Jullian Montes-Pearson October 25th, 2021 - 4:49 PM
James Michael Tyler, known for recurring as Gunther in Friends, died peacefully in his Los Angeles home Sunday after fighting stage 4 cancer, via Deadline. The actor was 59.
Tyler was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018. He opened up about his struggles in June. He confirmed that cancer had spread to his bones and spine, leading to paralysis of his lower body. “So eventually, you know, it’s gonna probably get me,” he told Craig Melvin at Today. “All I had to do was take a pill in the morning and the night, and boom — life was pretty much normal.” He also confirmed that the cancer mutated at the start of the pandemic.
Tyler was best known for his role as Gunther on Friends, the Central Perk manager who had an obsessive crush on Rachel (played by Jennifer Aniston). He appeared in over 50 episodes of the series through the series finale, and many consider him to be the unofficial seventh friend. He also appeared in the reunion special at HBO Max. He has also appeared on Episodes, Just Shoot Me!, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
“James was a genuinely kind, sweet man,” said Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane in a statement, via Deadline. “When he started as an extra on Friends, his unique spirit caught our eye and we knew we had to make him a character. He made Gunther’s unrequited love incredibly relatable. Our heart goes out to his wife, Jennifer Carno.”
Tyler’s Friends costars went to social media to share their grievances over the recent news. David Schwimmer (Madagascar) shared a message on Instagram with a photo of Tyler as Gunter, saying “James, thank you for playing such a wonderful, unforgettable role in Friends and for being such a big hearted gentleman and all around mensch off screen.”
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Jennifer Aniston (Horrible Bosses) also shared a heartfelt message on Instagram. “Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives. You will be so missed,” she wrote.
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James Michael Tyler is survived by his wife, Jennifer Carno.
