Gunther from "Friends" Sitcom Dies at 59
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James Michael Tyler, most famous for Gunther from "Friends" sitcom, dies at 59 from prostate cancer.
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Tyler's "Friends" character, sarcastically managing Central Perk, the cafe where the other characters hung out.
Actor James Michael Tyler who played coffee shop manager Gunther on the hit sitcom "Friends" died on Sunday at age 59, US media reported.
Tyler died in his home in Los Angeles after battling prostate cancer that he was first diagnosed with in 2018, according to his representative.
"The world knew him as Gunther, from the hit series Friends, but Michael's loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband," representative Toni Benson said in a statement to US media.
The character appeared in some 150 episodes across all 10 seasons of the 1990s sitcom, sarcastically managing Central Perk, the cafe where the other characters hung out.
Tyler appeared in a number of other roles in series such as "Scrubs," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and "Modern Music."
Warner Bros TV tweeted that it was mourning the loss of "a beloved actor and integral part" of the "Friends" family.
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
In addition, out of the sitcom's six main actors, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, and Matt LeBlanc paid tribute to Tyler on their Instagram accounts.
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Tyler announced on NBC's "Today" show in June that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in September 2018, which had spread to his bones. The cancer was discovered during a routine physical examination.
