James Burrows, Emmy-winning sitcom director, dies at 85

James Burrows, the prolific and award-winning television director who helped define the modern sitcom with his work on series like "Cheers," "Friends," and "Will & Grace," died on Friday, June 19, 2026. He was 85. His family confirmed his death in a statement, saying he passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones.

Burrows’s career spanned more than five decades and over a thousand episodes of television, earning him 11 Emmy Awards and a reputation as a master of the multi-camera sitcom format. He was known for his ability to launch hit shows, having directed the pilots for dozens of successful series including "Taxi," "Frasier," "Friends," "Will & Grace," "The Big Bang Theory," and "Mike & Molly."

Born in Los Angeles on Dec. 30, 1940, Burrows was the son of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and director Abe Burrows. He graduated from Oberlin College and the Yale School of Drama, beginning his television career in 1974 with an episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." He soon became a sought-after director at MTM Enterprises, known for his collaborative, actor-focused approach. He described his method as staging a 22-minute play each week, focusing on character and comic timing...