Just as the fans of Friends were riding the high of the reunion bliss, they have been
struck with tragic news.
Although there was a question on everyone's lips after watching the highly anticipated
reunion, where was Gunther?
The actor, James Michael Tyler, who played the beloved manager of Central Perk, decided
to tell fans the real reason why he was only able to appear via Zoom with his fellow cast
members.
He has just admitted he had been diagnosed with cancer, and the battle has been so debilitating
that he hasn't been able to walk.
James opened up to discuss his battle with the crippling disease and gave advice to all
those listening on how he could have avoided it all with one simple thing.
It all began back in 2018, when James went in for a routine physical checkup, "I was
56 years old at the time, and they screen for PSA, which is prostate-specific antigen."
Sadly, the test results revealed the worst, and the actor's doctor called him immediately
to tell him the terrible news, informing him that he needed to come in as soon as possible.
The results revealed stage four prostate cancer, which had already begun to spread to the rest
of his body.
Tyler embarked on hormone therapy to treat the cancer, which he said worked really well
for about a year, and he was able to go about his regular life for some time.
While the early days were optimistic, right as the worldwide pandemic had started the
cancer worsened and spread further.
The disease had also spread to his bones and spine, resulting in James losing his ability
to walk.
"I missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing, so the cancer decided to mutate
at the time of the pandemic, and so it's progressed," James admitted.
Tyler said that he is currently undergoing chemotherapy which is "aggressively" fighting
the cancer.
However, he wanted to emphasize that screening and early diagnosis can lead to a far better
prognosis.
"Just finished chemo round 2 last week!
Thank you all so much for your outpouring of love and support," he captioned an Instagram
post on Monday, emphasizing, however, that early detection can "make a difference."
The actor has received an abundance of support from fans all over the world, with numerous
tweets like,
"Hey Michael, no matter the outcome, you'll always be known as Gunther.
You put many smiles on many faces.
The show wouldn't have been the same w/o you.
My family Family and I wish you life and happiness.
God Bless."
Another fan tweeted,
"So sorry to hear your news.
I wish you the strength to fight this battle.
You have given us all a lot of laughs and I wish we could return that favor.
All the best from Scotland."
Some even shared their own experiences with the disease,
"So sorry to hear this, Michael.
I've had my own cancer journey; it never leaves you.
Sending much love and hope ....you never know, a new treatment or even a cure could be just
around the corner.
Take care xx."
He doesn't want anyone else to have to go through the trauma that he's had to endure
battling the disease, so he spoke out in order to spread awareness.
"There are other options available to men if they catch it before me.
Next time you go in for just a basic exam or your yearly checkup, please ask your doctor
for a PSA test.
It's easily detectable.
..."
He admitted that if there was anything he should have done differently, he should have
listened to his wife when she urged him to get his regular checkups.
If he had, perhaps the cancer would have been caught early, and he wouldn't have had to
fight for his life as hard as he is now.
"I've been dealing with that diagnosis for almost the past three years.
... It's stage 4.
Late-stage cancer.
So eventually, you know, it's gonna probably get me,"
He's taking the treatment one day at a time, saying that his last goal was to reach his
59th birthday, which he celebrated this year.
Today, his goal is to be able to save at least one life by talking about how the disease
can be caught early.
The actor confessed he did not want to reveal his diagnosis to the public or at the reunion
because he didn't feel like it was appropriate.
He said it was a bittersweet moment seeing the cast all together, and he was so thrilled
to be included with every one.
"I didn't want it to be like 'Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer'."
However, the rest of the cast, along with the producers of the show have been aware
of James's struggle with cancer, and they've all been incredibly supportive.
David Schwimmer even made an effort to check in with his co-star regularly via Instagram.
Tyler appeared on the show throughout its 10-year run and became a viewer favorite thanks
to his deadpan delivery.
While he didn't command the same amount of screen time as the six main Friends characters,
Gunther was and remained a popular figure among fans.
Gunther worked as a waiter and manager in the coffee house, Central Perk, and had a
crush on Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel throughout the series, who also worked there
as a waitress in the show's early seasons.
Who could forget all the times he tried to tell Rachel how he felt and miserably failed?
While we’re at it, why don’t we take a quick look at some of Gunther’s best moments
in the show.
He was never afraid to tell it like it is.
And his love for Rachel had no bounds.
Literally, it was endless.
James will forever be part of the legacy of Friends, fans all over the world wish nothing
but the best for the actor, and they all hope that the rest of his journey will be easier
now that he has the support of millions all over the world.