James Michael Tyler, the actor best known for his role as Gunther, the dead-panned manager of Central Perk in the cult sitcom Friends, has died.
James Michael Tyler passed away following a battle with stage 4 prostate cancer. The actor publicly divulged his diagnosis in an interview with NBC in June 2021, revealing that he was first diagnosed in 2018.
“The world knew him as Gunther … but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband,” his family said in a statement.
“Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures. If you met him once you made a friend for life.”
Gunther was the most frequent character outside the main six Friends cast members, appearing in 150 of the shows 235 episodes. The manager of coffee shop Central Perk, the character was known for pining over Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel throughout the series.
Tyler made a Zoom cameo on Friends: The Reunion, after his chemotherapy treatment prevented him from taking part in the live filming.
“I wanted to be a part of that, and initially I was going to be on the stage, at least, with them, and be able to take part in all the festivities,” Tyler said in the interview in June.
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“It was bittersweet, honestly. I was very happy to be included. It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom,” he said.
The actor noted that although his castmates were aware of his diagnosis, he didn’t reveal his illness before then because: “I didn’t want it to be like ‘Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer’.”
In addition to his work on Friends, Tyler appeared on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Scrubs and an episode of the BBC’s Episodes opposite Friends co-star Matt LeBlanc.
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