James Michael Tyler: Actor Gunther from Friends dies at 59

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James Michael Tyler, who played the beloved character Gunther on Friends, has died at the age of 59.

His manager confirmed to TMZ that the actor had been battling prostate cancer since 2018 and died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday.

His family said in a statement: “The world knew him as Gunther (“Seventh Friend”), from the hit series Friends, but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer advocate and loving husband.

Michael loved live music, cheered for his Clemson Tigers, and often found himself in unplanned fun and adventures.

“If you met him once, you made a friend for life. [Tyler] His wife Jennifer Karnot escaped the love of his life.”

Tyler spent 10 years in the recurring role of Gunther on Friends, and has also appeared in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Scrubs, Episodes, Modern Music, and others.

Tyler kept his diagnosis a secret from the public for three years, before revealing that he had prostate cancer that had spread.

“I was diagnosed with advanced-stage prostate cancer, which has spread to my bones,” Tyler said in an interview with Today in June. “I’ve been dealing with this diagnosis for the past three years or so…it’s stage IV (now). Late stage cancer. So eventually, you know, you’ll probably get me.”

After his initial diagnosis, which was discovered during his annual medical checkup, Tyler said he received hormonal treatment, which “worked amazingly for about a year,” but that the cancer had spread at the same time as the coronavirus pandemic.

He also appealed to men to get regular prostate exams, saying, “There are other options available to men if they have it before me. Next time you go for just a basic test or for an annual check-up, please ask your doctor for a PSA test. It’s easily detectable.” .

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Participation

Despite being a key member of the cast of Friends, Tyler did not appear in person at the reunion, and today said he didn’t want his illness to be “sad” during the special.

“I wanted to be a part of that,” he said, “and at first I’d be on stage, at least, with them, and be able to take part in all the festivities.”

“It was bittersweet, honestly. I was so happy to be included. It was my decision to not be a part of that physically and to appear on Zoom, basically, because I didn’t want to bring anyone, you know? … I didn’t want to be Like, “Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.”

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