The NBC exec who first met Burrows in 1979 and presided over NBC Entertainment from 1991 through 1998 describes the legendary TV director, who died Friday, as "America’s greatest and most prolific exporter of the world of laughter and joy."

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…

James Burrows, the prolific director who reigned as television’s preeminent sitcom helmer for more than 30 years, has died. He was 85.