credit him with 11 wins when counting his work as an executive producer on *Cheers* and *Will & Grace*.
Beyond the trophies, Burrows changed how sitcoms were shot. He popularized a four-camera setup — an upgrade from the standard three — that allowed for better lighting and more complex actor movement on a live stage. His approach put character and physical comedy first, always in front of a real audience.
The Vegas Trip and His Role as Cast Mentor
Burrows was known as much for his off-screen influence as his directing. Before *Friends* premiered, he famously took the entire cast to Las Vegas to prepare them for the fame that was coming. Stars including Jennifer Aniston, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, and Eric McCormack have all credited him with shaping their early careers, according to Forbes.
In February 2016, NBC aired *Must See TV: An All-Star Salute to James Burrows*, a special that reunited casts from *Friends*, *Cheers*, *Frasier*, and *Will & Grace*, Variety reported. The event was taped on January 24 in Hollywood. David Hyde Pierce, who played Niles on *Frasier*, said Burrows once suggested his character wipe a chair with a handkerchief — a small move that became one of Niles' signature traits.
What the Industry Loses With His Death
Burrows had recently worked on the *Will & Grace* revival (2017–2020) and the *Frasier* revival on Paramount+ (2023–2024). Even late in his career, he remained the most sought-after pilot director in the multi-camera format. His family said he leaves behind his wife of 29 years, Debbie Easton.
His death lands at a difficult moment for the format he championed. Burrows himself had said in recent years that the multi-camera sitcom was "dying" in favor of single-camera, streaming-era comedies. ABC News and others noted that his passing marks the symbolic end of an era — one defined by the laugh track, the live audience, and the steady hand of a director who knew exactly how to make people laugh.
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