James Burrows Amy Sussman/Getty Images The TV world is mourning the death of James Burrows, the legendary comedy director and producer.
Burrows, 85, died Friday, his family said in a statement: “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.”
Burrows was one of the most prolific and revered comedy directors in TV history. He helmed every episode of Will & Grace (both its original run and the 2017-20 revival) and 236 of the 270 episodes of Cheers, which he co-created with Glen and Les Charles. The 11-time Emmy winner also directed 75 episodes of Taxi, 49 episodes of Mike & Molly, 32 episodes of Frasier, 15 episodes of Friends and all 10 episodes of 2025’s Mid-Century Modern from Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. Those are just a fraction of his credits.
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“We lost a giant today, a mentor to me and a dear friend,” Will & Grace star Eric McCormack wrote on Instagram (see the post below). “The 800 lb gorilla of television comedy for fifty years, he was beloved by everyone, and has left not a mark but a footprint. An incredible legacy.”
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“Jimmy was the greatest comedic television director in the history of the medium,” said his long-time agent, Rick Rosen of WME. “He directed the most iconic, defining shows of generations. Always a gentleman, it was an absolute honor to represent him.”
Much of Burrows’ directing work ended up on NBC. The network said in a statement, “Jimmy Burrows was the man behind the curtain. He knew how to make us laugh, what buttons to push and was the absolute master of getting the most out of every joke. His loss to the television comedy world is immeasurable. Every time you have a smile on your face watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers, Will & Grace, Friends and countless others, think of Jimmy and know he made all our lives funnier.”
Said National Comedy Center executive director Journey Gunderson, “Few individuals have had a greater impact on television comedy than James Burrows. Through a remarkable career spanning more than five decades, he helped shape the sound, rhythm, and language of modern television comedy, elevating the sitcom as an art form and influencing generations of writers, performers, directors, and storytellers. His work helped define television’s most beloved comedies, and his legacy is woven into the history of comedy itself.”
More reactions to Burrows’ death are below.
Will & Grace composer Scott Icenogle:
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Cheers writer and executive producer Phoef Sutton:
R.I.P. Jimmy BurrowsHe was the heart and soul of CHEERS
— Phoef Sutton (@phoefsutton.bsky.social) 2026-06-19T19:59:48.387Z
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