“Cheers” co-creator James Burrows has died. The 11-time Emmy Award winner was 85.
“For more than five decades, Burrows was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history,” his family said in a statement confirming his death to People. “As a legendary director, mentor, and creative force, he helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world.”
He reportedly died Friday surrounded by loved ones.
The Los Angeles native was remembered for directing more than 1,000 television shows, including the Grammy-winning pilot episode of “Frasier.”
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He also worked on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Rhoda,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Taxi” and “Two and a Half Men.”
Burrows directed every episode of “Will & Grace” between 1998 and 2006, when he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
“I think at some point within a day, you can always find one of my episodes playing somewhere, and thatâs kind of cool,” he said in a tribute marking that occasion.
Burrows attended Manhattan’s High School of Music & Art before it merged with the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art. He later studied government at Oberlin College before getting into Yale School of Drama with the help of his father, Abe, who was a well-connected figure on Broadway due to co-writing hit shows “Guys and Dolls” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
Burrows said in a 2025 “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” podcast interview with “Cheers” stars Woody Harrelson and Ted Danson that he had no intentions of going into showbiz when he was growing up, but drama school seemed like a good alternative to joining the war in Vietnam in 1965.
“I didn’t want to do that,” he said.
After taking on entry level jobs, including driving a set truck and assisting stage managers, Burrows discovered he had a talent for bringing television shows like “Cheers” to life.
“I know that damn near every actor in town who’s worked with you feels the exact same we do, which kind of pisses me off because you so effortlessly left us and went on and made new best friends… I love you so much,” Danson said back then.
Burrows, who directed more than 230 “Cheers” episodes before moving onto new shows life “Friends,” “Two and a Half Men” and “Mike & Molly,” told Danson and Harrelson “I never left you.”
Burrows was married to Linda Solomon for 12 years, with whom he had three children. They divorced in 1993. Burrows reportedly had been married to hairstylist Debbie Easton for nearly 20 years at the time of his death.