James Burrows Tributes: Lisa Kudrow, Tony Danza & More
Amid the news of James Burrows‘ death, Hollywood is mourning the loss of the decorated and beloved sitcom director.
On Friday, following his death at age 85 from a brief illness, Burrows’ past colleagues and peers paid tribute to “the greatest of all time” in some heartfelt tributes from the likes of Lisa Kudrow, Tony Danza and more.
Lisa Kudrow, who starred alongside Burrows on The Comeback, shared a behind-the-scenes photo of the two of them from the recent third and final season of the HBO series. “Thank you Jimmy. I mean, for everything…” she wrote on her Instagram Story. Burrows played himself on the satirical comedy after directing several episodes of Friends.
Tony Danza, who appeared on several Burrows-helmed episodes of ABC/NBC’s Taxi, wrote on Instagram, “We have lost the greatest of all time. Jimmy Burrows. I know I wouldn’t be here without him. My thoughts are with Debbie and the kids.”
Sean Hayes’ husband Scott Icenogle shared a tribute from the two of them to Burrows, who directed and executive produced every episode of Hayes’ groundbreaking NBC sitcom Will & Grace. “The world lost a cultural, television icon today – James ‘Jimmy’ Burrows. Jimmy was a dear friend and I am incredibly grateful to have had many fun times with him both personally and professionally. Sean and I are sending his incredible wife, Debbie, and his loving family all our love and support during this difficult time,” wrote Icenogle on Instagram.
Instagram / lisakudrow
Hayes’ longtime co-star Eric McCormack also shared a statement. “We lost a giant today, a mentor to me and a dear friend. #JamesBurrows directed every single episode of #Will&Grace… and pretty much everything else. The 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. Jimmy, thank you for everything you gave us. I love you. And I send so much love to Debbie and your whole beautiful family,” he wrote on Instagram.
A spokesperson for NBC said, “Jimmy 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.
Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center, said in a statement: “Few 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’s most beloved comedies, and his legacy is woven into the history of comedy itself.”
