Friends’ director James Burrows passes away at 85: How Hollywood paid tribute to legendary TV comedy icon
Legendary director James Burrows passed away at the age of 85 on Friday, his family confirmed to the People. Although the family's statement did not
Legendary director James Burrows passed away at the age of 85 on Friday, his family confirmed to the People. Although the family's statement did not mention any cause of death. The iconic TV comedy director, best known for programs like Friends, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cheers, Fraiser and Will and Grace, is survived by his wife, Debbie Easton, his four daughters and his seven grandchildren. James Burrows' achievements Considered as the most influential director and producer of all time, Burrows also helmed the pilots of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory and was behind the camera for many episodes of Mike & Molly. Renowned for his work on classic sitcoms like Cheers and Friends, he earned 11 Emmys and was even inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2006. Burrows, who joined the DGA in 1974 and served as a trustee of the Directors Guild Foundation since 2001, was awarded the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in Television Direction in 2015.
The celebrated director won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series four times. During his entire career, he was nominated 22 times for a DGA Award and 48 times for a Primetime Emmy. Hollywood pays tribute Actor Eric McCormack, who worked with Burrows in the NBC sitcom Will and Grace, in a post on Instagram wrote, "We lost a giant today, a mentor to me, and a dear friend. The 800 lb gorilla of television comedy for 50 years, he was beloved by everyone, and has left not a mark but a footprint. An incredible legacy." President of the Directors Guild of America, Christopher Nolan, reacted to the news of James Burrows' death and on behalf of his organization said, "Our Guild has lost a legend. With more than 40 years directing more than 1,000 episodes of the most critically acclaimed and audience-beloved sitcoms of all time, James Burrows was the modern master of the sophisticated comedy and a beloved member of the DGA.
Famous for turning sitcoms like Cheers, Will and Grace, Taxi, and Frasier into high art, Jim set the bar in comedy direction with an incomparable influence on his fellow Directors over decades of precedent-setting television directing.... He was truly incomparable and will be profoundly missed." View full Image View full Image DGA issues statement on the passing of iconic director James Burrows. Tony Danza, who appeared on several Burrows-helmed episodes of ABC/NBC's Taxi,posted on X, "We have 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, in a post on Instagram wrote, "Rest Easy. Jim Burrows, the guy standing between me and Tichina Arnold, is Television Great!! He put the Direct in TV. The amount of laughs and joy his vision has brought into our homes is unmeasurable...
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