---
name: "James Burrows"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-burrows"
fi1m_id: "james-burrows"
imdb_id: "nm0123273"
tmdb_id: 157437
wikidata_id: "Q3050241"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "30 December 1940"
died: "19 June 2026"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "director"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-07T12:10:15.488652+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# James Burrows

## Identity

James Burrows

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/james-burrows
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** james-burrows
- **IMDb ID:** nm0123273
- **TMDB ID:** 157437
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3050241
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Burrows, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3050241, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0123273/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/157437

Director. Born 30 December 1940 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Died 19 June 2026.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 30 December 1940, Los Angeles, California, USA
- **Died:** 19 June 2026
- **Active:** 1970–2007
- **Also known as:**  James Edward Burrows , Jim Burrows 
- **Frequently works with:** [David Lloyd](https://film.one/person/david-lloyd.md), [Michael Zinberg](https://film.one/person/michael-zinberg.md), [Sam Simon](https://film.one/person/sam-simon.md), [Andy Ackerman](https://film.one/person/andy-ackerman.md), [David Pollock](https://film.one/person/david-pollock.md), [Elias Davis](https://film.one/person/elias-davis.md), [Glen Charles](https://film.one/person/glen-charles.md), [Jeff Melman](https://film.one/person/jeff-melman.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 5 Emmys (5 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as director, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 87 (2), 1980s 88 (1), 1990s 83 (2), 2000s 62 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 77 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Comedy 7, Drama 1, Family 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Burrows, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3050241, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0123273/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/157437

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Cheers*](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md) (88), [*Taxi*](https://film.one/tv/taxi.md) (86)
- **HBO Max:** [*Friends*](https://film.one/tv/friends.md) (78), [*The Big Bang Theory*](https://film.one/tv/the-big-bang-theory.md) (68)
- **Hulu:** [*Frasier*](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md) (88)
- **Peacock:** [*Two and a Half Men*](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md) (55)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on James Burrows

> James Burrows builds ensemble comedies around the actors’ timing and their movements through a room. We rate that patient craft highly, especially in *Frasier*, where a pause can be as pleasurable as a line.

In *Frasier* (1993), Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce know how long to wait. We laughed because their pauses let the precision of the writing register before the next joke arrives. James Burrows directed the pilot and subsequent episodes, helping establish a comedy whose pleasures depend on the actors giving one another time. His direction deserves our regard for making that look straightforward. Getting several funny people to work together requires more than letting each have a turn.

His early television work included *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* and *The Bob Newhart Show* in 1974, following work as a stage manager and director in theatre. He went on to direct 75 episodes of *Taxi* (1978). With Glen and Les Charles, he co-created *Cheers* (1982), directing 237 of its 275 episodes. That sustained involvement matters to our view of him: he helped create the programme, then stayed to do the weekly work.

The theatre background helps explain his attention to where actors stand and how they move, as well as when they speak. Burrows specialises in multicamera comedy, using four cameras rather than three, and works closely with performers on delivery and ensemble timing. The camera count alone is no recommendation; the useful skill is arranging a scene so that a line and the response to it both have room. In *Frasier*, that suits writing which needs patience without losing pace.

He also directed the pilot of *Friends* (1994), while *Will & Grace* (1998) became a longer commitment: every episode of the original run and revival. Those are two distinct jobs, setting a cast working together and keeping it working. We value the sustained attention as much as the ability to get a programme started. Yet returning to *Frasier*, we would not mistake reliable direction for a guarantee that every misunderstanding deserves its allotted time.

Some of its misunderstandings drag on after the last good joke, and the actors’ timing cannot always make up for that. Nor should Burrows receive sole credit for a series whose writing and performances give it so much. Grammer and Pierce remain our chief reasons to watch. Start with *Frasier* for the actors, and pay attention to how much space they are given.

## Biography

James Edward Burrows (30 December 1940 – 19 June 2026) was an American television director. The son of playwright and director Abe Burrows, he began his career directing episodes of *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* in 1974 after working in theatre.

He co-created the NBC sitcom *Cheers* (1982–1993) with Glen and Les Charles and directed 237 of its episodes. Burrows also directed the pilot and 32 episodes of the *Cheers* spin-off *Frasier* (1993–2004), as well as episodes and pilots of *Friends* (1994), *Will & Grace* (1998), *Taxi* and numerous other multi-camera comedies. He later directed episodes of the *Will & Grace* and *Frasier* revivals.

Burrows received 11 Primetime Emmy Awards for directing and five Directors Guild of America Awards, including a lifetime achievement award. He directed over 1,000 episodes across five decades.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, ew.com, apnews.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *The Big Bang Theory* (2007), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-big-bang-theory.md)
- *Two and a Half Men* (2003), Fi1m 55, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md)
- *Friends* (1994), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *Frasier* (1993), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Cheers* (1982), Fi1m 88, Director, Creator, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md)
- *Taxi* (1978), Fi1m 86, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/taxi.md)
- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)

## Complete filmography (98)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Mid-Century Modern* (2025), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Frasier* (2023), series, Director
- *Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes* (2021), Director, Executive Producer
- *B Positive* (2020), series, Director
- *Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"* (2019), Director, Executive Producer
- *Friends 25th: The One with the Anniversary* (2019), Director
- *Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"* (2019), Director
- *The Neighborhood* (2018), series, Director
- *Will & Grace* (2017), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Superior Donuts* (2017), series, Director
- *Man with a Plan* (2016), series, Director
- *Crowded* (2016), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Safe House* (2015), series, as Sam
- *The Millers* (2013), series, Director
- *Partners* (2012), series, Director
- *2 Broke Girls* (2011), series, Director
- *Cheers* (2011), series, Original Series Creator
- *$#*! My Dad Says* (2010), series, Director
- *Better With You* (2010), series, Director
- *Mike & Molly* (2010), series, Director, Producer
- *100 Questions* (2010), series, Director
- *Romantically Challenged* (2010), series, Director, Producer
- *Gary Unmarried* (2008), series, Director, Producer
- *The Big Bang Theory* (2007), series, Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-big-bang-theory.md)
- *Back to You* (2007), series, Director, Producer
- *Mastersons of Manhattan* (2007), Director
- *The Class* (2006), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Teachers* (2006), series, Director
- *Four Kings* (2006), series, Director
- *TV Land Moguls* (2004), series, Actor
- *Two and a Half Men* (2003), series, Director — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md)
- *Bram & Alice* (2002), series, Director
- *Good Morning, Miami* (2002), series, Director
- *Madigan Men* (2000), series, Director
- *Stark Raving Mad* (1999), series, Director
- *Ladies Man* (1999), series, Director
- *The Secret Lives of Men* (1998), series, Producer
- *Jesse* (1998), series, Director
- *Will & Grace* (1998), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Conrad Bloom* (1998), series, Director
- *Union Square* (1997), series, Director
- *Dharma & Greg* (1997), series, Director
- *George & Leo* (1997), series, Director
- *Fired Up* (1997), series, Director
- *Chicago Sons* (1997), series, Director
- *Men Behaving Badly* (1996), series, Director
- *Pearl* (1996), series, Director
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *3rd Rock from the Sun* (1996), series, Director
- *Caroline in the City* (1995), series, Director
- *Hudson Street* (1995), series, Director
- *Partners* (1995), series, Director
- *NewsRadio* (1995), series, Director
- *Friends* (1994), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *Madman of the People* (1994), series, Director
- *Monty* (1994), series, Director
- *Cafe Americain* (1993), series, Director
- *Frasier* (1993), series, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Flying Blind* (1992), series, Director
- *Flesh 'n' Blood* (1991), series, Director
- *Pacific Station* (1991), series, Director
- *Roc* (1991), series, Director
- *Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration* (1990), Director, Thanks
- *Wings* (1990), series, Director
- *The Marshall Chronicles* (1990), series, Director
- *Dear John* (1988), series, Director
- *Channel 99* (1988), Director
- *The Tortellis* (1987), series, Director, Producer, Creator
- *All Is Forgiven* (1986), series, Director
- *The Hogan Family* (1986), series, Director
- *P.O.P.* (1984), Director
- *Night Court* (1984), series, Director
- *Cheers* (1982), series, Director, Executive Producer, Creator — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md)
- *Family Ties* (1982), series, Director
- *Partners* (1982), Director
- *Best of the West* (1981), series, Director
- *Good Time Harry* (1980), series, Director
- *The Associates* (1979), series, Director
- *A New Kind of Family* (1979), series, Director
- *Butterflies* (1979), Director
- *More Than Friends* (1978), Director
- *Taxi* (1978), series, Director — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/taxi.md)
- *Free Country* (1978), series, Director
- *We've Got Each Other* (1977), series, Director
- *Lou Grant* (1977), series, Director
- *The Betty White Show* (1977), series, Director
- *Calling Doctor Storm, M.D.* (1977), Director
- *Busting Loose* (1977), series, Director
- *The Tony Randall Show* (1976), series, Director
- *Laverne & Shirley* (1976), series, Director
- *Phyllis* (1975), series, Director
- *The Lost Saucer* (1975), series, Director
- *Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers* (1974), series, Director
- *Rhoda* (1974), series, Director
- *The Bob Newhart Show* (1972), series, as Maintenance Man · Director
- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), series, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)
- *AbFab*, series, Director
- *Happiness Isn't Everything*, series, Director

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 5 won

- 1994: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (won), for *Frasier*
- 1991: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (won), for *Cheers*
- 1983: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (won), for *Cheers*
- 1981: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (won), for *Taxi*
- 1980: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (won), for *Taxi*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/james-burrows