James Burrows: key obituary facts
Is James Burrows dead? Yes. James Burrows died on June 19, 2026, at age 85.
Cause of death: James Burrows's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was James Burrows known for?
He was known as American television director.
More about James Burrows
Born: 30 December 1940.
Place of birth: Los Angeles.
Gender: male.
Occupation: television director, screenwriter, television producer, film director, director.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Yale School of Drama, Oberlin College, High School of Music & Art.
Notable work: Cheers.
Awards: Primetime Emmy Award, Directors Guild of America Award, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.
Father: Abe Burrows.
Career began: 1974.
Also known as: James Edward Burrows.
Years active: 1965–present.
James Burrows, the American television director behind “Cheers,” died on June 19, 2026, at age 85.
Born in Los Angeles on December 30, 1940, and also known as James Edward Burrows, he began his career in 1974 with “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and went on to direct more than 50 television pilots. Over the decades, he became one of the most prolific directors in American sitcoms, working on “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Taxi,” “Frasier,” “Friends,” “Will & Grace,” and “Mike & Molly.” He co-created “Cheers” and later directed episodes of the revival of “Will & Grace” and the Paramount+ “Frasier.” Burrows received 11 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Directors Guild of America Awards, including the guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.