ABSENT FRIEND
Stars’ tribute to sitcom waiter Tyler after cancer death at 59
THE Friends cast yesterday paid moving tributes to co-star James Michael Tyler, who played waiter Gunther in the sitcom, after he died of cancer at the age of 59.
Jennifer Aniston said the hit series “would not have been the same” without him.
“Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives,” she said. “You will be so missed.”
Gunther, who worked in the show’s Central Perk coffee house, had a crush on Aniston’s character Rachel, once a waitress there. An online post by the actress included a photo of Tyler from the set and a clip of them in the final episode as Gunther declares his love for Rachel, who turns him down gently.
Lisa Kudrow, using a Friends theme tune line, wrote: “Thank you for being there for us.”
Matt LeBlanc said: “We had a lot of laughs buddy. You will be missed. RIP my friend.” Courteney Cox told of her “gratitude for having known you”, David Schwimmer called Tyler “a gentleman” and Matthew Perry said: “We lost a good Friend.”
Tyler told in June how his prostate cancer, first diagnosed in 2018, had spread to his spine – leaving his lower body paralysed. He said: “So eventually it’ll probably get me.” He died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday.
The actor, who leaves second wife Jennifer, appeared in 148 episodes of the sitcom and was described as “the seventh Friend”.
His career began in 1988 as a production assistant. He continued to act after Friends ended in 2004 – even amid cancer treatment.
Thank you for the laughter you have brought to all our lives JENNIFER ANISTON MOURNING CO-STAR TYLER