Legendary television director and producer Jimmy Burrows, whose work defined the golden era of American sitcoms, has died. Attorney Tom Hoberman told CBS News that he can confirm the death of Burrows with “great sadness.” He was 85.
His peaceful passing, surrounded by his family, has prompted millions of fans, actors, and industry professionals to reflect on social media about his incredible legacy, huge impact on Hollywood comedy, and incredible career, which has amassed him a multi-million-dollar net worth.
His family said in a statement provided to People:
“Today we celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Jimmy Burrows, who passed away peacefully today with his beloved family at his side. Burrows was one of television’s most influential and beloved directors for more than five decades. As a legendary director, mentor, and creative force, he helped define generations of comedy and brought endless joy to audiences everywhere.”
The Legacy of a Comedy Legend
Born in Los Angeles in 1940, Burrows was raised mostly in New York. As a young adult, he attended the graduate program at the Yale School of Drama, where he had his first experience directing. He jumped to television in the 1970s and eventually co-created the landmark sitcom Cheers with brothers Glen and Les Charles. The show was an immediate hit in the U.S. and U.K. on 1980s TV, cementing Burrows’ position as a Hollywood powerhouse.
Burrows directed over 1,000 episodes of television outside of Cheers, including iconic classics and contemporary hits such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and Will & Grace. Over the course of his career, he earned 48 Primetime Emmy nominations and five Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards, winning 11 statuettes. In 2015, the DGA gave him the Lifetime Achievement Award in Television Direction. It called him “an incredibly generous colleague” who shared his “wisdom and warm humor” with all those with whom he worked.
The Man Behind the Curtain
As the news of his passing spread, those actors who were under his tutelage, and legendary in their own right, paid emotional tributes.
Eric McCormack, who played Will on Will & Grace, shared a touching tribute to Burrows’ unparalleled stature in the industry:
“He was the 800-lb gorilla of television comedy for fifty years, beloved by everyone, and has left not a mark but a footprint.”
Lisa Kudrow, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in Friends, simply wrote on Instagram: “Thank you, Jimmy. I mean for anything…” Burrows not only directed Kudrow on Friends but played a satirical version of himself with Kudrow in the HBO comedy The Comeback.
Beth Behrs’ 2 Broke Girls Memory
“Dear Jimmy, I will never forget how Kat Dennings and I were so convinced that you hated us during the pilot rehearsals of 2 Broke Girls. Like two fourth-graders summoned to the principal’s office, we marched up to your podium and asked you point-blank. And I’ll never forget you laughing your head off, saying, ‘Oh girls, no, of course not.'”
Burrows was truly “the man behind the curtain,” and his loss to the television and comedy world is “immeasurable,” said a spokesperson for NBC, the network that was home to many of his biggest “Must See TV” hits. He leaves a rich comedic blueprint that will continue to shape sitcoms for generations to come.
