Biography

Has been nominated for an Emmy for directing a comedy episode 24 times in 26 years, one nomination every year since 1980, excluding 1997 and 2004. He has won (as director) five times.

Even though he became very wealthy from his work in television, he once said in an interview that he continues to direct situation comedy episodes on a freelance basis because it is what he loves to do.

Son of playwright/director Abe Burrows, cousin of Jonathan Burrows.

On several series he's worked on, the spouse of a main character is never actually seen by the audience. They are Norm Peterson's wife Vera (Cheers (1982)), Niles Crane's wife Maris (Frasier (1993)), Karen Walker's husband Stanley (Will & Grace (1998)), Phylis Lynstrom's husband Lars (The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970)). Although not spouses, Carlton the Doorman on Rhoda (1974) and Louie De Palma's mother on Taxi (1978) were never seen. However, Louie's mother appeared in two episodes in 1981 in which she remarries. She was played by Julia DeVito, the mother of Danny DeVito, who played Louie.

Has directed over 30 TV pilots.