James Michael Tyler, Gunther on ‘Friends,’ dies of prostate cancer at 59Bryan Alexander | USA TODAYon October 24, 2021 at 10:09 pm

James Michael Tyler appears as his “Friends” character, Gunther, in 2004. | Warner Bros.

The actor revealed in June he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment

James Michael Tyler, the actor famous for playing Central Perk manger Gunther on “Friends,” has died of prostate cancer. He was 59.

Tyler died “peacefully in his home” on Sunday, according to a statement from Tyler’s manager Toni Benson.

“The world knew him as Gunther the seventh ‘Friend,’ but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband,” the statement said. In June, Tyler revealed he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer.

“I’m sorry to say that I’m not appearing today with you to announce that there’s a ‘Friends’ movie,” Tyler told the “Today” show. “Actually, I’m here to let you know that in September of 2018, I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.”

For all of the sitcom’s 10-season run, Tyler played the bleach-blond coffeeshop worker who served the six principal characters and pined for Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). Though Tyler had hoped to attend May’s HBO Max’s “Friends” reunion in-person, he explained he was only able to appear virtually due to his health.

“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 explained. “It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn’t wanna bring a downer on it, you know? I didn’t want to be like, ‘Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.’ “

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