Actor behind Gunther from ‘Friends’ passed away

While people tend to focus on the main cast of a show, there are secondary characters that remain unforgettable. Actor James Michael Tyler who played Gunther a.k.a. the coffee shop manager of Central Perk from Friends passed away on Sunday (October 25, Manila time). He was 59 years old.

According to the statement by Tyler’s representative Toni Benson, the actor died peacefully at his home in Los Angels after battling prostate cancer. He was first diagnosed in 2018. It also read, ‘The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh “Friend”), from the hit series Friends, but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband.’

‘Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures. If you met him once you made a friend for life,’ the statement added.

Friends producer Kevin Bright and Friends’ official Twitter account acknowledged Tyler’s role in the show and paid tribute to him through their posts.

Warner Bros. Television mourns the loss of James Michael Tyler, a beloved actor and integral part of our FRIENDS family. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues and fans. pic.twitter.com/9coGnT5BHz

— FRIENDS (@FriendsTV) October 24, 2021

James Michael Tyler Our Gunther passed away last night. He was an incredible person who spent his final days helping others. God bless you James, Gunther lives forever.

— Kevin Bright (@kbrightELA) October 24, 2021

‘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,’ Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane said in another statement. They also expressed their condolences to Tyler’s wife, Jennifer Carno.

Apart from Tyler’s iconic role in Friends, his acting credits date back to 1992. He was also part of other series such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Scrubs, and Modern Music. The actor also pursued acting despite undergoing treatment, where he starred in two short films, namely The Gesture and the Word and Processing. These landed him best actor awards at different domestic and international film festivals.

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Source: we the pvblic