Friends’ actor James Michael Tyler aka Gunther died while battling prostate cancer at the age of 59 on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles.
James Michael Tyler was popularly known for his role in the super hit sitcom ‘Friends’. He played the role of Gunther, the barista of the coffee house at Central Perk with an unrequited love for Rachel Green aka Jennifer Aniston. Tyler was born in Mississippi’s Greenwood town in 1962.
After losing both his parents at an early age, he moved to Anderson, South Carolina to live with his sister. He earned his degree in geology from Anderson College. He realized his passion for acting during his days in the theatre group at college. Tyler went on to earn his master’s in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia.
Thereupon he started working as an assistant film editor for the film Fat Man and Little Boy, acted as background characters, and supported AIDS Project charities, Lili Claire Foundation, around 1988. Between 1994 and 2004, Tyler played the recurring role of Gunther in Friends’ 148 episodes. Tyler’s character was a fan favorite. After bidding adieu to Friends, he continued his life as an actor and even made appearances on daily shows over television.
James was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer back in September 2018 tells Toni Benson, his manager. In June 2021, James revealed his fight with cancer to the audience on NBC’s Today show. He mentioned that he missed medical tests during the pandemic which allowed cancer to mutate, spread to his bones, and even took away his ability to walk. In his show appearance, he urged people with prostate cancer to go for regular medical checkups and motivated them.
On Sunday, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and the rest of the Friends family posted on social media to express their sorrow for the beloved star.