Television series creator Jame Burrows died June 19, 2026 at the age of 85.

The family issued a statement on Burrows saying, “we celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James ‘Jimmy’ Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family. For more than five decades, Burrows was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history. As a legendary director, mentor, and creative force, he helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world.”

They continued, “but beyond his remarkable achievements, Burrows will be remembered for something even greater: his kindness, generosity, and unwavering belief in the people around him. He possessed a rare ability to make everyone better and was known for remembering every person he met by name, making colleagues at every level feel seen, valued, and appreciated.”

They concluded, “Burrows understood that great comedy was never simply about laughter. It was about humanity, connection, and truth. That understanding became the foundation of a career that forever changed television. His influence will continue to be felt for generations through the countless artists he inspired, the stories he helped tell, and the millions of people whose lives were brightened by his work.”

Burrows was responsible for a number of television sitcoms including “Cheers”, “Will & Grace”, “Friends”, and “The Big Bang Theory”.

A master with the multi-camera sitcom; he earned eleven Emmy Awards.

Along with the numerous shows he created, Burrows got his start as a television director with “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Bob Newhart Show”.  His credits also include “Taxi” and “3rd Rock from the Sun”.

Along with all of his other accolades, Burrows is a member of the Television Hall of Fame and the inaugural Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award for television.

The son of a writer and composer, he was born James Edward Burrows on December 30, 1940 in Los Angeles but grew up in New York. After graduating from Yale, he moved back to California where he began his professional career in the theatre directing plays.

While working as an assistant stage manager on “Holly Golightly”, Burrows met Mary Tyler Moore and later wrote her a letter inquiring about work.  It was then that he began his television career directing some of “The Mary Tyler Moore” shows.

“The Bob Newhart Show”, “Phyllis”, “Rhoda”, and “Laverne & Shirley” soon followed.

Calling himself a “theatre rat”, Burrows said that he staged 20 or 25 minute plays each week and the camera covers it.  He noted, I understand characters, I understand what’s funny, I understand the essence of keeping it moving and keeping the energy going. It’s all theatrical. If it doesn’t happen on that stage, it’s never gonna happen on film. You can cut it nine ways to Sunday, but nothing will work unless it works on that stage.”

Burrows is survived by his wife Debbie, children – Katherine, Margaret, Ellie, and Pairs – and seven grandchildren.

James Burrows in 1986.

Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty

He noted he’d done “40 years, 1,000 shows, 5,000 rehearsal days, 10,000 rewrites, 500,000 network notes and a million laughs, and I’ve had so much fun, but I could not have done this alone.”

“Thanks for laughing, embracing and loving the characters for all of those years, and still on occasion, when somebody walks into a bar, hollering, ‘NORM!’ ” he said, referencing George Wendt’s beloved Cheers character.

Burrows married Linda Solomon in 1981. They shared three children and divorced in 1993. In 1997, he married Debbie Easton, a hairstylist. 

Burrows is survived by his wife and children.

Continuing to direct into his 80’s, James Burrows has amassed a long list of directing credits:
“Mid-Century Modern” – 10 episodes
“The Rachel Maddow Show: The First One-Hundred Days”
“Fraiser” – 4 episodes
“Hungry”
“Romantically Challenged” – 5 episodes
“Live in Front of a Studio Audience: ‘The Facts of Life’ and ‘Diff’rent Strokes’”
“Wilde Things”
“B Positive” – 3 episodes
“Will & Grace” – 246 episodes
“Our House”
“Friends 25th: The One with The Anniversary”
“Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons’”
“Like Family”
“The Neighborhood”
“Brothered Up”
“Relatively Happy”
“Disjointed” – 2 episodes
“Superior Donuts” – 8 episodes
“Man with a Plan” – 9 episodes
“Real Good People”
“Me & Mean Margaret”
“Crowded” – 9 episodes
“Mike & Molly” – 49 episodes
“2 Broke Girls” – 4 episodes
“The Half of It”
“Joe Time”
“The Millers” – 32 episodes
“More Time with Family”
“Saint Francis”
“Friends with Better Lives”
“Sean Saves the World” – 2 episodes
“Partners” – 12 episodes
“Up All Night”
“Nathan vs. Nurture”
“Open Books”
“Strange Brew”
“$#*! My Dad Says”
“Better with You”
“Gary Unmarried” – 36 episodes
“Ab Fab”
“Happiness Isn’t Everything”
“Single White Millionaire”
“Back to You” – 17 episodes
“The Masterson of Manhattan”
“Traveling in Packs”
“The Big Bang Theory”
“The Class” – 19 episodes
“Courting Alex”
“Two and a Half Men” – 2 episodes
“Teachers”
“Four Kings”
“Beverly Hills S.U.V.”
“My 11:30”
“The Stones” – 2 episodes
“Dexter Prep”
“Bram and Alice”
“Good Morning, Miami”
“Cursed” – 2 episodes
“Madigan Men”
“Stark Raving Mad”
“Ladies Man”
“In the Loop”
“The Secret Lives of Men”
“Conrad Bloom” – 2 episodes
“Jesse”
“Friends” – 15 episodes
“Dharma & Greg” – 2 episodes
“Union Square” – 8 episodes
“Caroline in the City” – 21 episodes
“George & Leo” – 3 episodes
“Veronica’s Closet”
“Fired Up” – 4 episodes
“Chicago Sons” – 3 episodes
“Men Behaving Badly” – 7 episodes
“Fraiser” – 32 episodes
“Pearl” – 2 episodes
“3rd Rock from the Sun” – 2 episodes
“NewsRadio” – 7 episodes
“Partners” – 10 episodes
“Hudson Street”
“The Preston Episodes”
“Madman of the People” – 2 episodes
“The Boys are Back”
“Monty”
“Gloria Vane”
“Café American” – 3 episodes
“Cheers” – 236 episodes
“Flying Blind”
“Flesh ‘n’ Blood”
“Pacific Station”
“Roc”
“The Fanelli Boys”
“Down Home” – 2 episodes
“The Earth Day Special”
“Wings”
“The Marshall Chronicles” – 2 episodes
“The Magical World of Disney”
“The Nerd”
“Dear John” – 2 episodes
“Channel 99”
“CBS Summer Playhouse”
“The Tortellis”
“All is Forgiven” – 2 episodes
“The Hogan Family”
“Big Shots in America”
“P.O.P”
“At Your Service”
“Night Court”
“Cheers: Uncle Sam Malone”
“Goodbye Doesn’t Mean Forever”
“Taxi” – 75 episodes
“Partners”
“Best of the West” – 3 episodes
“Every Stray Dog and Kid”
“Good Time Harry”
“The Stockard Channing Show” – 2 episodes
“The Associates” – 4 episodes
“A New Kind of Family”
“Butterflies”
“More Than Friends”
“The Plant Family”
“Free Country” – 2 episodes
“Husbands, Wives & Lovers”
“On Our Own” – 2 episodes
“Rhoda” – 4 episodes
“The Betty White Show” – 2 episodes
“We’ve Got Each Other” – 2 episodes
“Lou Grant”
“Szysznyk”
“Busting Loose” – 6 episodes
“Calling Doctor Storm, M.D.”
“Roosevelt and Truman”
“Bumpers”
“Laverne & Shirley” – 8 episodes
“The Tony Randall Show” – 4 episodes
“The Bob Newhart Show” – 11 episodes
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” – 4 episodes
“Phyllis” – 19 episodes
“Fay” – 2 episodes