![\"HBO](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2.84002765.jpg\")
Kudrow also posted a tribute to Burrows (Yui Mok\/PA)<\/p>\nThe 85-year-old also co-created another classic American sitcom, Cheers.<\/p>\n
Former Friends star Jennifer Aniston has joined castmates David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc, in paying tribute to \u201cfather figure\u201d director James Burrows following his death.<\/p>\n
Burrows, who directed the US sitcom and was also the co-creator of Cheers, died aged 85, with his death announced on Friday.<\/p>\n
In a post on Instagram, accompanied by pictures of the cast with Burrows, Aniston, 57, said: \u201cThe hardest thing about writing this is that you spent a lifetime making people feel loved, and now it feels impossible to put all of that love into a few paragraphs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe called us his kids \u2014 \u2018where are the kids?\u2019,\u2028\u2019let\u2019s see if the kids can make the joke work\u2019, no pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis own incredible children were generous enough to share him with all of us who were lucky enough to experience his unicorn presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a father figure to me. He always checked in on me. He worried about me, celebrated me, taught me, guided me, and held me through the hardest times and the best of times. He spoiled us rotten.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of all, he taught us \u2014 the kids \u2014 how important it is to love and respect one another. To take care of each other. To have each other\u2019s backs and support each other, no matter what, and we did just that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI miss your voice. I miss your laugh. I miss your brilliance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schwimmer, 59, who played Ross Geller in Friends, shared Aniston\u2019s sentiments.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cJimmy Burrows brought out the best in every actor he ever worked with, and elevated every show he directed, making it funnier and more moving than anyone expected.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis warmth, humility and generosity made us feel safe, like family, and I\u2019m sure we weren\u2019t the only cast to feel that way. He looked out for us, on camera and off.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe became another father figure for me, and I\u2019m sure others.<\/p>\n
\u201cPaternal in the best sense of the word, loving, wise, encouraging, challenging, instructive, patient, inspiring, playful \u2014 and on my best days, I\u2019d like to think, even proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that he was already missing the director, who he said he was \u201cforever grateful to\u201d, and the post was accompanied by a black and white image of him, Burrows and LeBlanc.<\/p>\n
LeBlanc, 58, who played Joey Tribbiani in Friends, added: \u201cJimmy, words cannot describe the impact and influence you had on us and everyone who was lucky enough to have known you.<\/p>\n
Kudrow also posted a tribute to Burrows (Yui Mok\/PA)<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sir are a true icon on so many levels. Well wishes in your next act. You will be missed. God bless.\u201d<\/p>\n
LeBlanc\u2019s post was accompanied with a picture of him and Burrows at Wembley Stadium.<\/p>\n
Kudrow, 62, who played Phoebe Buffay in Friends, posted a picture of herself with Burrows next to his director\u2019s chair on her Instagram story.<\/p>\n
In a statement announcing his death, shared with US outlet People, Burrows\u2019 family said: \u201cWe celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James \u2018Jimmy\u2019 Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor more than five decades, Burrows was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a legendary director, mentor, and creative force, he helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Burrows also worked on shows including The Big Bang Theory and Will And Grace, and won 11 Emmy Awards during his career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 85-year-old also co-created another classic American sitcom, Cheers. Former Friends star Jennifer Aniston has joined castmates David…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":749839,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[64,63,134,427],"class_list":["post-749838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-entertainment","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/749838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=749838"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/749838\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/749839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=749838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=749838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=749838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}