01What happened
The story, straight
James Burrows, the prolific television director who helmed episodes of Taxi, Friends, Will & Grace, and dozens of other sitcoms, died Friday at 85. Tony Danza, who worked with Burrows on 75 episodes of Taxi, posted on X: 'We have lost the greatest of all time. Jimmy Burrows.' Remembrances from across the television industry are pouring in following his death.
james burrows, the sitcom director behind taxi, friends, will & grace, and basically every comedy you've ever loved, died friday at 85. tony danza — who worked with him on 75 episodes of taxi — posted on X: 'we have lost the greatest of all time. jimmy burrows.' tributes are flooding in from across TV.
02Spread timeline
Where it actually started
04What's solid, what isn't
Claims by status
- James Burrows died Friday at age 85.
- Tony Danza worked with Burrows on 75 episodes of Taxi.
- Danza posted a tribute on X calling Burrows 'the greatest of all time.'
- Additional tributes from other television figures are expected throughout the weekend.
05Why it matters
The editorial take
James Burrows directed more than 1,000 episodes of television across a career spanning five decades, making him arguably the most prolific sitcom director in American TV history. His body of work defined the multi-camera comedy format from the late 1970s through the 2010s.
burrows directed over 1,000 TV episodes across five decades — he basically invented the multi-camera sitcom as we know it. the list of shows he touched is absurd. this one's going to resonate for a while.