James Burrows Biography (1940-)

Born December 30, 1940, in Los Angeles, CA; son of Abe (a writer, composer, and director) and Ruth (maiden name, Levinson) Burrows; married Katherine (divorced); married Debbie; children: Ellie. Addresses: Office: Charles-Burrows-Charles, 5555 Melrose Ave., Ball 203, Los Angeles, CA 90038-3197.; Agent: Broder Kurland Webb Uffner, 9242 Beverly Blvd., Suite 200, Beverly Hills,CA 90210-3731.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Director, producer, series creator
Birth Details
December 30, 1940
Los Angeles, California, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Television Work
  • Series
  • Creator (with Glen Charles and Les Charles) and producer (with Glen Charles, Les Charles, Ken Levine, and David Isaacs), Cheers, NBC, 1982-84
  • Executive producer (with Glen Charles and Les Charles), Cheers, NBC, 1984-93
  • Executive producer, All Is Forgiven, NBC, 1986
  • Executive producer, The Tortellis, NBC, 1987
  • Executive producer (with Glen Charles and Les Charles) and consultant, Flesh n Blood, NBC, 1991
  • Television Director
  • Episodic
  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show, CBS, 1970-77
  • The Bob Newhart Show, CBS, 1972-78
  • Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, CBS, 1974-75
  • Rhoda, CBS, 1974-78
  • Fay, NBC, 1975-76
  • Phyllis, CBS, 1975-77
  • The Tony Randall Show, ABC, 1976-77, then CBS, 1977-78
  • Laverne & Shirley, ABC, 1976-83
  • Busting Loose, CBS, 1977
  • We've Got Each Other, CBS, 1977-78
  • The Betty White Show, CBS, 1977-78
  • On Our Own, CBS, 1977-78
  • Szysznyk, CBS, 1977-78
  • Lou Grant, CBS, 1977-82
  • Free Country, ABC, 1978
  • Husbands, Wives and Lovers, CBS, 1978
  • The Ted Knight Show, CBS, 1978
  • Taxi, ABC, 1978-82, then NBC, 1982-83
  • The Associates, ABC, 1979-80, then TEC, 1982
  • The Stockard Channing Show, CBS, 1980
  • Good Time Harry, NBC, 1980
  • Best of the West, ABC, 1981-82
  • Cheers, NBC, 1982-93
  • Night Court, NBC, 1984-?
  • All Is Forgiven, NBC, 1986
  • The Hogan Family (also known as Valerie and Valerie's Family), NBC, 1986-90, then CBS, 1990
  • The Tortellis, NBC, 1987
  • Dear John, NBC, 1988-?
  • The Marshall Chronicles, ABC, 1990
  • Wings, NBC, 1990-?
  • The Fanelli Boys (also known as The Boys Are Back), NBC, 1990
  • Flying Blind, 1992
  • Frasier, NBC, 1993-
  • Friends, NBC, 1994-
  • NewsRadio (also known as The Station), NBC, 1995-99
  • Partners, Fox, 1995-96
  • Hudson Street, ABC, 1995-96
  • Caroline in the City (also known as Caroline), NBC, 1995-?
  • The Preston Episodes, 1995-?
  • 3rd Rock from the Sun (also known as 3rd Rock and Life As We Know It), NBC, 1996-2000
  • Pearl, 1996
  • Men Behaving Badly (also known as It's a Man World), NBC, 1996-98
  • Chicago Sons, 1997-98
  • George & Leo, CBS, 1997-98
  • Dharma & Greg, ABC, 1997-
  • Veronica's Closet, NBC, 1997-2000
  • Union Square, NBC, 1997-98
  • Conrad Bloom, 1998
  • Jesse, NBC, 1998-2000
  • The Secret Lives of Men, 1998
  • (And producer) Will & Grace, NBC, 1998-
  • Ladies Man, CBS, 1999-
  • Stark Raving Mad, NBC, 1999-2000
  • Madigan Men, ABC, 2000
  • Cursed (also known as The Weber Show), NBC, 2000
  • Television Director, Except Where Indicated
  • Pilots
  • Bumpers, NBC, 1977
  • Calling Dr. Storm, M.D., NBC, 1977
  • Roosevelt & Truman, CBS, 1977
  • The Plant Family, CBS, 1978
  • Your Place or Mine? CBS, 1978
  • Butterflies, NBC, 1979
  • Every Stray Dog and Kid, NBC, 1981
  • Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever, NBC, 1982
  • At Your Service, NBC, 1984
  • P.O.P., NBC, 1984
  • "In the Lions Den," CBS Summer Playhouse, CBS, 1987
  • (And executive producer) The Tortellis, NBC, 1987
  • Dear John, 1988
  • Channel 99, NBC, 1988
  • Down Home, NBC, 1990
  • Wings, NBC, 1990
  • Roc, Fox, 1991
  • Flesh n Blood, NBC, 1991
  • Pacific Station, NBC, 1991
  • Frasier, NBC, 1993
  • Friends, NBC, 1994
  • NewsRadio (also known as The Station), NBC, 1995
  • Partners, Fox, 1995
  • Caroline in the City (also known as Caroline), NBC, 1995
  • Hudson Street, ABC, 1995
  • Fired Up, 1997
  • Will & Grace, NBC, 1998
  • Stark Raving Mad, NBC, 1999
  • Madigan Men, ABC, 2000
  • Cursed (also known as The Weber Show), NBC, 2000
  • Television Work
  • Specials
  • Director, Big Shots in America, NBC, 1985
  • Segment director, Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special, ABC,1990
  • Segment director, "Cheers," Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1990
  • Director and executive producer, Cheers: Special 200th Episode Celebration, NBC, 1990
  • Television Director
  • Movies
  • (As Jim Burrows) More Than Friends, ABC, 1978
  • Television Appearances
  • Episodic
  • Maintenance man, "Halls of Hartley," The Bob Newhart Show, 1976
  • (Uncredited) Film director, "The One with the Butt," Friends, NBC,1994
  • Specials
  • The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, Fox, 1991
  • Himself, Intimate Portrait: Lea Thompson, Lifetime, 1998
  • Stage Work
  • Assistant stage manager, Holly Golightly, 1967
  • Director, The Castro Complex, Stairway Theatre, 1970
  • Director, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Arlington Park Theatre, Arlington Heights, IL, 1972-73
  • Director, Goodbye, Charlie, Arlington Park Theatre, 1972-73
  • Director, Charley's Aunt, Arlington Park Theatre, 1972-73
  • Director, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Steppenwolf Theatre Company,Chicago, IL, then Barbicon Theatre, London, both 1998
  • Also worked as stage manager for Cactus Flower, U.S. cities, and for Forty Carats, Broadway production; also directed off-Broadway dinner theatre productions.
  • Film Director
  • Partners (also known as Zwei irre Typen auf heisser Spur),Paramount, 1982

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals
    • Broadcasting and Cable, May 22, 1995, p. 30.
    • Newsweek, September 11, 1995, p. 73.