James Burrows, ‘Cheers’ Co-Creator and Famed TV Director, Dead at 85
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- James Burrows died peacefully on Friday at 85, his family told People, with no cause of death disclosed.
- Cheers co-creator Burrows directed 240 of the Boston barroom sitcom's 275 episodes and won the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy in 1983.
- Across six decades, Burrows directed more than 1,000 episodes, including 15 of Friends, episodes of Will & Grace and The Big Bang Theory, and 10 episodes of the 2025 sitcom Mid-Century Modern.
- Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman paid tribute, calling Burrows "the very best at his craft" and crediting him with guiding them through 16 seasons of television.
- Jennifer Aniston credited Burrows with creating "the magic of Friends," while Matt LeBlanc called him "a true icon on so many levels."
- Burrows' family said he "remembered every person he met by name" and "possessed a rare ability to make everyone better," framing his personal warmth as his defining legacy.
Why it matters: Burrows directed 240 of Cheers' 275 episodes and 15 of Friends — meaning he personally helmed two of the most-watched sitcoms in American history, with the shows' rhythm, timing, and tone carrying his fingerprints on nearly every scene. His recent credits on the Frasier reboot and 2025's Mid-Century Modern show the loss is not just historical but tied to shows still in the production pipeline.
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