"We celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James 'Jimmy' Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family," his family said in a statement. The time and place of his death were not disclosed.Burrows won 11 Emmy awards for excellence in television and helmed more than 1,000 episodes of hit programs, working as a director, producer and writer.Burrows was among the early innovators of the multi-camera sitcom -- short for situation comedy -- when his prolific career began in the 1970s, directing episodes of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Laverne & Shirley" and "The Bob Newhart Show." His first Emmy came for directing "Taxi," a groundbreaking comedy starring Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman and Tony Danza, about the rough and tumble staff of a New York City taxicab company.He directed 236 episodes and also co-created "Cheers" with longtime collaborator James Brooks, as well as its spin-off "Frasier." His other hit shows include "The Big Bang Theory," "Mike & Molly," and "3rd Rock from the Sun."Recently, Burrows took a rare step in front of the camera and starred as himself in "The Comeback," reuniting with "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow for a show that pokes fun at life behind the scenes working on a sitcom in Hollywood. "For more than five decades, Burrows was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history. As a legendary director, mentor, and creative force, he helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world," his family said.