Death of James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther in ‘Friends’

It’s a sad day for the fans of Friends: James Michael Tyler, who played the unforgettable Gunther, died at the age of 59 years following a prostate cancer. Appearing in 150 episodes, James Michael Tyler and his character are inseparable from the success of the cult sitcom that was broadcast from 1994 to 2004 on NBC.

In a statement, his manager and his family said, “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. If you met him once you made a friend for life.”

Marta Kauffman and David Crane, co-creators of Friends, praised his kindness and gentleness. They added, “James was a genuinely kind, sweet man. 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.”

The main cast of Friends also paid tribute to James Michael Tyler through social networks. You can find below the statements of Courteney Cox (Monica), Matt LeBlanc (Joey), David Schwimmer (Ross), Jennifer Aniston (Rachel) and Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe).