James Burrows, a towering figure in American television comedy, died peacefully on June 19, 2026, at age 85 surrounded by family, his family announced today [1, 2, 3]. Born December 30, 1940, in Los Angeles, California, Burrows began his TV directing career in the 1970s with The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi [1, 4, 5].

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Burrows directed and produced over 1,000 episodes of television, including some of the most beloved sitcoms in history such as Cheers, Friends, Will & Grace, The Big Bang Theory, and Frasier [1, 2, 3, 6]. He co-created Cheers with Glen and Les Charles and directed 236 of its 275 episodes, shaping the show’s enduring success from 1982 to 1993 [1, 4, 5, 7].

Burrows also directed 15 episodes of Friends, including its pilot, and helmed 246 episodes of Will & Grace, including episodes from the show’s revival [1, 4, 5]. He contributed to other sitcom staples like Two and a Half Men, Two Broke Girls, and Mike & Molly, directing dozens of episodes across these series [1, 6, 4, 5, 8].

Accolades for Burrows include winning 11 Emmy Awards and earning between 46 and 48 Emmy nominations, marking one of the most honored careers in television history [1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 7]. He received the Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award in Television Direction in either 2014 or 2015, according to varying sources [1, 2, 3, 9, 10].

Known as a mentor and generous colleague, Burrows shaped generations of TV comedy writers, actors, and directors. His family said, “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” [1, 7]. Actor Eric McCormack said Burrows was "the 800 lb gorilla of television comedy for fifty years" and left "not a mark but a footprint" [1]. Lisa Kudrow tweeted, "Thank you Jimmy. I mean, for everything. I love you." [6]

Burrows’ influence can be seen in hundreds of classic TV moments and the careers of countless comedy talents he guided. The family asked for privacy as they grieve the loss of a husband, father, and TV legend [1].