Sad news: Gunther from 'Friends' has late-stage cancer

The joy of the long-awaited reunion of 'Friends' has not lasted long. Just a month after the event, one of the most iconic supporting characters in the series has announced that he has cancer.

(Image: Today Show, NBC)

James Michael Tyler is the actor playing Gunther, the manager of the friends' local hangout, 'Central Perk'. He has just announced that he has advanced prostate cancer.

The actor announced the bad news in an interview on the 'Today Show' on June 21, just weeks after the 'Friends' reunion.

Gunther was the boss of Rachel Green (played by Jennifer Aniston) in the local coffeeshop. He was permanently in love with her and always jealous of any boyfriend she would introduce to him.

James Michael Tyler, 59, revealed that the cancer had been diagnosed during a routine examination in September 2018. He said it was prostate cancer and that it had now spread to the bones.

The illness got worse in the past year. "I missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing," he said "So the cancer decided to mutate at the time of the pandemic, and so it’s progressed."

Now, Tyler can no longer walk. He says his illness is 'late-stage cancer' and that "eventually, you know, it's gonna probably get me." As he spoke these words on the 'Today Show,' the actor had tears in his eyes.

The actor gave the interview from his home, by video call, because the disease had paralyzed his legs.

(Image: Today Show, NBC)

The fact that he cannot walk anymore is the reason why he did not go in person to the 'Friends' meeting. He made a conscious decision to participate from a distance.

"At first, I was going to be on stage with them and be part of the celebration,” he said, but then he changed his mind.

(Image: HBO)

"It was bittersweet, honestly," he said on the 'Today Show'. "I was very happy to be included. It was my decision not to be a part of it physically and to make an appearance on Zoom."

Asked why he didn't say anything about his illness, he responded plainly: "I didn't want to be a disappointment, you know? I didn’t want to be like, ‘Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.’"

A modest man in one of the most famous sitcoms in television history, James Michael Tyler did not want to monopolize the spotlights.

But now that the reunion is behind us, Tyler does want to take the spotlight for himself. He feels he needs to make an important announcement.

James Michael Tyler encourages people to undergo regular cancer screenings in order to find any trace of the disease at an early stage. When doing so, we increase the chances of the cancer being treatable.

Gunther the 'Central Perk' manager was missed at the 'Friends' reunion. He's not just any secondary character on any show.

James Michael Tyler was the supporting actor with the most lines in all of the series of 'Friends.' Over the course of ten seasons and 236 episodes, his platinum blonde hair appeared up to 131 times. That's more than half!

And in all of those episodes, there was a common element: his love for Rachel and his hatred and jealousy for Ross.

'Friends': the secrets its cast wouldn't want you to know