Jennifer Aniston paid a touching tribute to James Burrows, her long-time director from “Friends,” who passed away on Friday at the age of 85.
“Papa Burrows. It’s incredibly difficult to capture a lifetime of love in just a few paragraphs,” Aniston shared on Instagram on Saturday. “He lovingly referred to us as his ‘kids’—often asking, ‘Where are the kids?’ or ‘Let’s see if the kids can make the joke work.’ No pressure.”
Aniston continued, “His wonderful children were kind enough to share him with all of us who had the privilege of experiencing his unique presence. He was like a father to me. He always checked in, worried for me, celebrated my successes, taught and guided me through both the toughest and best times. He truly spoiled us.”
James Burrows is often celebrated as the father of the modern sitcom. Besides his work on “Friends,” he co-created the iconic ’80s bar comedy “Cheers,” directed 75 episodes of “Taxi,” and directed every episode of “Will & Grace” from 1998 to 2020.
Aniston concluded, “Above all, he taught us—his ‘kids’—the importance of love and respect. He emphasized caring for each other, having each other’s backs, and offering support no matter the circumstances. And we truly did that. I miss your voice, your laughter, and your brilliance. Wherever you are, I hope someone is asking, ‘Where are the kids?'”
Among his extensive list of TV directing credits are “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Rhoda,” “The Betty White Show,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “Lou Grant,” “The Tony Randall Show,” “The Associates,” “The Stockard Channing Show,” “The Hogan Family,” “Night Court,” “Dear John,” “Ladies Man,” “Wings,” “Frasier,” “NewsRadio,” “Third Rock from the Sun,” “Pearl,” “Dharma & Greg,” “Caroline in the City,” “George & Leo,” “The Class,” “Courting Alex,” “Back to You,” “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Hank,” “Up All Night,” “Better with You,” “$#*! My Dad Says,” “2 Broke Girls,” “Partners,” “Mike & Molly” and “The Millers.”
