James Burrows - Movie and Film Biography, Credits and Filmography

Genres

Comedy

Active

1974 - 2010

Born

December 30, 1940 in Los Angeles, CA

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by Jason Buchanan biography

A familiar name to many a television viewer, writer/producer/director James Burrows has been associated with some of the most successful television sitcoms ever. From producing Cheers and Will & Grace to directing episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Frasier, Friends, and News Radio, it's impossible to deny Burrows' influence on modern television. A native of Los Angeles and the son of writer/director Abe Burrows, James graduated from Ohio's Oberlin College before getting his start in TV directing episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show; the remainder of the decade found him taking the helm of episodes of Rhoda, Laverne & Shirley, Lou Grant, and Taxi. As the '70s gave way to the '80s Burrows looked for ways to expand his resumé and exercise more creative control. Teaming with writer/director brothers Glen and Les Charles in 1982, the trio formed Charles Burrows Charles Productions and soon made television history with the beloved sitcom Cheers. Throughout the following two decades, Burrows directed numerous hits on the small screen, and even after Cheers went off the air in 1993, he remained extremely active as a TV director. His work on Cheers earned him numerous Emmys, and the 15-time Director's Guild of America nominee remains neck and neck with prolific television director George Schaefer as the man with the most nominations from the organization.

Title	Year	Editors' Rating		User Rating
Romantically Challenged [TV Series] Executive Producer	2010
Gary Unmarried [TV Series] Executive Producer	2008
Back to You [TV Series] Executive Producer	2007
War Production Assistant	2007
Four Kings [TV Series] Director	2006
The Class [TV Series] Executive Producer	2006
Will & Grace: Season 08 Executive Producer	2005
The Stones [TV Series] Director	2004
Will & Grace: Season 07 Executive Producer	2004
Two and a Half Men [TV Series] Director	2003
Will & Grace: Season 06 Executive Producer	2003
Bram and Alice [TV Series] Director	2002
Will & Grace: Season 05 Executive Producer	2002
Will & Grace: Season 04 Executive Producer	2001
Madigan Men [TV Series] Director	2000
Will & Grace: Season 03 Executive Producer	2000
Ladies Man [TV Series] Director	1999
Stark Raving Mad [TV Series] Director	1999
Will & Grace: Season 02 Executive Producer	1999
Conrad Bloom [TV Series] Director	1998
Friends: The One with All the Rugby Director	1998
Jesse [TV Series] Director	1998
The Secret Lives of Men [TV Series] Director	1998
Will & Grace: Season 01 Executive Producer	1998
Frasier: Dad Loves Sherry, the Boys Just Whine Director	1997
Frasier: Death and the Dog Director	1997
Frasier: Liar! Liar! Director	1997
Friends: The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break Director	1997
Friends: The One with the Morning After Director	1997
Frasier: Look Before You Leap Director	1996
Frasier: The Show Where Diane Comes Back Director	1996
Friends: The One with the Prom Video Director	1996
Frasier: Dark Victory Director	1995
Frasier: Roz in the Doghouse Director	1995
Frasier: Someone to Watch Over Me Director	1995
Frasier: The Innkeepers Director	1995
Frasier: The Show Where Sam Shows Up Director	1995
Friends: The One With All the Poker Director	1995
Friends: The One With Mrs. Bing Director, Teleplay By	1995
Friends: The One With the Candy Hearts Director	1995
Friends: The One with the Birth Director	1995
Frasier: Adventures in Paradise, Part 1 Director	1994
Frasier: Adventures in Paradise, Part 2 Director	1994
Frasier: And the Whimper Is Director	1994
Frasier: Author, Author Director	1994
Frasier: Can't Buy Me Love Director	1994
Frasier: Dukes, We Hardly Knew You Director	1994
Frasier: Flour Child Director	1994
Frasier: Frasier Crane's Day Off Director	1994
Frasier: Give Him the Chair! Director	1994
Frasier: My Coffee with Niles Director	1994
Frasier: Seat of Power Director	1994
Frasier: Slow Tango in South Seattle Director	1994
Frasier: The Candidate Director	1994
Frasier: The Show Where Lilith Comes Back Director	1994
Frasier: Travels with Martin Director	1994
Friends: The One Where Nana Dies Twice Director	1994
Friends: The One Where Underdog Gets Away Director	1994
Friends: The One with George Stephanplous Director	1994
Friends: The One with the Blackout Director	1994
Friends: The One with the Sonogram at the End Director	1994
Friends: The One with the Thumb Director	1994
Friends: The Pilot Director	1994
Cheers: Bar Wars VII: The Naked Prey Director	1993
Cheers: Is There a Doctor in the Howe? Director	1993
Cheers: It's Lonely on the Top Director	1993
Cheers: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Bar Director	1993
Cheers: Loathe and Marriage Director	1993
Cheers: Look Before You Sleep Director	1993
Cheers: One for the Road, Part 1 Director	1993
Cheers: One for the Road, Part 2 Director	1993
Cheers: One for the Road, Part 3 Director	1993
Cheers: Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses, Part 1 Director	1993
Cheers: Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses, Part 2 Director	1993
Cheers: Sunday Dinner Director	1993
Cheers: The Bar Manager, the Shrink, His Wife and Her Lover Director	1993
Cheers: The Guy Can't Help It Director	1993
Cheers: The Last Picture Show Director	1993
Cheers: Woody Gets an Election Director	1993
Frasier: Call Me Irresponsible Director	1993
Frasier: Dinner at Eight Director	1993
Frasier: Miracle on Third or Fourth Street Director	1993
Frasier: Oops Director	1993
Frasier: Space Quest Director	1993
Frasier: The Crucible Director	1993
Frasier: The Good Son Director	1993
Cheers: A Diminished Rebecca with a Suspended Cliff Director	1992
Cheers: An Old-Fashioned Wedding Director	1992
Cheers: Daddy's Little Middle-Aged Girl Director	1992
Cheers: Do Not Forsake Me O' My Postman Director	1992
Cheers: Don't Shoot...I'm Only the Psychiatrist Director	1992
Cheers: Heeeere's...Cliffy! Director	1992
Cheers: Ill-Gotten Gaines Director	1992
Cheers: License to Hill Director	1992
Cheers: Love Me, Love My Car Director	1992
Cheers: My Son, the Father Director	1992
Cheers: No Rest for the Woody Director	1992
Cheers: One Hugs, the Other Doesn't Director	1992
Cheers: Rebecca's Lover...Not Director	1992
Cheers: Rich Man, Wood Man Director	1992
Cheers: Season 11 Executive Producer	1992
Cheers: Smotherly Love Director	1992
Cheers: Take Me Out of the Ball Game Director	1992
Cheers: Teaching with the Enemy Director	1992
Cheers: The Beer Is Always Greener Director	1992
Cheers: The Girl in the Plastic Bubble Director	1992
Cheers: The Little Match Girl Director	1992
Cheers: The Magnificent Six Director	1992
Cheers: A Fine French Whine Director	1991
Cheers: Achilles Hill Director	1991
Cheers: Baby Balk Director	1991
Cheers: Bar Wars V: the Final Judgement Director	1991
Cheers: Carla Loves Clavin Director	1991
Cheers: Crash of the Titans Director	1991
Cheers: Get Your Kicks on Route 666 Director	1991
Cheers: Go Mate Director	1991
Cheers: Honor Thy Mother Director	1991
Cheers: I'm Okay, You're Defective Director	1991
Cheers: It's a Wonderful Wife Director	1991
Cheers: Ma's Little Margie Director	1991
Cheers: Madame LaCarla Director	1991
Cheers: Pitch It Again, Sam Director	1991
Cheers: Rat Girl Director	1991
Cheers: Sam Time Next Year Director	1991
Cheers: Season 10 Executive Producer	1991
Cheers: The Days of Wine and Neuroses Director	1991
Cheers: Uncle Sam Wants You Director	1991
Cheers: Unplanned Parenthood Director	1991
Cheers: Wedding Bell Blues Director	1991
Cheers: Where Have All the Floorboards Gone? Director	1991
Cheers: 50-50 Carla Director	1990
Cheers: Bad Neighbor Sam Director	1990
Cheers: Bar Wars III: The Return of Tecumseh Director	1990
Cheers: Cheers 200th Anniversary Special, Part 1 Director	1990
Cheers: Cheers 200th Anniversary Special, Part 2 Director	1990
Cheers: Cheers Fouls Out Director	1990
Cheers: Cry Hard Director	1990
Cheers: Cry Harder Director	1990
Cheers: Finally!, Part 1 Director	1990
Cheers: Finally!, Part 2 Director	1990
Cheers: Grease Director	1990
Cheers: Love Is a Really, Really, Perfect, Okay Thing Director	1990
Cheers: Loverboyd Director	1990
Cheers: Norm and Cliff's Excellent Adventure Director	1990
Cheers: Rebecca Redux Director	1990
Cheers: Sammy and the Professor Director	1990
Cheers: Season 09 Executive Producer	1990
Cheers: The Ghost and Mrs. Lebec Director	1990
Cheers: Veggie-Boyd Director	1990
Cheers: Woody Interruptus Director	1990
Wings: Legacy Director	1990
Cheers: A Bar Is Born Director	1989
Cheers: Adventures in Housesitting Director	1989
Cheers: Bar Wars II: The Woodman Strikes Back Director	1989
Cheers: Call Me Irresponsible Director	1989
Cheers: Death Takes a Holiday on Ice Director	1989
Cheers: Don't Paint Your Chickens Director	1989
Cheers: For Real Men Only Director	1989
Cheers: Golden Boyd Director	1989
Cheers: Hot Rocks Director	1989
Cheers: How to Marry a Mailman Director	1989
Cheers: I Kid You Not Director	1989
Cheers: Please Mr. Postman Director	1989
Cheers: Sam Ahoy Director	1989
Cheers: Season 08 Executive Producer	1989
Cheers: Send In the Crane Director	1989
Cheers: Sisterly Love Director	1989
Cheers: The Art of the Steal Director	1989
Cheers: The Gift of the Woodi Director	1989
Cheers: The Improbable Dream, Part 1 Director	1989
Cheers: The Improbable Dream, Part 2 Director	1989
Cheers: The Visiting Lecher Director	1989
Cheers: Two Girls for Every Boyd Director	1989
Cheers: What's Up, Doc? Director	1989
Cheers: Backseat Becky, Up Front Director	1988
Cheers: Bar Wars Director	1988
Cheers: Executive Sweet Director	1988
Cheers: How to Recede in Business Teleplay By	1988
Cheers: How to Win Friends and Electrocute Yourself Director	1988
Cheers: Jumping Jerks Director	1988
Cheers: Let Sleeping Drakes Lie Director	1988
Cheers: Norm, Is That You? Director	1988
Cheers: One Happy Chappy in a Snappy Serape Director	1988
Cheers: Season 07 Executive Producer	1988
Cheers: Slumber Party Massacred Director	1988
Cheers: Swear to God Director	1988
Cheers: The Big Kiss-Off Director	1988
Cheers: Those Lips, Those Ice Director	1988
Cheers: To All the Girls I've Loved Before Director	1988
Cheers: "I" on Sports Director	1987
Cheers: A House Is Not a Home Director	1987
Cheers: A Kiss Is Still a Kiss Director	1987
Cheers: Chambers vs. Malone Director	1987
Cheers: Christmas Cheers Director	1987
Cheers: Diamond Sam Director	1987
Cheers: Dinner at Eight-ish Director	1987
Cheers: Dog Bites Cliff Director	1987
Cheers: Home Is the Sailor Director	1987
Cheers: I Do and Adieu Director	1987
Cheers: Little Carla, Happy at Last, Part 1 Director	1987
Cheers: My Fair Clavin Director	1987
Cheers: Never Love a Goalie, Part 1 Director	1987
Cheers: Never Love a Goalie, Part 2 Director	1987
Cheers: Norm's First Hurrah Director	1987
Cheers: One Last Fling Director	1987
Cheers: Paint Your Office Director	1987
Cheers: Pudd'nhead Boyd Director	1987
Cheers: Season 06 Executive Producer	1987
Cheers: Simon Says Director	1987
Cheers: Spellbound Director	1987
Cheers: The Crane Mutiny Director	1987
Cheers: The Godfather, Part III Director	1987
Cheers: The Last Angry Mailman Director	1987
Cheers: Abnormal Psychology Director	1986
Cheers: Cliffie's Big Score Director	1986
Cheers: Dance, Diane, Dance Director	1986
Cheers: Dark Imaginings Director	1986
Cheers: Diane Chambers Day Director	1986
Cheers: Everyone Imitates Art Director	1986
Cheers: Fear Is My Co-Pilot Director	1986
Cheers: House of Horrors with Formal Dining and Used Brick Director	1986
Cheers: Knights of the Scimitar Director	1986
Cheers: Money Dearest Director	1986
Cheers: Relief Bartender Director	1986
Cheers: Save the Last Dance for Me Director	1986
Cheers: Season 05 Executive Producer	1986
Cheers: Strange Bedfellows, Part 1 Director	1986
Cheers: Strange Bedfellows, Part 2 Director	1986
Cheers: Strange Bedfellows, Part 3 Director	1986
Cheers: Suspicion Director	1986
Cheers: Take My Shirt...Please? Director	1986
Cheers: Tan 'n' Wash Director	1986
Cheers: Thanksgiving Orphans Director	1986
Cheers: The Book of Samuel Director	1986
Cheers: The Cape Cad Director	1986
Cheers: The Peterson Principle Director	1986
Cheers: The Proposal Director	1986
Cheers: The Triangle Director	1986
Cheers: Young Dr. Weinstein Director	1986
Cheers: 2 Good to Be 4 Real Director	1985
Cheers: Bar Bet Director	1985
Cheers: Behind Every Great Man Director	1985
Cheers: Birth, Death, Love and Rice Director	1985
Cheers: Cheerio, Cheers Director	1985
Cheers: Diane's Nightmare Director	1985
Cheers: Don Juan Is Hell Director	1985
Cheers: Fools and Their Money Director	1985
Cheers: From Beer to Eternity Director	1985
Cheers: I Will Gladly Pay You Tuesday Director	1985
Cheers: If Ever I Would Leave You Director	1985
Cheers: King of the Hill Director	1985
Cheers: Love Thy Neighbor Director	1985
Cheers: Rescue Me Director	1985
Cheers: Season 04 Executive Producer	1985
Cheers: Someday My Prince Will Come Director	1985
Cheers: Teacher's Pet Director	1985
Cheers: The Bar Stoolie Director	1985
Cheers: The Bartender's Tale Director	1985
Cheers: The Belles of St. Clete's Director	1985
Cheers: The Executive's Executioner Director	1985
Cheers: The Groom Wore Clearasil Director	1985
Cheers: The Heart Is a Lonely Snipe Hunter Director	1985
Cheers: The Mail Goes to Jail Director	1985
Cheers: Whodunit? Director	1985
Cheers: Woody Goes Belly Up Director	1985
Cheers: A Ditch in Time Director	1984
Cheers: An American Family Director	1984
Cheers: And Coachie Makes Three Director	1984
Cheers: Battle of the Exes Director	1984
Cheers: Cliff's Rocky Moment Director	1984
Cheers: Coach Buries a Grudge Director	1984
Cheers: Coach in Love, Part 1 Director	1984
Cheers: Coach in Love, Part 2 Director	1984
Cheers: Diane Meets Mom Director	1984
Cheers: Diane's Allergy Director	1984
Cheers: Fairy Tales Can Come True Director	1984
Cheers: Fortune and Men's Weight Director	1984
Cheers: I Call Your Name Director	1984
Cheers: I'll Be Seeing You, Part 1 Director	1984
Cheers: I'll Be Seeing You, Part 2 Director	1984
Cheers: No Help Wanted Director	1984
Cheers: Norman's Conquest Director	1984
Cheers: Peterson Crusoe Director	1984
Cheers: Rebound, Part 1 Director	1984
Cheers: Rebound, Part 2 Director	1984
Cheers: Sam Turns the Other Cheek Director	1984
Cheers: Season 03 Executive Producer	1984
Cheers: Snow Job Director	1984
Night Court: All You Need Is Love Director	1984
Cheers: Affairs of the Heart Director	1983
Cheers: Diane's Perfect Date Director	1983
Cheers: Father Knows Last Director	1983
Cheers: Homicidal Ham Director	1983
Cheers: How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Call You Back Director	1983
Cheers: Just Three Friends Director	1983
Cheers: Let Me Count the Ways Director	1983
Cheers: Little Sister Don't Cha Director	1983
Cheers: Manager Coach Director	1983
Cheers: No Contest Director	1983
Cheers: Now Pitching, Sam Malone Director	1983
Cheers: Old Flames Director	1983
Cheers: Personal Business Director	1983
Cheers: Pick a Con...Any Con Director	1983
Cheers: Power Play Director	1983
Cheers: Season 02 Executive Producer	1983
Cheers: Showdown, Part 1 Director	1983
Cheers: Showdown, Part 2 Director	1983
Cheers: Someone Single, Someone Blue Director	1983
Cheers: Sumner's Return Director	1983
Cheers: The Boys in the Bar Director	1983
Cheers: They Called Me Mayday Director	1983
Cheers: Where There's a Will... Director	1983
Cheers [TV Series] Executive Producer, Show Creator	1982
Cheers: Any Friend of Diane's Director	1982
Cheers: Coach Returns to Action Director	1982
Cheers: Coach's Daughter Director	1982
Cheers: Endless Slumper Director	1982
Cheers: Friends, Romans, Accountants Director	1982
Cheers: Give Me a Ring Sometime Director	1982
Cheers: One for the Book Director	1982
Cheers: Sam at Eleven Director	1982
Cheers: Sam's Women Director	1982
Cheers: Season 01 Executive Producer	1982
Cheers: The Spy Who Came in for a Cold One Director	1982
Cheers: The Tortelli Tort Director	1982
Cheers: Truce or Consequences Director	1982
Partners Director	1982
Taxi: Bobby Doesn't Live Here Anymore Director	1982
Taxi: Cooking for Two Director	1982
Taxi: I Wanna Be Around Director	1982
Taxi: The Road Not Taken, Part 1 Director	1982
Taxi: The Road Not Taken, Part 2 Director	1982
Taxi: The Wedding of Latka and Simka Director	1982
Taxi: Bobby and the Critic Director	1981
Taxi: Bobby's Roommate Director	1981
Taxi: Call of the Mild Director	1981
Taxi: Fledgling Director	1981
Taxi: Jim the Psychic Director	1981
Taxi: Latka the Playboy Director	1981
Taxi: Latka's Cookies Director	1981
Taxi: Like Father, Like Son Director	1981
Taxi: Louie Bumps Into an Old Lady Director	1981
Taxi: Louie's Fling Director	1981
Taxi: Louie's Mom Remarries Director	1981
Taxi: Louie's Mother Director	1981
Taxi: Of Mice and Tony Director	1981
Taxi: On the Job, Part 1 Director	1981
Taxi: On the Job, Part 2 Director	1981
Taxi: Out of Commission Director	1981
Taxi: The Costume Party Director	1981
Taxi: The Ten Percent Solution Director	1981
Taxi: Thy Boss's Wife Director	1981
Taxi: Alex Jumps Out of an Airplane Director	1980
Taxi: Art Work Director	1980
Taxi: Elaine's Strange Triangle Director	1980
Taxi: Fantasy Borough, Part 1 Director	1980
Taxi: Fantasy Borough, Part 2 Director	1980
Taxi: Fathers of the Bride Director	1980
Taxi: Going Home Director	1980
Taxi: Guess Who's Coming for Brefnish Director	1980
Taxi: Louie's Rival Director	1980
Taxi: Shut it Down, Part 1 Director	1980
Taxi: Shut it Down, Part 2 Director	1980
Taxi: Tony and Brian Director	1980
Taxi: Tony's Sister and Jim Director	1980
Taxi: What Price Bobby? Director	1980
Taxi: A Woman Between Friends Director	1979
Taxi: Alex Tastes Death and Finds a Nice Restaurant Director	1979
Taxi: Bobby's Big Break Director	1979
Taxi: Elaine and the Lame Duck Director	1979
Taxi: Elaine's Secret Admirer Director	1979
Taxi: Friends Director	1979
Taxi: Hollywood Calling Director	1979
Taxi: Honor Thy Father Director	1979
Taxi: Jim Gets a Pet Director	1979
Taxi: Latka's Revolting Director	1979
Taxi: Louie Meets the Folks Director	1979
Taxi: Louie Sees the Light Director	1979
Taxi: Louie and the Nice Girl Director	1979
Taxi: Mama Gravas Director	1979
Taxi: Nardo Loses Her Marbles Director	1979
Taxi: Reverend Jim: A Space Odyssey Director	1979
Taxi: Substitute Father Director	1979
Taxi: Sugar Mama Director	1979
Taxi: The Apartment Director	1979
Taxi: The Great Race Director	1979
Taxi: The Lighter Side of Angela Matusa Director	1979
Taxi: The Reluctant Fighter Director	1979
Taxi: Wherefore Art Thou, Bobby? Director	1979
More Than Friends Director	1978
Taxi: A Full House for Christmas Director	1978
Taxi: Blind Date Director	1978
Taxi: Bobby's Acting Career Director	1978
Taxi: Come as You Aren't Director	1978
Taxi: High School Reunion Director	1978
Taxi: Like Father, Like Daughter Director	1978
Taxi: Memories of Cab 804, Part 1 Director	1978
Taxi: Memories of Cab 804, Part 2 Director	1978
Taxi: Men are Such Beasts Director	1978
Taxi: Money Troubles Director	1978
Taxi: One-Punch Banta Director	1978
Taxi: Paper Marriage Director	1978
Taxi: The Great Line Director	1978
Laverne & Shirley: Guilty Until Proven Not Innocent Director	1977
Laverne & Shirley: Guinea Pigs Director	1977
Laverne & Shirley: Lonely at the Middle Director	1977
The Bob Newhart Show: Halls of Hartley Actor, Director	1977
Laverne & Shirley: Dear Future Model Director	1976
Laverne & Shirley: Dog Day Blind Dates Director	1976
Laverne & Shirley: From Suds to Stardom Director	1976
Laverne & Shirley: Good Time Girls Director	1976
Laverne & Shirley: Look Before You Leap Director	1976
The Bob Newhart Show: Guaranteed Not to Shrink Director	1976
The Bob Newhart Show: Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson Director	1976
The Bob Newhart Show: Some of My Best Friends Are... Director	1976
The Bob Newhart Show: Warden Gordon Borden Director	1976
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Mary the Writer Director	1976
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Mary's Insomnia Director	1976
The Bob Newhart Show: Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospit Director	1975
The Bob Newhart Show: Emily Hits the Ceiling Director	1975
The Bob Newhart Show: Fathers & Sons & Mothers Director	1975
The Bob Newhart Show: Over the River and Through the Woods Director	1975
The Bob Newhart Show: The Longest Good-Bye Director	1975
The Bob Newhart Show: The Way We Weren't Director	1975
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: The Happy Homemaker Takes Lou Home Director	1975
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Neighbors Director	1974

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