RIP James Burrows

 

James Burrows Dies: Legendary TV Comedy Director & ‘Cheers’ Co-Creator Was 85

DEADLINE

By Nellie Andreeva

June 19, 2026

 

Television has lost one its biggest comedy names — James Burrows, the most decorated multi-camera director in the history of the medium, passed away in his sleep this morning, June 19, after a brief illness. The 11-time Emmy winner was 85.

His 50+-year career will remain unmatched — both in longevity and influence as he played a crucial role in some of television’s biggest hits, including Cheers, which he also co-created, Taxi, Friends, Frasier, Will & Grace, Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.

“Jimmy was the greatest comedic television director in the history of the medium,” Burrows’ longtime agent Rick Rosen said. “He directed the most iconic, defining shows of generations. Always a gentleman, it was an absolute honor to represent him.”

Burrows ran a small theater in San Diego before switching to TV directing. He began his career with The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1974 and directed a slew of episodes of comedy shows such as The Bob Newhart Show and Laverne & Shirley early on.

He went on set the tone and help assemble the casts for some of the biggest sitcoms of the last five decades by directing the pilots for Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, 3rd Rock From the Sun, Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly, Two Broke Girls, The Big Bang Theory and The Neighborhood.

Burrows directed 246 episodes of Will & Grace, 236 episode of Cheers, 75 episodes of Taxi, 49 episodes of Mike & Molly, 36 episodes of Frasier, 21 episode of Caroline In the City and 15 episodes of Friends. Burrows served as executive producer on Cheers, Will & Grace and Mike & Molly, among many others.

“Jimmy Burrows was the man behind the curtain,” an NBC spokesperson said in a statement. “He knew how to make us laugh, what buttons to push and was the absolute master of getting the most out of every joke. His loss to the television comedy world is immeasurable. Every time you have a smile on your face watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers, Will & Grace, Friends and countless others, think of Jimmy and know he made all our lives funnier.”

The prolific director never slowed down. In 2015, Burrows marked his 1,000th episode as a director. He worked on both the Will & Grace and Frasier recent revivals and also executive produced and directed all 10 episodes of Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan’s 2025 Hulu comedy series Mid-Century Modern, which landed him his 28th Emmy directing nomination at age 84 last year and 47th overall.

Over his career, Burrows won 11 Emmy Awards, including five for directing and five for Outstanding Comedy Series (Cheers, Will & Grace). He also executive produced two Live in Front of a Studio Audience ABC specials, which recreated Norman Lear’s All in the Family and Good Times in 2019, and The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes in 2021, earning his final Emmy for the former in 2020. In 2006, Burrows was inducted into Television Academy’s Hall of Fame.

In what is believed to be his last public appearance, Burrows spoke at the November 2025 memorial of his agent of 50 years, Bob Broder. While he looked frail at the time, the director brought the house down with his signature wit and comedic timing.

In a poignant end to his career, Burrows most recently recurred on the third season of HBO’s Comeback this year, reuniting with Friends star Lisa Kudrow. Playing a fictional version of himself, Burrows directed the pilot for the first multi-camera sitcom written by AI before quitting the production with the message — AI can never deliver the emotion and tension needed to make great television.

BURROWS, James (James Edward Burrows)

Born: 10/30/1940, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Died: 6/19/2026, Manhattan, New Yotk, U.S.A.

 

James Burrows’ western – director:

Best of the West (TV) - 1981

RIP Bobby Prince

 

Legacy

 

Robert Caskin "Bobby" Prince III, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, veteran, attorney, musician, composer, and friend, passed peacefully into Heaven's Musical Gates on June 16, 2026. Born March 12, 1945, in Madison, Indiana, Bobby was the eldest son of the late LTC Robert C. Prince, Jr. and Dorothy Humber Prince. As the son of an Army officer, his childhood included family moves to Birmingham, Alabama, before settling in Athens, Georgia, where he was raised and where the seeds of a remarkable life in music were first planted. Bobby graduated from Athens High School and attended the University of Georgia. During his youth and early adulthood, he performed with many talented musicians and bands throughout the Athens music community, including the area's original "Jesters," along with his gifted beloved brother, David Prince. Music remained a constant thread throughout his life and was shared with family, lifelong friends, and fellow musicians. Bobby served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a platoon leader. Following his military service, he pursued careers in counseling and law before ultimately becoming one of the pioneering composers and sound designers in the video game industry.

His innovative work helped define an era of gaming and influenced generations of players around the world. Through his compositions and sound design for landmark titles including Doom, Doom II, Wolfenstein 3D, Rise of the Triad, and Duke Nukem 3D, Bobby helped establish video game music as a respected art form. In 2006, the Video Game Industry honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2026, the soundtrack to the original Doom was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress, ensuring that his groundbreaking work would remain part of America's cultural heritage for generations to come.

In 2005, Bobby began a wonderful new chapter when he met and married his soulmate, Connie Freeman Prince. Together they made their home in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where they shared twenty-one years filled with enduring love, music, creativity, faith, laughter, and devotion. One of their most treasured memories began with Bobby's unforgettable marriage proposal at Dollywood. After arranging for a giant message to be displayed on the passing Dollywood Express Train, he surprised Connie by appearing with a song and a proposal on one knee—a moment that perfectly reflected his creativity, romance, and joyful spirit. As creative partners, Bobby and Connie wrote songs and stories, produced musical recordings and videos, performed together, and brought inspiration and joy to many through their shared gifts.

Those closest to Bobby knew him not only for his extraordinary accomplishments but for his kindness, humor, humility, generosity, creativity, and deep love of family. Whether composing music, telling stories, playing guitar, sharing laughter, or offering encouragement, he approached life with gratitude and an open heart.

Bobby is survived by his devoted wife, Connie Freeman Prince; his sons, Robert Caskin Prince IV and Andrew (Cristy) Prince; his cherished granddaughter, Anabel Prince; his sister, Patricia Clark; his sister-in-law, Woodie Prince; nieces Ellen Moore, Lori (Kelvim) Escobar, Molly (John) Seawright, and Tiffany Thomas; nephews Mark (Christine) Moore, Neil Moore, David (Elizabeth) Prince II and Gabriel Prince; great-nieces Kaylin Prince, Caroline Prince, and Julia Moore; great nephews Trenton (Cassie) Epps, Frankie Moore, and Nathaniel Moore; Jackson and Davis Prince, and many more beloved great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family members, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, LTC Robert C. Prince, Jr. and Dorothy Humber Prince, and by his beloved brother, David Prince, and brother-in-law, Bob Clark. Bobby was also deeply loved and adored by Connie's family, who embraced him as their own, and by a large circle of extended family members and cherished friends whose lives were forever enriched by his friendship, music, humor, and love.

Connie and the family wish to express their deepest gratitude to the countless "Earth Angels" at Dollywood and Beyond, whose prayers, kindness, encouragement, and loving care surrounded Bobby throughout his illness. Special thanks are extended to the physicians, nurses, therapists, caregivers, and staff of the VA, UT Medical Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Covenant Health, Enhabit Home Health, and Amedisys Hospice, whose compassion, skill, and devotion brought comfort, dignity, and support throughout his final journey.

While many throughout the world will remember Bobby for the music and soundscapes that helped define a generation of gaming, those who knew and loved him personally will remember something even greater: a man of talent, integrity, humility, faith, laughter, and love whose greatest joy was sharing his wit and wisdom with family and friends.

PRINCE, Bobby (Robert Caskin Prince III)

Born: 3/12/1945, Madison, Indiana, U.S.A.

Died: 6/16/2026, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, U.S.A.

 

Bobby Prince’s westerns – composer:

Zorro (video game) – 1995

RIP David Sheiner

 

David Sheiner Obituary

Los Angeles Times

June 14, 2026

 

Character Actor (and Character) David S. Sheiner, 98, took his final bow on June 5th, 2026. You can take The Boy out of The Bronx, but you can't take The Bronx out of The Boy. He was Athletic, Acerbic, Pugnacious, Fiercely Loyal.

Lee Strasberg trained, he left Broadway to come West in the '60s. He gave more than 90 performances in movies and television, from "James the Elder" in "The Greatest Story Ever Told" to "Roy" the poker playing accountant in "The Odd Couple" movie.

In between, he played potentates, spies, doctors, lawyers, lawmen, and even an Ape-the guy you knew from somewhere.

His most cherished role didn't need The Method-that of Family Man. From his heart he was a father, father-in-law, brother, uncle, friend and neighbor. Most importantly, he was a doting and Pride-filled champion of his Granddaughter.

In his last days, his concerned kids asked him if he was comfortable. "I Make a Living," he replied.

Anyone who wishes may donate to the MPTF in his memory.

SHEINER, David (Saul David Sheiner)

Born: 1/13/2028, The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 6/5/2026, California, U.S.A.

 

David Sheiner’s westerns – actor:

A Man Called Shenandoah (TV) - 1965 (Marshal Murray)

The Big Valley (TV) – 1966-1967 (Captain Jonathan Rizely, Gabe Simmons, Phil Archer)

Iron Horse (TV) – 1966-1967 (Carson, Frontiersman, Preacher Brady)

Scalplock (TV) – 1966 (frontiersman)

‘Dundee and the Culhane (TV) – 1967 (Nick)

A Man Called Gannon (TV) – 1968 (Sheriff Polaski)

The Virginian (TV) - 1970 (Cully)

Bonanza (TV) - 1971 (Sam Fancher)

Gunsmoke (TV) – 1971 (Preacher Jones)

How the West Was Won (TV) - 1979 (Wilson)

The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (TV) – 1987 (Luis)

RIP William Smithers

 

William Smithers, Actor in ‘Dallas’ and ‘Papillon,’ Dies at 98

The veteran character actor, who played the ruthless oilman Jeremy Wendell on the CBS primetime soap, gave nemesis J.R. Ewing all he could handle.

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

June 16, 2026

 

William Smithers, the veteran character actor who as the ruthless oilman Jeremy Wendell gave nemesis J.R. Ewing all he could handle on the CBS primetime soap Dallas, has died. He was 98.

Smithers’ death was reported by the Santa Barbara Independent. He lived in Santa Barbara.

Smithers, who specialized in playing heavies during his career, also guest-starred as Capt. R.M. Merik, a onetime Federation officer now presiding over Roman gladiators, on the original Star Trek episode “Bread and Circuses,” which premiered in March 1968.

A member of The Actors Studio, the Virginia native got his start on the stage, and he and Olivia de Havilland made their Broadway debuts together in a 1951 production of Romeo and Juliet.

On the big screen, Smithers portrayed a principled infantry officer in Robert Aldrich’s Attack (1956) in his first movie, then appeared as a police captain in Ivan Dixon’s Trouble Man (1972), as a spy in Michael Winner’s Scorpio (1973) and as the unbending Warden Barrot in Franklin J. Schaffner’s Papillon (1973).

“The rule here is total silence,” Barrot tells Steve McQueen’s imprisoned character in Papillon. “We make no pretense of rehabilitation here. We’re not priests, we’re processors. A meat-packer processes live animals into edible ones. We process dangerous men into harmless ones. This we accomplish by breaking you. Breaking you physically, spiritually and here [pointing to his head]. Strange things happen to the head here. Put all hope out of your mind and masturbate as little as possible. It drains the strength.”

Perhaps as a tribute, the warden played by André Gregory in the 1993 Sylvester Stallone-Wesley Snipes film Demolition Man is named William Smithers.

Smithers had portrayed Peyton Mill owner David Schuster from 1965-66 on TV’s first primetime soap, ABC’s Peyton Place, before he landed on Dallas in 1981 in its fourth season as the steely Wendell, chairman of WestStar Oil.

Wendell would make the cutthroat Ewing (Larry Hagman) look like a choirboy in comparison during his 50-episode stint through 1989.

Working with Hagman “was always a challenge because [their characters] were always competitors because of the scripts,” he said. “Larry was a strong actor. I feel like I had to be at the top of my game when I was working with him. It was very stimulating.”

In 1976, when Smithers was starring on the short-lived CBS drama Executive Suite, he sued MGM. In the highly publicized case, he claimed the studio had violated his contract, which said that, with three named exceptions, no other castmember could receive more money or better billing than he did.

He indicated an MGM exec threatened to blacklist him in Hollywood should he follow through on the suit, but the actor pressed on. A jury and then the California Supreme Court found in his favor — “we won it big,” he said — and Smithers vs. MGM is now taught in entertainment law courses.

Marion Wilkinson Smithers Jr. was born in Richmond, Virginia, on July 10, 1927. His father was an electrician who moved the family in 1936 to Elizabeth, New Jersey. At Alexander Hamilton Junior High School, he appeared in a play with future House of Wax star Phyllis Kirk.

After 14 months in the U.S. Navy, Smithers attended Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and then Catholic University in Washington before moving to New York in 1950 to pursue an acting career. To pay the bills, he worked as an usher at the Alvin Theatre on Broadway, where Henry Fonda was starring in Mr. Roberts.

For his Broadway bow, Smithers dyed his hair red and received a Theater World award for his turn as Tybalt opposite de Havilland in Romeo and Juliet, then was accepted into The Actors Studio. (A few years earlier, the actress had defeated Warner Bros. in a landmark Hollywood suit regarding her seven-year contract.)

Smithers also appeared on Broadway in the 1950s in Legend of Lovers with Richard Burton, in End as a Man with Ben Gazzara, in The Square Root of Wonderful with Anne Baxter and in The Shadow of a Gunman with Bruce Dern and received an Obie Award in 1957 for playing Treplev in an off-Broadway production of Chekhov’s The Seagull.

In 1960, Smithers spent a summer with the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut, and had what he called ” an intense — and illicit love affair” with actress Barbara Barrie. Three years later, he worked alongside Charles Boyer in London and on Broadway in Man and Boy.

He moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1965 when he was hired on Peyton Place.

Smithers said he was “paid very little” on Dallas and left the series in a dispute over money. “My agent was convinced that they would come to the figure that we asked for,” he said, “but they didn’t. So that ended the whole thing.”

He appeared on lots of TV shows, with guest spots on The Defenders, Combat!, It Takes a Thief, Mission: Impossible, The F.B.I., Mannix, The Mod Squad, Ironside, The Name of the Game, Barnaby Jones, Cannon, Sledge Hammer! and Walker, Texas Ranger, among many others.

SMITHERS, William (Marion Wilkinson Smithers Jr.)

Born: 7/10/1927, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.

Died:  5/26/2026, Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A.

 

William Smithers’s westerns – actor:

The Road West (TV) 1966 (Sam Gaskins)

Shane (TV) – 1966 (Del Packard)

Cade’s County (TV) - 1972 (William Courtney)

Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) -1994 (Milo Crane)

RIP Christian Bujeau

 

Death at the age of 81 of Christian Bujeau, dentist of the Visitors and famous fencing master of Kaamelott

Allocine

By Thomas Imbert

June 15, 2026

 

French actor Christian Bujeau, known in the cinema for the role of the dentist in "The Visitors" and the fencing master in "Kaamelott", died on Monday, June 15 at the age of 81.

Famous among the general public for having played Valérie Lemercier's hilarious dentist husband in The Visitors and the master-at-arms with impeccable hygiene and flowery language who trained King Arthur in the series Kaamelott, the French actor Christian Bujeau died on Monday, June 15 at the age of 81.

A complete player

Born in Charron in 1944, Christian Bujeau learned the acting trade by training at the Conservatoire national supérieur d’art dramatique. A complete actor and eclectic artist, he spent his long career between theatre, television and cinema, also officiating as a stuntman, theatre director and drama teacher at the Jean Périmony school.

In the cinema, it was when he landed one of the main roles in Jean-Marie Poiré’s Visitors, in 1993, that he became known to the general public, playing the dentist Jean-Pierre Goulard, husband of Valérie Lemercier and a catastrophic witness to the escapades of Godefroy and Jacquouille (a role that Didier Bourdon and Fabrice Lucchini had almost played).

On the big screen, he has also been seen in films such as The Truth If I Lie! 2, Alibi.com and The Return of the Hero.

The Weapons Master of Kaamelott

On the television side, even if he has participated in many famous series (such as Joséphine, ange gardien, Caméra Café, or Hero Corp), he is known in particular for his role as the fencing master, Arthur's ruthless and hilarious trainer in the series Kaamelott, which offered him many mythical lines.

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BUJEAU, Chsristian

Born: 10/14/1944, Charron, Charente-Maritime, France

Died: 6/15/2026, Paris, Île-de-France, France

 

Christian Bujeau’s westerns – actor:

Bitumes – 1986

Fucking Dead (TV) – 2016 (Asa)

RIP Linda Porto

 

Mexican Film Bulletin

By David Wilt

Spring 2026

 

Actor Linda Porto died on 29 April 2026 in Mexico City; she was 94 years of age. Herminia Guitrón y Porto was born in February 1932, and began acting in the 1950s; her younger sister Maty Huitrón was also in the entertainment industry as a performer. Porto worked in films, television, and in live venues – her last appearance was in the TV series “Mujer, casos de la vida real” in the late 1990s. Her film credits include Cada quien su vida, El jinete de la muerte, and El sinaloense.

PORTO, Linda (Herminia Guitrón y Porto)

Born: 2/5/1932, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Died: 4/29/2026, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

 

Linda Porto’s westerns – actress:

El caballo del diablo – 1975 (Macaria)

RIP Ana Luisa Peluffo

 

Ana Luisa Peluffo, actress of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, dies at 96

Actress Ana Luisa Peluffo, one of the most emblematic figures of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, died at the age of 96, leaving a legacy of more than seven decades on the big screen.

Quien

March 4, 2026

 

On Wednesday, the death of Ana Luisa Peluffo, a Mexican actress in the Golden Cinema and soap operas, was announced.

The family of the actress confirmed the news through a statement, in which they reported that the actress died in peace, on her ranch in the state of Jalisco, accompanied by her loved ones.

Ana Luisa Peluffo, actress of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, dies

In a statement, the family of the actress confirmed the death: “She died in peace, at her ranch her ranch in Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, accompanied by her loved ones,” they mention.

In the letter it was indicated that during her last days, the actress Ana Luisa Peluffo lived with serenity surrounded by care and closeness to her son.

“We deeply appreciate the affection of all the people who, over the years, appreciated her career and enjoyed her work and company and we applied for respect and understanding at this time. Her memory will remain alive in those who knew her and valued her presence and artistic legacy.”

They also mentioned that the funeral services will be carried out in an intimate and private way, to fulfill the last wish of the artist: "During her last years she lived with serenity, surrounded by care and close to her son. The funeral services will be carried out in an intimate and private manner, in accordance with their will “reads the message

The career of Ana Luisa Peluffo

Ana Luisa Peluffo, whose full name was Ana Luisa de Jesús Quintana Paz Peluffo, was born on October 9, 1929 in Querétaro, Mexico. She began her career in 1948 with a small role in Tarzan and the Mermaids, directed by Robert Florey and starring Johnny Weissmuller in his latest performance as Tarzan. Shee later participated in films such as La venosa (1949) and Orchids for my wife (1954).

Throughout her career she intervened in more than 160 films. She shared a screen with emblematic figures of Mexican cinema such as Germán Valdés, Manuel Valdés, Pedro Infante and María Félix. In later decades she worked with Andrés García and Sergio Goyri in productions such as Pedro Navaja (1984). Her versatility allowed her to excel in drama, comedy and the so-called film cinema in the 1970s.

On television she also left a mark with 17 soap operas, including El sin de Oyuki (1988), Marimar (1994), María Isabel (1997), Dreamers (1998), Carita de Angel (2000) and Contra viento y tida (2005). She also appeared in series such as Mujeres Assassinas (2010) and El Mariachi (2014), the latter her most recent work on screen.

PELUFFO, Ana Luisa (Ana Luisa de Jesús Quintana Paz-Peluffo)

Born: 10/9/1929, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

Died: 3/4/2026, Tepatitlánde Morelos, Jalisco, Mexico

 

Ana Luisa Peluffo’s western – actress:

El último pistolero – 1969 (Clarence Gaynor)

La venganza de un matón – 1980

El Cain del bajio – 1981

quel famoso Remington – 1992 (Coneja)

Por un vestido de novia - 1983

 Dos pistoleros violentos – 1985