James Burrows, director of classic TV comedies including 'Cheers' and 'Friends,' dies at 85

James Burrows, the prolific TV comedy director behind Cheers, Taxi, Friends and Will & Grace, died Friday at age 85 in Los Angeles, his family said. Burrows directed more than a thousand episodes, including 243 of Cheers and all 246 of Will & Grace, and piloted shows such as Frasier, The Big Bang Theory and others. He began directing in 1974 with The Mary Tyler Moore Show. NBC paid tribute, highlighting his ability to draw humanity and lasting laughter from performers, while colleagues remembered his kindness and his knack for naming everyone on set. In his 2022 memoir he described chasing the sweet spot where script, performance and chemistry align.