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James Burrows Biography

Birth Name:James Edward Burrows

Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, United States

Profession Director, Producer, Actor, Writer

Fast Facts

In 26 years, he has received 24 nominations for an Emmy Award as a director of a comedy, and won five times
Son of well-known composer and director, Abe Burrows, he attended the Yale School of Drama to follow his father’s footsteps and become a director
Quote: "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․"
Has directed for many popular comedy TV series, including "Two and a Half Men," "Friends," "Will & Grace," and "The Big Bang Theory․"
On several TV series some of his characters are never seen, including Carlton the Doorman on "Rhoda" and Louie De Palma's mother on "Taxi․"
Credited for going from filming TV series with the typical three cameras to four, while incorporating more sophisticated lighting into his studios
Tied at 15 awards with fellow director George Schaefer for the most nominations ever received from the Director’s Guild of America
In 2006 he set a directing record, directing all 194 episodes of his NBC series "Will & Grace․"
Appears in several of the shows he directs, including the HBO series "The Comeback," in which he played himself
Stated in an interview that despite the wealth he has received from his work in TV, he enjoys directing sitcom episodes on a freelance basis

Awards

1980Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: winner
1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: winner
1982DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1983DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1983Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
1983Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: winner
1984DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: winner
1984Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
1984Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1985DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1985Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
1985Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1986DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1986Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
1986Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1987DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1987Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
1987Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1988DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1988Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1988Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
1989Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1989Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
1990DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1990Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
1990Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1991DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: winner
1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: winner
1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
1992DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1992Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1992Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
1993DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1993Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
1993Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
1994DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: winner
1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Comedy Series: winner
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
1996DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
1998DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
1999DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
2000DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
2001DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: winner
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
2002DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
2003DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
2003PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
2004DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
2004PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
2005PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
2006DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
2008Banff Rockie Award-Best Comedy Program: nominated
2010Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Decade: nominated
2018Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode: nominated
2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special: nominated
2020DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials: winner
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special (Live): winner
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special (Live): nominated
2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated