Jennifer Aniston Pays Heartfelt Tribute to ‘Father Figure’ James Burrows After Friends Director Dies at 85

Jennifer Aniston has shared a touching tribute to James Burrows, the legendary director of Friends, whom she considered a true father figure in her life. Burrows passed away at the age of 85 on Friday, June 19.

The Morning Show actress, now 57, posted a heartfelt message on Instagram the following day. She opened up about how much he meant to her and the rest of the cast, calling him “Papa Burrows.”

“Oh boy… 💔 Papa Burrows,” she began. “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.”

Aniston recalled how Burrows would affectionately refer to her and the Friends cast as “the kids.” He would joke around by asking, “Where are the kids?” or say things like, “Let’s see if the kids can make the joke work,” adding a bit of playful pressure that they all appreciated.

She highlighted how generous his own children were in sharing him with everyone else fortunate enough to know him. “He was a father figure to me,” Aniston wrote. “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.”

Beyond that, she emphasized the deeper lessons he passed on. “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. And we did just that.”

Aniston wrapped up her message with warmth and a touch of sadness. “I miss your voice. I miss your laugh. I miss your brilliance. Wherever you are, I hope someone is asking, ‘Where are the kids?’”

Along with her words, she included several photos from over the years. One showed the two of them sharing a warm hug at an awards event. Another was the iconic shot Burrows himself took of the full Friends cast on a plane heading to Las Vegas back in 1994, right before the pilot episode aired.

There were also more recent images, like a casual selfie of them reuniting behind the scenes, plus a fun moment where Aniston made a silly face while David Schwimmer posed with Burrows at some gathering.

Aniston is not the only one remembering him fondly. Other Friends stars like Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc have shared their own tributes as well. Burrows leaves behind an incredible legacy from directing hits like Cheers and Will & Grace, and he will be deeply missed by so many in the industry and beyond.