James Burrows Net Worth

James Burrows's Quotes

• I'll tell you what I love about directing: the surprise. You never know what's going to happen with your piece until an audience weighs in. You may think that you know what will be funny as shit but then a group of bused-in Middle Americans says it is shit and you're shaking your head in dismay. This surprise I find exhilarating and scary--and I love it.

Interesting Facts about James Burrows

1. Son of playwright/director Abe Burrows, cousin of Jonathan Burrows.
2. He and TV director George Schaefer are tied at 15 each for the most nominations ever received from the Directors Guild of America.
3. Even though he became very wealthy from his work in television, he once said in an interview that he continues to direct situation comedy episodes on a freelance basis because it is what he loves to do.
4. Formed Charles Burrows Charles Productions with writer-producers Glen Charles and Les Charles in 1982 to produce Cheers (1982).
5. Graduated from Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH, in 1962. Received a masters degree in theater from Yale University in 1965.
6. Has been nominated for an Emmy for directing a comedy episode 24 times in 26 years, one nomination every year since 1980, excluding 1997 and 2004. He has won (as director) five times.
7. On several series he's worked on, the spouse of a main character is never actually seen by the audience. They are Norm Peterson's wife Vera (Cheers (1982)), Niles Crane's wife Maris (Frasier (1993)), Karen Walker's husband Stanley (Will & Grace (1998)), Phylis Lynstrom's husband Lars (Mary Tyler Moore (1970)). Although not spouses, Carlton the Doorman on Rhoda (1974) and Louie De Palma's mother on Taxi (1978) were never seen. However, Louie's mother appeared in two episodes in 1981 in which she remarries. She was played by Julia DeVito, the mother of Danny DeVito, who played Louie.
8. Father of Ellie Burrows.
9. Older brother of Laurie Burrows Grad.
10. Brother-in-law of Peter Grad.
11. Uncle of Nicholas Grad and Carolyn Bernstein.
12. Has directed over 30 TV pilots.
13. Among the most successful series he directed was Cheers (1982), which was set in a bar. His father Abe Burrows was a writer for radio in the 1930s, and one of his most successful series was "Duffy's Tavern", which was also set in a bar.
14. Has been involved with three different and otherwise unrelated projects titled "Partners": the Ryan O'Neal and John Hurt film Partners (1982); the Tate Donovan and Jon Cryer TV series Partners (1995); and the Michael Urie and[ David Krumholtz TV series Partners (2012).
15. Has directed 19 Emmy Award-winning performances: Ruth Gordon in Taxi: Sugar Mama (1979), Danny DeVito in Taxi (1978): Season 3, Judd Hirsch in Taxi (1978): Season 3 & Season 5, Christopher Lloyd in Taxi (1978): Seasons 4-5, Carol Kane in Taxi: Simka Returns (1982) & Taxi (1978): Season 5, Shelley Long in Cheers (1982): Season 1, Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982): Season 2-4 & 7, John Cleese in Cheers: Simon Says (1987), Woody Harrelson in Cheers (1982): Season 7, Bebe Neuwirth in Cheers (1982): Seasons 8-9, Ted Danson in Cheers (1982): Seasons 8 & 10, Kirstie Alley in Cheers (1982): Season 9, Sean Hayes in Will & Grace (1998): Season 2, Megan Mullally in Will & Grace (1998): Season 2 & 8, Eric McCormack in Will & Grace (1998): Season 3, Gene Wilder in Will & Grace (1998): Season 5, Debra Messing in Will & Grace (1998): Season 5, Bobby Cannavale in Will & Grace (1998): Season 7 and Leslie Jordan in Will & Grace (1998): Season 8.