James Burrows(1940-2026)

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The Paley Center Salutes The Best Of Will & Grace: James Burrows

James Burrows was born on 30 December 1940 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Cheers (1982), Will & Grace (1998) and Taxi (1978). He was married to Debbie Easton and Linda Solomon. He died on 19 June 2026 in the USA.

Photos21

8.0

TV Series

7.4

TV Series

7.7

TV Series

8.2

TV Series

Mid-Century Modern
7.4
TV Series
- Director
- 2025
The Rachel Maddow Show: The First One-Hundred Days
4.1
TV Series
- Director
- 2025
Frasier
6.8
TV Series
- Director
- directed by
- 2023–2024
Hungry
TV Series
- Director
- 2022
Romantically Challenged
5.3
TV Series
- Director
- 2010–2021
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'The Facts of Life' and 'Diff'rent Strokes'
7.8
TV Special
- Director
- 2021
Wilde Things
TV Series
- Director
- 2020
B Positive
6.4
TV Series
- directed by
- Director
- 2020
Will & Grace
7.4
TV Series
- Director
- 1998–2020
Our House
5.4
TV Movie
- Director
- 2019
Friends 25th: The One With The Anniversary
3.5
- Director
- 2019
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons'
7.7
TV Special
- Director
- 2019
Like Family
TV Movie
- Director
- 2018
The Neighborhood
6.8
TV Series
- Director
- 2018
Brothered Up
6.1
TV Movie
- Director
- 2017

Mid-Century Modern
7.4
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2025
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'The Facts of Life' and 'Diff'rent Strokes'
7.8
TV Special
- executive producer
- 2021
Will & Grace
7.4
TV Series
- executive producer
- 1999–2020
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times'
7.5
TV Special
- executive producer
- 2019
Brothered Up
6.1
TV Movie
- executive producer
- 2017
Man with a Plan
7.0
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2016–2017
Superior Donuts
6.5
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2017
Crowded
6.4
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2016
The Millers
6.0
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2013–2015
Partners
6.3
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2012–2013
Mike & Molly
6.6
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2010–2012
Romantically Challenged
5.3
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2010
Gary Unmarried
6.7
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2008–2010
Back to You
6.5
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2007–2008
The Class
7.7
TV Series
- executive producer
- 2006–2007

We pay tribute to the stars we lost this year, including Dolly Parton and Tim Curry.

Official site
- Instagram
Alternative name
- Jim Burrows
Born
- December 30, 1940
- Los Angeles, California, USA
Died
- June 19, 2026
- USA(natural causes)
Spouses
Children
Parents
Relatives
Other works
Filmed promotional interview for the 1st Season DVD release of Will & Grace (1998).
Publicity listings
- 1 Print Biography
- 5 Articles

Trivia
Has been nominated for an Emmy for directing a comedy episode 24 times in 26 years, one nomination every year since 1980, excluding 1997 and 2004. He has won (as director) five times.

Quotes
I'll tell you what I love about directing: the surprise. You never know what's going to happen with your piece until an audience weighs in. You may think that you know what will be funny as shit but then a group of bused-in Middle Americans says it is shit and you're shaking your head in dismay. This surprise I find exhilarating and scary--and I love it.