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‘Gunther’ actor reveals advanced prostate cancer

James Michael Tyler, who played Friends' Gunther, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer.

Friends actor James Michael Tyler, who played Central Perk’s Gunther, has revealed he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer.

Tyler, who made a zoom appearance on the Friends: The Reunion special, has told the US Today show, he has been undergoing chemotherapy since 2018.

“I was 56 years old at the time, and they screen for PSA, which is prostate-specific antigen,” he said. “That came back at an extraordinarily high number. 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. Nearly immediately, my doctor called me and said, ‘Hey, I need you to come in tomorrow because I suspect that you may have quite a serious problem with your prostate.’”

He said of the Friends reunion, “I wanted to be a part of that, and initially I was going to be on the stage, at least, with them, and be able to take part in all the festivities,” he said. “It was bittersweet, honestly. I was very happy to be included. It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn’t wanna bring a downer on it, you know? I didn’t want to be like, ‘Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.’”

He also urged other men to get tested early.

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

2 Responses

  1. Agree very sad interview. At the time of the reunion I thought how come they didn’t have him on for longer and it would have been great if he spoke to the cast behind the Central Perk counter. Sadly now we know, I am sure millions of Friends fans are sending a lot of love at the moment.

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