Tributes for ‘legendary’ Friends director James Burrows after death at 85

James Burrows, co-creator of the sitcom Cheers and a prolific TV director, has died at the age of 85.

His family announced he passed away peacefully on Friday, in a statement celebrating his “extraordinary life and enduring legacy”.

Burrows was renowned for directing numerous hit series, including multiple episodes of Friends, Frasier, and Will & Grace.

Throughout his more than 50-year career, he won 11 Emmy Awards, including six for his work on Cheers and two for Taxi.

Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2006, Burrows is remembered as a “legendary director, mentor, and creative force”.