Death of a series favorite
“Friends” actor James Michael Tyler has died
James Michael Tyler played the waiter Gunther in the TV series “Friends”.
© Paul Zimmermann / Getty Images North America / AFP
He became known, among other things, as the waiter Gunther in the series “Friends”. The doctors diagnosed him with prostate cancer three years ago. Now James Michael Tyler has passed away at the age of 59.
The US actor James Michael Tyler, who played the waiter Gunther in the hit series “Friends”, has died of prostate cancer, according to US media reports. His manager Toni Benson announced that he died on Sunday (local time) in his home in Los Angeles at the age of 59. “The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh boyfriend) … but Michael’s family knew him as an actor, musician, cancer awareness ambassador, and loving husband,” Benson continued.
“Warner Bors. Television mourns the loss of James Michael Tyler, a beloved actor and an important part of our Friends family,” read the Twitter account of the series produced by Warner Bros. Television. “Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, colleagues and fans.”
Fellow actors mourn Tyler
The main actors of the 90s hit series “Friends”, in which Tyler participated in around 150 episodes, remembered their deceased colleague on Instagram. “‘Friends’ would not have been the same without you. Thank you for the laugh that you brought to the show and our lives. We will miss you so much,” wrote Jennifer Aniston, for example. She also shared a short clip from the series finale, in which Tyler and Aniston appeared together for the last time.
Her co-stars Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow also said goodbye to Tyler in public. “Thank you for being there for all of us,” wrote Kudrow, referring to the title track of the series “I’ll Be There For You”.
Tyler also starred on “Scrubs” and “Sabrina”
In the sitcom “Friends,” which was all about the lives of a group of young friends in New York, Tyler was the actor with the most appearances after the six main cast. He also appeared in the series “Scrubs – The Beginners” and “Sabrina – Totally Verhext!” with.
Tyler had made his cancer public in June. In September 2018, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which had also spread to his bones, Tyler told the US broadcaster NBC at the time. “I’ve had to deal with this diagnosis for almost three years. It’s in the terminal stages now. It will probably get me at some point.” Tyler was only able to take part briefly via video on a “Friends” special program in the spring. He said he didn’t spoil the mood, but wanted to be there anyway.