James Burrows, co-creator of ‘Cheers’ and director of ‘Will & Grace,’ dies at 85 - NBC News

James Burrows, a titan of television comedy who co-created “Cheers” and directed every episode of “Will & Grace,” has died, his attorney told NBC News. He was 85. Burrows died peacefully on Friday while surrounded by loved ones, his family said in a statement. “Burrows will be remembered for something even greater: his kindness, generosity, and unwavering belief in the people around him,” the statement said. “He possessed a rare ability to make everyone better and was known for remembering every person he met by name, making colleagues at every level feel seen, valued, and appreciated.” “Burrows understood that great comedy was never simply about laughter. It was about humanity, connection, and truth,” the statement said. “That understanding became the foundation of a career that forever changed television.” In 1982, Burrows co-created one of the most iconic and popular sitcoms ever broadcast. “Cheers” took place almost entirely inside a Boston bar, with a cast of zany regulars played by Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Kelsey Grammer and Woody Harrelson — among many more. The show aired for over a decade and scored huge ratings on NBC’s Thursday-night “Must See TV.” The show racked up 28 Emmy Awards out of 117 nominations. Its final episode in 1993 was the second-most-watched series finale in television history, second only to that of “M*A*S*H.” Among his most notable accomplishments was directing every episode of “Will & Grace” during the show’s initial run from 1998 to 2006. Set in New York, the sitcom follows the antics of two best friends — Will Truman, a gay lawyer played by Eric McCormack, and Debra Messing’s Grace Adler, a straight interior designer. It was one of the first times a gay character was featured in a starring role and helped to change the course of TV history. “I think ‘Will & Grace’ did more to educate the American public more than almost anything anybody has done so far. People fear that which is different. Now they’re beginning to understand,” then-Vice President Joe Biden said in 2012 on “Meet the Press.” McCormack, who is not gay in real life, paid tribute to the late director after hearing news of his death. “We lost a giant today, a mentor to me and a dear friend,” McCormack wrote in an Instagram post. “The 800 lb gorilla of television comedy for fifty years, he was beloved by everyone, and has left not a mark but a footprint. An incredible legacy. Jimmy, thank you for everything you gave us. I love you. And I send so much love to Debbie and your whole beautiful family.” Burrows’ formidable career spanned entire generations of television viewers, during which he worked on many of the most memorable sitcoms from the 1970s through the 2000s, including “Friends,” “Frasier,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Taxi” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” where he got his start in 1974. Most recently, he appeared as a fictionalized version of himself alongside “Friends” alum Lisa Kudrow in the “The Comeback” on HBO. His numerous accolades include 11 Primetime Emmys and five Directors Guild of America Awards. “Few individuals have had a greater impact on television comedy than James Burrows,” Journey Gunderson, the executive director of the National Comedy Center, said in a statement. “His work helped define television’s most beloved comedies, and his legacy is woven into the history of comedy itself.” In 2016, the cast of “Friends” reunited in New York to celebrate Burrows directing his 1,000th TV episode, a milestone he reached in November 2015 while working on the NBC sitcom “Crowded.” “We would do anything for Jim Burrows because he really gave us the opportunity of a lifetime, and probably the best 10 years of our acting careers that we will forever remember,” Aniston said at the time. “I think he taught us everything we know about comedy timing, support, collaboration,” she added. “He’s our papa.” Burrows is credited with nurturing chemistry and camaraderie among the young cast of “Friends” when the show first started. He famously took the then-unknown stars on a group trip to Las Vegas and encouraged them to let loose before becoming household names. “This is your last shot at anonymity,” he told Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc. Burrows was born in Los Angeles into a creative family that had already cemented its place in the entertainment industry. His father, writer and composer Abe Burrows, co-wrote “Guys and Dolls” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” People reported. He attended the High School of Music & Art in New York after his family relocated to the East Coast and graduated from Oberlin College before receiving a master’s degree from the Yale School of Drama. Burrows is survived by his wife, Debbie, his four daughters, and his seven grandchildren. CORRECTION (June 20, 2026, 11:32 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the significance of “Will & Grace” character Will Truman. He was one of the first openly gay lead characters on television, not the first.