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\n\tThe TV world is mourning the death of James Burrows<\/a>, the legendary comedy director and producer.<\/p>\n \n\tBurrows, 85, died Friday<\/a>, his family said in a statement: \u201cFor more than five decades, Burrows was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history. As a legendary director, mentor and creative force, he helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tBurrows was one of the most prolific and revered comedy directors in TV history. He helmed every episode of Will & Grace (both its original run and the 2017-20 revival) and 236 of the 270 episodes of Cheers<\/a>, which he co-created with Glen and Les Charles. The 11-time Emmy winner also directed 75 episodes of Taxi, 49 episodes of Mike & Molly, 32 episodes of Frasier<\/a>, 15 episodes of Friends and all 10 episodes of 2025\u2019s Mid-Century Modern from Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. Those are just a fraction of his credits.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe lost a giant today, a mentor to me and a dear friend,\u201d Will & Grace star Eric McCormack wrote on Instagram (see the post below). \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cJimmy was the greatest comedic television director in the history of the medium,\u201d said his long-time agent, Rick Rosen of WME. \u201cHe directed the most iconic, defining shows of generations. Always a gentleman, it was an absolute honor to represent him.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tTaxi star Tony Danza echoed those thoughts, writing on X, \u201cWe have lost the greatest of all time. Jimmy Burrows. I know I wouldn\u2019t be here without him.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tDanny DeVito and Rhea Perlman, also stars on Taxi, shared in a joint statement to The Hollywood Reporter, \u201cRhea and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Jimmy Burrows. The entire DeVito family feels the loss of such an exceptional man, and we send our love to Debbie, Jimmy\u2019s children, and all of his loved ones. Jimmy guided Rhea and me through 16 seasons of television. He was the very best at his craft. His positive spirit, boundless energy, and tireless work defined what it takes to run a show and keep people laughing. He will always be in our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tMuch of Burrows\u2019 directing work ended up on NBC. The network said in a statement, \u201cJimmy Burrows was the man behind the curtain. He knew how to make us laugh, what buttons to push and was the absolute master of getting the most out of every joke. His loss to the television comedy world is immeasurable. Every time you have a smile on your face watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers, Will & Grace, Friends and countless others, think of Jimmy and know he made all our lives funnier.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tSaid National Comedy Center executive director Journey Gunderson, \u201cFew individuals have had a greater impact on television comedy than James Burrows. Through a remarkable career spanning more than five decades, he helped shape the sound, rhythm, and language of modern television comedy, elevating the sitcom as an art form and influencing generations of writers, performers, directors, and storytellers. His work helped define television\u2019s most beloved comedies, and his legacy is woven into the history of comedy itself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tMore reactions to Burrows\u2019 death are below. <\/p>\n \n\tDanza:<\/p>\n