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James Michael Tyler, the actor who played Gunther on the hit sitcom Friends, passed away on the morning of October 24 (local time), four months after revealing his battle with cancer.
James Michael Tyler will always be remembered by many fans for his recurring role throughout Friends. The American actor died at the age of 59 after a long fight with prostate cancer. He had been quietly undergoing treatment since 2018 but only publicly shared his diagnosis in mid-June of this year. “I’ve been dealing with this illness for almost three years now. The cancer is currently in stage 4, the terminal stage. So, you know, anything could happen at this point,” the veteran actor said in an interview with Today just a few months ago.
Tyler initially responded well to hormone therapy for a year. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, his condition worsened, and the cancer spread to his bones, affecting his spine and causing paralysis in the lower half of his body.
Raising Awareness Until the Very End
Despite his condition, Tyler remained active in raising awareness about prostate cancer and emphasized that the disease is treatable if detected early. He encouraged people to get a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test to help with early diagnosis.
“I don’t want others to go through what I’ve been through. This is not an easy journey,” the seasoned actor shared. Born in 1962, he added: “For me, it’s made me realize how precious every moment and every day is. And you have to fight. You can’t give up. Keep fighting.”
After his public announcement, his manager Toni Benson also spoke to the press about Tyler’s positive attitude during his treatment. She revealed that although he went through many hardships, he always wanted to keep living. “Even though he had to rely on a wheelchair, he was very agile. He kept a great spirit,” she said.
A Quiet but Iconic Role
James Michael Tyler appeared via Zoom during the Friends reunion special in May, shortly before news of his illness broke. He explained that joining remotely was his own decision: “I didn’t want to bring down the mood. You know, I didn’t want to show up and be like, ‘Oh, by the way, Gunther has cancer,’” the actor shared.
Born in Mississippi, Tyler moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s and began pursuing a career in entertainment. He was best known for his role as Gunther—Central Perk’s barista who secretly pined for Rachel Green (played by Jennifer Aniston)—in Friends from 1994 to 2004. He also made guest appearances on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Scrubs, and starred in the series Modern Music.
Even while undergoing treatment, Tyler acted in two short films, The Gesture and the Word and Processing, both of which earned awards at several film festivals. In his final days, he was lovingly cared for and supported by his wife, Jennifer Carno.
