_This story originally appeared on Out._
James Burrows, the most influential sitcom director in television history, died Friday at age 85. He leaves behind an incredible body of work that includes iconic TV shows __Taxi,__ __Cheers__ , __Frasier__ , __Friends__ , and __Will & Grace__.
Burrows famously used the multi-camera sitcom, one of America's most risk-averse art forms, to make gay…