Tony Danza has joined Hollywood in mourning one of television’s greatest architects. Following the death of legendary director and producer James Burrows at 85, tributes have poured in from across Hollywood for the man whose influence helped shape generations of sitcoms. For Danza, however, the loss is especially personal, with the actor reflecting on the creative force who played a pivotal role in the success of Taxi.

Here is what Danza shared while reflecting on Burrows’ passing and remarkable legacy.

Posting on X shortly after news of James Burrows’ death broke, Tony Danza shared an emotional tribute to the television legend. The Taxi star, who worked with Burrows across 75 episodes of the beloved sitcom, called him “the greatest of all time” and admitted he would not be where he is today without him. Danza also extended his thoughts to Burrows’ wife, Debbie, and their children, joining Hollywood in mourning the acclaimed director, who died Friday at the age of 85 after a career that included co-creating Cheers, directing episodes of Friends, and helming every episode of Will & Grace.

“We have lost the greatest of all time. Jimmy Burrows. I know I wouldn’t be here without him. My thoughts are with Debbie and the kids.” Danza posted on his X.

Danza, however, was not alone in remembering Burrows’ influence. Actor Josh Gad, who worked with the director on the 2007 sitcom Back to You, reflected on the experience in a heartfelt Instagram tribute. Describing Burrows as the man who made him fall in love with sitcoms through classics such as Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, and Friends, Gad called working alongside him a “masterclass in comedy.” He further described the filmmaker’s passing as a “seismic loss,” adding that even at 85, Burrows remained full of life and creative energy.

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While his passing marks another loss in the entertainment industry, Burrows’ influence on television is likely to endure for generations. 

Long before streaming reshaped television, James Burrows was quietly building some of the medium’s most beloved worlds. Whether it was the cab drivers of Taxi, the regulars at Cheers, the friends gathered in a Manhattan apartment, or the unforgettable personalities of Will & Grace, Burrows had an uncanny ability to turn fictional groups into families audiences wanted to spend years with. Over the course of five decades, he directed more than 1,000 episodes, launched 75 successful pilots, and collected 11 Emmy Awards, cementing his status as one of the most successful directors television has ever seen.

Yet Burrows’ influence extended far beyond the long list of classics attached to his name. Revered for building on-set chemistry and turning casts into families, he became a mentor to generations of actors and writers, many of whom credited him with shaping their careers. Even in his final years, Burrows showed little interest in slowing down, continuing to work on television and, most recently, directing Hulu’s Mid-Century Modern.

And judging by the outpouring of love from Tony Danza, Josh Gad, and countless others, James Burrows leaves behind far more than hit television shows. 

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What are your favorite James Burrows-directed shows or television moments? Let us know in the comments.