A key creative force in shaping beloved sitcoms from 'Taxi' to 'Cheers,' from 'Friends' to 'Will & Grace,' Burrows won 11 Emmys and helmed well over 1,000 episodes of television.

James Burrows, who co-created the classic sitcom "Cheers" and directed several episodes of “Friends,” “Frasier,” "Will & Grace" and dozens of other hit series, has died.

Burrows spent his career behind the camera specializing in situation comedies. Few viewers recognized him or knew his name, other than to see it flash quickly on the screen in the…