Stressed out about having to decide between a fancy beach house or a vacation mansion in the desert? Why not buy both! That’s the motto James Burrows toasted to last year, when records show the “Cheers” co-creator acquired two swank estates — one in Laguna Beach, the other in the desert’s La Quinta neighborhood. The veteran sitcom director shelled out more than $18 million to buy the two homes.
Burrows isn’t quite a household name, though he probably deserves to be one. The Los Angeles native, 81, first achieved Hollywood prominence in the 1970s by directing episodes of the “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” He became one of the most prolific television staples in history, directing episodes of everything from “Laverne & Shirley,” “Taxi” and “Dear John” to “Two and a Half Men,” “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory.” However, he’s perhaps best known for directing every episode of “Will & Grace” during its initial eight-year run, and for helping to create “Cheers” — one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. (Burrows directed nearly all of the 275 “Cheers” episodes, naturally.)
Over the course of his 50-year career, Burrows has directed more than 1,000 TV show episodes and won 11 Emmy Awards. In 2016, NBC aired a special called “An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows,” featuring big-name attendees like Jennifer Aniston, Tony Danza, Debra Messing, Courteney Cox, Ted Danson, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry.
Today, Burrows and his longtime wife Debbie primarily reside in L.A.’s Bel Air neighborhood, where they own a palatial compound spanning nearly 13,000 square feet of living space. The couple acquired the property in 2004 for about $12 million and subsequently hired famed interior designer Michael S. Smith to redo the entire place. In 2009, the Burrows’ guard-gated Bel Air estate was photographed for Architectural Digest.
The Burrowses also own two multimillion-dollar properties in Florida’s wealthy Wellington community. As for the couple’s two new California vacation homes, both properties are located within exclusive guard-gated communities, and both of them feature resort-style amenities and loads of rich neighbors. But easily the bigger, more expensive and more impressive property is the Laguna Beach pad, which lies within the gated confines of Irvine Cove — arguably the most prestigious gated community in all of Orange County.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Other Irvine Cove residents include billionaire Sue Gross, L.A. Fitness founder Chinyol Yi, tech mogul Brendan Iribe and hedge fund mogul Joseph Edelman, whose $70 million Irvine Cove mansion currently ranks as the most expensive O.C. house ever sold.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Irvine Cove’s beach is perhaps the closest thing to a truly private beach in all of California. Though beaches are public by law, only residents of the Irvine Cove gated community have direct access to this particular beach; giant rock formations on either side of the sand keep the unwashed hoi polloi at bay.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Burrows’ new home sits on a landlocked cul-de-sac parcel and cost him a whopping $15 million. The property was sold by beef baron Henry Davis, who himself had only acquired it in 2019 from Sue Gross. Davis paid “only” $10 million for the half-acre property.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Because the Burrows-Davis deal was done totally off-market, it’s not clear what changes Davis made to the place during his two years of ownership. But old listing photos reveal the property has lush, well-maintained landscaping and various dedicated spaces for al fresco lounging.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Built in 1962, the house has been updated with lots of white paint and spans a generous 4,800 square feet of living space, though most of the property’s value is clearly in its exclusive location. There are five bedrooms and six bathrooms, per tax records.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Despite its $15 million price tag, the estate somewhat surprisingly does not have an ocean view — save for a wee glimmer on the horizon that’s only visible from the front yard.
-
Image Credit: Zillow However, the beach is just a short walk away. For more private watery outings, the house also offers an outdoor swimming pool in the front yard, complete with a Baja deck for sunbathing and an inset spa.
-
Image Credit: Zillow The Irvine Cove beach lies hidden between two vast rocky bluffs, both of them with nearly sheer cliffs soaring high above the water.
-
Image Credit: Zillow As for the La Quinta mansion (above), it’s a Tuscan-style pile located in the so-called Hideaway gated community. Burrows paid about $3.3 million for the house, which was built for the non-famous sellers.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Built in 2006 and situated on a 0.34-acre parcel, the house has southward views of golf course fairways and a manmade lake, plus the jagged mountains for which the desert is famed.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Out front, the property features tropical-themed landscaping. A gated courtyard guards access to the home’s main entryway.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Tall palms and a brick outdoor fireplace define the courtyard. Custom front doors hewn from glass and metal then spill into the open-floorplan house.
-
Image Credit: Zillow Spanning nearly 5,300 square feet, the four-bed, 4.5-bath structure features a central great room with a fireplace, living and formal dining areas.
-
Image Credit: Zillow The dramatic arched ceiling flaunts no fewer than three sizable chandeliers, and there are massive glass windows overlooking the backyard.
-
Image Credit: Zillow There’s also an unexpectedly huge wet bar, complete with enough space to seat a half-dozen guests.
-
Image Credit: Zillow The kitchen, while distinctly mid-2000s with its medium-brown cabinetry and acres of beige granite countertops, is plenty spacious enough to cater large events. There are top-of-the-line stainless appliances and a separate walk-in pantry.
-
Image Credit: Zillow The primary bedroom has a sitting area and fireplace, plus easy access to a back patio.
-
Image Credit: Zillow The master bath features a built-in soaking tub and all-glass shower with a rainfall showerhead.
-
Image Credit: Zillow The estate is complete with its own two-room “casita,” per the listing. There’s also an outdoor living room hosting a fireplace with a separate firepit and an infinity pool with double waterfalls and raised spa.
-
Image Credit: Zillow