The television world is mourning the death of James Burroughs, the legendary comedy director and producer.
Burroughs, 85, died on Friday, his family said in a statement. “For more than five decades, Burroughs was one of the most influential and beloved directors in the history of television. “As a legendary director, mentor and creative force, he has helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world.”
Burroughs was one of the most prolific and respected comedy directors in television history. He directed every episode of Will & Grace (both its original run and the 2017-20 revival) and 236 of 270 episodes Cheerswhich he co-created with Glenn and Les Charles. The 11-time Emmy Award winner also directed 75 episodes of the series taxi49 episodes Mike and Molly32 episodes Freezer15 episodes friends And all ten episodes of 2025 Mid-century modern from Will & Grace Creators David Kohan and Max Muchnick. These are only a small portion of his credits.
“Today we lost a giant, a mentor to me and a dear friend.” Will & Grace star Eric McCormack wrote on Instagram (see post below). “He was the 800-pound gorilla of television comedy for fifty years, beloved by all, and left not a mark but a mark. An incredible legacy.”
“Jimmy was the greatest television comedy director in the history of the medium,” said his longtime agent, Rick Rosen of WME. “He directed the most iconic and memorable shows for generations. He was always a gentleman, and it was an absolute honor to perform with him.”
Much of Burroughs’ directorial work ended up at NBC. The network said in a statement: “Jimmy Burroughs was the man behind the curtain. He knew how to make us laugh, what buttons to push, and he was the absolute master at making the most of every joke. His loss to the world of television comedy is priceless. Every time he puts a smile on your face as you watch The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers, Will & Grace, Friends And countless others, think of Jimmy and know that he made all of our lives more entertaining.
National Comedy Center Executive Director Gurnee Gunderson said, “Few individuals have had a greater impact on television comedy than James Burroughs. Through a remarkable career spanning more than five decades, he helped shape the sound, rhythm, and language of modern television comedy, raised the profile of the sitcom as an art form and influenced generations of writers, performers, directors, and storytellers. His work helped define television’s most beloved comedies, and his legacy is woven into the history of comedy itself.”
More reactions to Burroughs’ death below.
Will & Grace Composer Scott Icenogle:
Cheers Writer and Executive Producer Voiv Sutton:
