Friends actor James Michael Tyler has passed away aged 59 after a battle with stage four Prostate Cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Representatives for the actor who played iconic Central Perk barista Gunther on Friends confirmed the news to TMZ<\/a>, saying James passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday morning Los Angeles time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe world knew him as Gunther (the seventh “Friend”), from the hit series “Friends,” but Michael\u2019s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband,\u201d a representative for the family said. \u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cMichael 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael revealed earlier this year he had been battling prostate cancer<\/a> for the past three years earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The actor was diagnosed with the health issue in 2018, and in an interview on the U.S Today Show earlier this year, he opened up on his illness, which was first revealed during an annual checkup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which had spread to my bones,\u201d Tyler explained. \u201cIt\u2019s stage 4 (now). Late stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it\u2019s gonna probably get me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was 56 years old at the time, and they screen for PSA, which is prostate-specific antigen. That came back at an extraordinarily high number\u2026 So, I knew immediately when I went online and I saw the results of my blood test and blood work that there was obviously something quite wrong there.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Friends actor said he was subsequently diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer. After more tests with physician Dr. Matthew Rettig, a research scientist and oncologist at UCLA, who determined the illness was genetic, not environmental, he began a course of hormone therapy, which \u201cworked amazingly for about a year\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll I had to do was take a pill in the morning and the night, and boom, life was pretty much normal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the cancer will eventually spread to his bones and spine, leading to paraplegia, or paralysis of the lower body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyler, who preferred to be called by his middle name of Michael, appeared in more than 50 episodes of the wildly popular sitcom. He was so beloved by fans, he was considered an honorary Friend on the show, and he made a short, virtual appearance in the HBO Friends reunion special earlier this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyler’s other credits include guest spots on U.S. shows Just Shoot Me!, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Scrubs, and Matt LeBlanc’s post-Friends comedy Episodes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen via the Star 104.5 Player, download it now via the <\/em>App Store<\/em><\/a> or <\/em>Google Play<\/em><\/a> and take Star 104.5 wherever you go.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n WATCH: Wake up with a laugh and join <\/em><\/strong>Rabbit & Sarah for Breakfast<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, weekdays, 6am-9am.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n