James Burrowsone of the most influential directors and producers in the history of movies. television comediesdied this Friday at 85 years old, as confirmed by his family in a statement.
Winner of 11 Emmy Awards and responsible for some of the biggest hits on the small screen, Burrows left an indelible mark on iconic series such as Cheers, Friends, Will & Grace, Frasier, Taxi and The Big Bang Theory, productions that marked several generations of viewers around the world.
“We celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James ‘Jimmy’ Burrows, who passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family,” his family said. “He was one of the most beloved and influential directors in the history of television.”
James Burrows managed to bring together the actors from emblematic US television series from different years, including the actors from Friends and the series Taxi
Over a more than five-decade career, he directed more than a thousand television episodes and helped define the style of modern multi-camera comedies. His ability to build chemistry between actors and connect with the audience made him an indispensable figure behind the cameras.
The man who helped create television classics
Born in Los Angeles in 1940, Burrows began his career in the 1970s directing episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show. However, his big break came with “Cheers”, the legendary series set in a Boston bar that became one of the biggest television phenomena of the 80s and early 90s.
Burrows directed most of the production’s 275 episodes and won six Emmy Awards for his work on the series.
Later, he was in charge of directing the Friends pilot episodea decision that ended up changing the history of television. In his memoirs he recalled that he was captivated by the cast from the first moment and that he knew immediately that the series had the potential to become a success.
He also directed every episode of “Will & Grace” during its original run between 1998 and 2006in addition to participating in successful productions such as 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dharma & Greg, Mike & Molly and Two and a Half Men.
