James Burrows, the influential television director who co-created and directed most episodes of the beloved sitcom Cheers, died on 19 June 2026 at the age of 85. His career spanned more than four decades, during which he directed over 1,000 television episodes and won 11 Primetime Emmy awards for directing.
Career and Influence
Burrows was the co-creator and primary director of Cheers, which ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993 and won 28 Primetime Emmy awards. Its final episode was the second most-watched of all time, trailing only M*A*S*H. Unlike previous sitcom giants who were primarily writers or producers, Burrows made his mark entirely as a director. He was intimately involved in creating many shows, including the Cheers spin-off Frasier, Friends, and Will & Grace.
For years, he was the first-choice director for pilot episodes, completing nearly 100 of them, sometimes even two versions if the first received a lukewarm response.
Directing Style
Burrows was a pioneer in using four cameras on sitcom shoots, which allowed for more precise blocking and better interaction on one-liner jokes. He described his approach as theatrical: "I'm a theatre rat. I stage a play every week, a 20- to 25-minute play, and then my camera comes in and covers it." He emphasized understanding characters and keeping the energy moving.
When the final cast of Friends was chosen, Burrows was so confident in them that he took them away for a weekend, warning them their lives would never be the same.
Early Life and Career
Born in Los Angeles on 30 December 1940, Burrows was the son of Ruth and Abe Burrows, a major Broadway figure. He attended the High School of Music and Art in New York, then earned a degree in government from Oberlin College and a master's in theatre writing from Yale School of Drama in 1965.
His first job was as dialogue director on the sitcom OK Crackerby!, created by his father. After stage managing in New York, he wrote to Mary Tyler Moore and her husband Grant Tinker, who started him directing episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show, mentored by Jay Sandrich.
Notable Works
Burrows directed 240 of the 275 episodes of Cheers, as well as 32 episodes of Frasier, 15 of Friends, and all 246 episodes of Will & Grace across its original run and revival. He also directed pilots for 3rd Rock from the Sun and Mike and Molly, and executive produced Will & Grace. His last credits included four episodes of the Frasier revival and 10 episodes of Mid-Century Modern in 2025.
Between 1980 and 2005, he was nominated every year but one for a Primetime Emmy for directing, winning 11 times. He also received five Directors Guild awards and a lifetime achievement award from the Guild in 2014.
Personal Life
Burrows is survived by his second wife, Debbie Easton, a TV hair stylist whom he married in 1997; three daughters from his first marriage to Linda Solomon, which ended in divorce in 1993; a stepdaughter, Paris; and seven grandchildren.
