Friends director James Burrows dies at 85: How Hollywood paid tribute to legendary TV comedy icon

Legendary director James Burrows died on Friday at the age of 85, his family confirmed to People. Although the family’s statement gave no cause of death. The iconic television comedy director, best known for such programs as Friends, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cheers, Fraiser and Will and Grace, is survived by his wife Debbie Easton, his four daughters and seven grandchildren.

Achievements of James Burrows

Considered the most influential director and producer of all time, Burrows also directed the pilots of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory and was behind the camera on many episodes of Mike & Molly. Famous for his work on classic sitcoms like Cheers and Friends, he won 11 Emmy Awards and was even inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2006.

Burrows, who joined the DGA in 1974 and has served as a Trustee of the Directors Guild Foundation since 2001, received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in Television Directing in 2015. The acclaimed director has won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series four times. Throughout his career, he has been nominated 22 times for a DGA Award and 48 times for a Primetime Emmy.

Hollywood pays tribute

Actor Eric McCormack, who worked with Burrows on the NBC sitcom Will and Grace, wrote in an Instagram post: “Today we lost a giant, my mentor and a dear friend. The 800lb gorilla of television comedy for 50 years who was loved by all and left not a mark but a mark. An incredible legacy.”

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Directors Guild of America President Christopher Nolan responded to the news of James Burrows’ death, saying on behalf of his organization: “Our guild has lost a legend. With more than 40 years of directing more than 1,000 episodes of the most acclaimed and audience-loved sitcoms of all time, James Burrows was a modern master and DGA favorite. From sitcoms such as Cheers, Will and Grace, Taxi and Frasier to high art, Jim set the bar in comedy. direction with unparalleled influence over his fellow directors in decades of precedent television direction… He was truly unparalleled and will be deeply missed.”

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Tony Danza, who appeared in several episodes of ABC/NBC’s Taxi under Burrows, wrote on X: “We lost the greatest of all time. Jimmy Burrows. I know I wouldn’t be here without him. My thoughts are with Debbie and the kids.”

Stand-up comedian Cedric the Entertainer, who worked with the director on The Neighborhood, wrote in an Instagram post: “Relax. Jim Burrows, the guy standing between me and Tichina Arnold, is a TV great!! He brought Direct to TV. The amount of laughter and joy his vision brought into our homes is immeasurable… Cheers, Will and Name Only, Graiser and Fraiser. to you for your service to entertainment and what we call life, sincere condolences to his loved ones and rest in peace.”

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Alyssa Milano, who worked with James Burrows on the 2010 ABC sitcom Romantically Challenged, wrote on Instagram: “There are very few people in television history whose work has influenced the way we laugh, the way we tell stories, and the way we understand the sitcom form. James Burrows is one of them. Having the opportunity to direct him was an absolute gift.”

Burrows’ longtime network NBC also released a statement on his death: “Jimmy Burrows was the man behind the curtain. He knew how to make us laugh, what buttons to push, and was an absolute master at making the most of every joke. His loss to the world of television comedy is immeasurable. Every time you have a smile on your face while watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Grace, a friend, and others made him think of Jim, cheers, Will, and others all our lives it’s more fun.”