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James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther on 'Friends,' dies at 59

"Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures," his manager said.
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James Michael Tyler, the actor best known for his role as Gunther, the general manager of the Central Perk coffee shop on “Friends,” died Sunday of cancer, his manager said. He was 59.

Tyler, who was diagnosed with an advanced form of prostate cancer in September 2018, became an advocate for others with the disease, his manager, Toni Benson, said in a statement.

"Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures," Benson said. "If you met him once you made a friend for life."

Tyler's "Friends" costars paid tribute to the actor late Sunday on social media.

"The size of gratitude you brought into the room and showed every day on set is the size of the gratitude I hold for having known you," wrote actor Courteney Cox, who played Monica on the show.

"We had a lot of laughs buddy. You will be missed," said her co-star Matt Le Blanc, who played Joey.

"Thank you for being there for us all," added Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe.

Tyler was initially intended to play an extra on "Friends," but his "unique spirit" got him promoted to a named character, the hit show's co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane said in a tribute on Sunday to the "genuinely kind, sweet man."

In "Friends," Tyler played Gunther, who makes the gang coffee every day while nursing an unrequited crush on Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston. He also appeared in "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and other TV movies and shows.

The actor appeared in the highly-anticipated "Friends" reunion in May 2021 via video link. He chose not to attend in person because he "didn't want to bring a downer on it," but had enjoyed the opportunity to "make his appearance light-hearted" and connect with the cast and crew again, who were supportive of his diagnosis, he told NBC's Craig Melvin in June.

While he was undergoing treatment, Tyler starred in two short films, "The Gesture and the Word" and "Processing," Benson said.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Carno, whom Benson called, "the love of his life, ever united in good times, in sickness, and for eternity."