John Burrell was educated at Shrewsbury School in Shropshire, England and he led a successful theatre career afterwards.
He was appointed as a co-director of the Old Vic Theatre in London, England, with Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson in 1948.
"He was a founder of the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre and Academy at Stratford, Connecticut, where he also taught acting, and which opened its first season in July 1955.
He was then executive artistic director for CBS TV in New York, and was credited with revolutionizing design on television.
Burrell's final post was as a drama professor at the University of Illinois.