Here Are James Michael Tyler’s Funniest Gunther Quotes To Celebrate His Life

The actor died aged 59 due to prostate cancer after revealing his diagnosis earlier this year.

Updated on25th October 2021 at 1.30pm

This morning, it was announced that James Michael Tyler, notable for his role as Gunther on Friends, has died aged 59 after being diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in 2018.

‘The world knew him as Gunther … but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband,’ his family said in a statement. ‘Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures. If you met him once you made a friend for life.’

Tributes have piled in for the actor, with Jennifer Aniston posting on Instagram ‘Friends would not have been the same without you. Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives. You will be so missed.’

Courtney Cox also paid tribute, saying ‘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. Rest In peace James.’

The announcement of his death has caused a spike in people searching for ‘James Michael Tyler friend reunion’ after he appeared on the reunion show in May via Zoom. He was unable to attend in person due to his health issues, but called his time on the show ‘the most memorable 10 years’ of his life. ‘I could not have imagined just a better experience. All these guys were fantastic and just a joy to work with. It felt very, very special,’ he said at the time.

People are also searching for James Michael Tyler’s cause of death, which was due to prostate cancer, but the actor previously explained that he didn’t want to be defined by his disease. In June, he told the Today Show: ‘It was my decision not to be a part of [the reunion] physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn't wanna bring a downer on it. I didn't want to be like, “Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.”’

It seems fitting then that we focus on all of the laughter James gave us throughout his life. Many are now sharing his most memorable quotes as Gunther from Friends, which we have collated here to remember the wonderful, hilarious actor.