Following the death of acclaimed director James Burrows at age 85, the “Friends” star shared a deeply personal tribute on Instagram, reflecting on a relationship that extended far beyond the set.
Burrows, whose career spanned more than five decades and helped shape the modern sitcom, directed episodes of “Friends,” co-created “Cheers,” and became one of the most decorated comedy directors in television history.
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Aniston opened her tribute by acknowledging how difficult it was to put her feelings into words. “The 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.”
She then shared one of the memories that defined Burrows’ relationship with the Friends cast. “He called us his ‘kids,'” she wrote, recalling familiar phrases such as, “‘Where are the kids?'” and “‘Let’s see if the kids can make the joke work.’ No pressure.”
The actress also reflected on the place Burrows held in her life beyond the set. “His own incredible children were generous enough to share him with all of us who were lucky enough to experience his unicorn presence,” she wrote. “He 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.”
One lesson, in particular, stayed with her throughout the years. “Most of all, he taught us the kids how important it is to love and respect one another. To take care of each other. To have each other’s backs and support each other, no matter what.” Looking back on that bond, Aniston added, “And we did just that.”
Aniston concluded with a final message to the man she affectionately called “Papa Burrows”: “I miss your voice. I miss your laugh. I miss your brilliance.” She ended by returning to one of his favorite expressions: “Wherever you are, I hope someone is asking, ‘Where are the kids?'”
