Sitcom legend James Burrows, co-creator of 'Cheers' and ‘Friends’ director, dies at 85

The veteran director was credited with shaping the modern American sitcom through hits like "Taxi", "Will & Grace", and “Frasier”

Photo: Courtesy of NBC

James Burrows, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American sitcom history, has died at the age of 85, his family said in a statement on Friday, Variety reports.

Burrows passed away peacefully at home on Jun 19, surrounded by loved ones, after a brief illness.

Starting with back-to-back trophies for directing the classic ABC sitcom "Taxi" in 1980 and 1981, Burrows went on to win 11 Emmys throughout an illustrious career.

He co-created "Cheers" with brothers Glen and Les Charles in 1982 and directed the majority of its 275 episodes over an 11-year run that ended in 1993 with a finale that remains the second most-watched series ending in American television history, behind only "MASH."

He went on to direct every episode of "Will & Grace" during its original eight-season run from 1998 and returned for the show's 2017 revival, helming 246 episodes in total.

Burrows is also credited with directing pilot episodes for some of television's biggest comedies, including "Frasier", "The Big Bang Theory", "Two and a Half Men" and "3rd Rock from the Sun" He got his start in 1974 on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and went on to direct more than 1,000 sitcom episodes over his career, a milestone NBC celebrated with a primetime special in 2016.

"He was renowned for his skill in directing pilots and working with actors, particularly inexperienced thesps such as the stars of NBC's 'Friends'," Variety says.

Burrows' longtime agent, Rick Rosen, said he was "the greatest comedic television director in the history of the medium" and had directed "the most iconic, defining shows of generations."

Tributes have poured in from collaborators. "Will & Grace" star Debra Messing called him "a singular talent and revolutionary in television," while "Friends" actor Jennifer Aniston, who called him "Papa Burrows," paid tribute to his legacy.

The son of playwright Abe Burrows, who wrote the book for Broadway classics including "Guys and Dolls", Burrows was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2006

He is survived by his wife, Debbie Easton; his four daughters from his marriages to Easton and Linda Solomon; and seven grandchildren.