LOS ANGELES: Acclaimed television director and producer James Burrows, whose work helped define generations of sitcoms including Friends, Cheers and Taxi, has died at the age of 85.
According to a statement released by his family, Burrows passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Details regarding the time and place of his death were not disclosed.
Widely regarded as one of television’s most influential comedy directors, Burrows enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades. During that time, he directed over 1,000 television episodes and won 11 Emmy Awards for excellence in television production.
Burrows was a pioneer of the multi-camera sitcom format and played a key role in shaping modern television comedy. He began his career in the 1970s, directing episodes of popular series including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Laverne & Shirley and The Bob Newhart Show.
His first Emmy Award came for directing Taxi, the groundbreaking comedy featuring stars such as Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman and Tony Danza.
Burrows later directed 236 episodes of Cheers and helped create one of television’s most successful comedy franchises. His extensive list of credits also included Frasier, The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly and 3rd Rock from the Sun.
In recent years, Burrows made a rare on-screen appearance as himself in The Comeback, reuniting with Lisa Kudrow in a satirical look at Hollywood sitcom production.
His family described him as a legendary director, mentor and creative force whose work brought joy to audiences worldwide and left a lasting mark on television history.