Television director and Cheers co-creator James Burrows died on Friday, June 19, 2026. His family issued a statement, sharing that he passed away peacefully surrounded by family. He was 85 years old.

Burrows spent five decades working in television, directing over 1,000 episodes, according to his family’s statement. He co-created Cheers with Glen and Les Charles in 1982, which ran for 11 seasons and 275 episodes. He directed all 246 episodes of Will & Grace through its 11-season original run from 1998 to 2006.

Born in Los Angeles, on December 30, 1940, his father, Abe Burrows, was a writer and composer whose credits included Guys and Dolls. The family moved to New York City where Burrows attended the High School of Music & Art. Following his completion of studies at Oberlin College, Burrows earned a graduate degree from the Yale School of Drama.

Returning to California, he met Mary Tyler Moore while working as an assistant stage manager on the Holly Golightly play. This led to directing plays around the country with a Broadway debut in 1970 for The Castro Complex. Then he reconnected with Moore and started directing episodes of Phyllis, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Bob Newhart Show.

Burrows direct Laverne & Shirley and Rhoda, 75 episodes of Taxi, and 35 episodes of Cheers, which earned him six Emmy Awards. He directed 32 episodes of the Cheers spinoff, Frasier, and directed Night Court.

He directed the pilot episode of Friends and another 14 episodes, directed 3rd Rock from the Sun, 21 episodes of Caroline in the City, and directed the pilots of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. Later in his career, Burrows directed 49 episodes of Mike & Molly and 32 episodes of The Millers.

Throughout his career, Burrows won 11 Emmy Awards and was nominated for another 35 Emmys.