James Michael Tyler, the actor who played Gunther in ‘Friends,’ has died at the age of 59

 

 

James Michael Tyler, best known for his iconic role as the love-sick Gunther on Friends, has died. The actor passed at the age of 59 from prostate cancer, according to his manager.

Tyler passed away on Sunday at his Los Angeles home. He was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2018. During his treatment, he advocated for prostate cancer blood screens for males as young as 40 years old, in the aim of increasing early diagnosis. Tyler appeared on Today earlier this year about his personal battle with cancer. Tyler was a great Clemson fan, a dedicated husband, and a skilled actor and singer, among other things, according to his manager’s statement.

The Friends Twitter account also made a statement today, in the wake of his passing. The tweet reads, “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.”