James Michael Tyler
Gunther of Central Perk, cast because he could work the espresso machine; died October 24, 2021.
James Michael Tyler (May 28, 1962 - October 24, 2021) was an American actor best known for playing Gunther, the manager of Central Perk, on Friends. Before acting he was an assistant film editor and production assistant, including on Fat Man and Little Boy, and he played Oscar Bevins in the 1997 thriller Motel Blue.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 28 May 1962
- Birthplace
- Mississippi, U.S.
- Died
- 24 October 2021
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actor
- Years active
- 1992–2021
- Credits
- Friends (1994–2004)
Facts from the source article.
Background
Tyler was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 but did not disclose it publicly until June 2021, shortly after Friends: The Reunion, in which he appeared by video; by then the cancer had spread to his spine and he was using a wheelchair. He died of complications from the disease at his home in Los Angeles on October 24, 2021, aged 59. He married Barbara Chadsey in 1995, separated in 2003 and divorced in 2014, and married Jennifer Carno in 2017.
Aside from the main cast, Gunther appears in more episodes of Friends than any other character.
More in People & Notable Figures
Elsewhere in Friends
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