Ted Danson Says He ‘Did Not Know’ How to Play Sam Malone Without ‘Cheers’ Director Jimmy Burrows

For 11 seasons, Ted Danson made Sam Malone look effortless. The charming bartender at the center of Cheers became one of television’s most recognizable sitcom characters, but Danson says there was one person behind the scenes who helped him understand exactly how to play him.

According to People, while being honored at the Television Academy’s 2026 Televerse Festival Hall of Fame ceremony on August 13, Danson paid an emotional tribute to late director and Cheers co-creator James “Jimmy” Burrows. The 78-year-old actor revealed just how deeply Burrows shaped his career, describing him as something far more personal than a director.

Ted Danson Says ‘Cheers’ Director Jimmy Burrows Was ‘Like a Dad’

Danson recalled Burrows as “like a dad” to him in show business, explaining that the legendary director taught him what was funny and helped guide his performance. In fact, Ted Danson’s Cheers memories are so closely connected to Burrows that the actor admitted he struggled whenever someone else stepped behind the camera. His performance as Sam, he explained, largely revolved around trying to make Burrows laugh.

Burrows died in June 2026 at 85, bringing an end to an extraordinary television career. An 11-time Emmy winner, he co-created Cheers and directed all but 35 of its episodes. His résumé stretched far beyond the Boston bar, with work on television classics including Taxi, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Big Bang Theory.

Their Partnership Helped Make Sam Malone a TV Icon

The bond between Danson and Burrows lasted long after Cheers ended in 1993. Burrows later joined Danson and Woody Harrelson on their podcast, Where Everybody Knows Your Name, where they reminisced about Harrelson joining the sitcom in season four. Burrows called him a “godsend” whose energy refreshed the cast. One favorite memory involved Harrelson easily jumping over the bar while Danson’s Sam Malone repeatedly failed to match him, creating the kind of character-driven comedy Burrows knew how to bring out.

Looking back, Danson’s tribute offers a touching glimpse at the relationship behind one of sitcom history’s most beloved performances. Audiences saw Sam Malone as confident, quick-witted, and completely at home behind the bar. Behind the scenes, however, Danson was looking toward Burrows for guidance—and often for a laugh. More than three decades after Cheers said goodbye, Ted Danson’s Cheers stories continue to reveal why the series felt so special. Burrows was not simply directing episodes; for Danson, he was helping shape a character, a career, and a friendship that lasted a lifetime.