James Burrows, co-creator of “Cheers,” has died at the age of 85.
Burrows’ attorney Tom Hoberman confirmed Burrows’ death to USA TODAY on Friday, June 19. In addition to co-creating “Cheers,” Burroughs is known for working on some of the most famous sitcoms, including directing “Laverne & Shirley,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and the original “Will & Grace.”
His family is also in the USA Addressing the news of his death in a statement to TODAY, it said: “We honor the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James “Jimmy” Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family. Over the years, Burroughs was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history. As a legendary director, mentor, and creative force, he helped shape comedy for generations and brought immense joy to audiences around the world. ”
“Throughout his unparalleled career, Burrows directed more than 1,000 television shows and helped create some of the most iconic series ever created, including ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ ‘Taxi,’ ‘Cheers,’ ‘Frasier,’ ‘Friends,’ ‘Will & Grace,’ and ‘The Big Bang Theory,'” the statement continued.
Burrows’ family said he will be remembered not only for his career accomplishments, but also for “his kindness, generosity and unwavering belief in those around him.”
“He had a rare ability to make everyone better, remembered everyone he met by name, and was known for making colleagues at all levels feel seen, valued, and appreciated,” their statement said. “Burroughs understood that great comedy was never just about laughs. It was about humanity, connection, and truth. That understanding was the foundation of a career that changed television forever. Burroughs’ influence will continue to be felt for generations through the countless artists he inspired, the stories he helped tell, and the millions of people whose lives were brightened by his work.”
Mr Burrows is survived by his wife Debbie, whom he married in 1997, four daughters and seven grandchildren.
Looking back at James Burrows’ career
In 2015, Burrows spoke about his highly successful television career in an interview with USA TODAY. He explained that he got his first directing job on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in 1974, and teased that he was “a little mean” at the time.
“The script was so bad that I said to[MTM Enterprises co-founder]Grant Tinker, ‘We’re going to get bagels on the Danish coast,'” Burrows recalled. “We put in some visual gags. We spent a lot of time blocking and trying to get the funniest positions to tell the jokes. We worked really hard. Right before filming the show, Mary said to me, ‘I think our investment in you paid off.'”
He went on to co-create Cheers, which premiered in 1982 and ran for 11 seasons before ending in 1993. In a 2015 interview, Burroughs said the beloved series “is still my baby” and revealed that one of his most memorable directorial moments was the kiss between Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelley Long) at the end of season one.
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Burrows directed 32 episodes of the “Cheers” spinoff “Frasier,” 75 episodes of “Taxi,” all episodes of “Will & Grace,” and later 16 episodes of “Friends.”
In the case of “Friends,” which catapulted Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer to stardom, Burrows said he knew it would be a hit.
“I received the script when I had already produced four pilots and I said to my agent, ‘We have to do this script,'” he said. “So, we packed it in, and it was a great experience. Every pilot I do, I bring in a test audience (before filming). The audience went wild, and I knew.”
Contributor: Bill Keveney, USA TODAY
