James Michael Tyler: Jennifer Aniston leads tributes to ‘Friends’ actor following his death
Tyler, who was finest identified for enjoying Gunther — the Central Perk supervisor and Rachel Inexperienced’s admirer — on the hit ’90s sitcom for 10 seasons, died peacefully at his residence in Los Angeles on Sunday, his consultant Toni Benson mentioned.
He handed away following a battle with prostate most cancers, which was first recognized in 2018, Benson mentioned. He was 59.
After information broke of his demise, Aniston — who was starred as Rachel — paid tribute to him with an Instagram put up which acknowledged his contribution to the present’s success.
“‘Buddies’ wouldn’t have been the identical with out you,” she wrote. “Thanks for the laughter you delivered to the present and to all of our lives. You may be so missed #JamesMichaelTyler.”
Her put up included a clip from the 2004 collection finale when Gunther lastly plucked up the braveness to inform Rachel that he cherished her as she ready to go away New York for a brand new life in Paris.
Rachel let him down gently by saying she would at all times consider him every time she noticed a person with “hair brighter than the solar” — making reference to Gunther’s iconic bleached blonde look.
Courteney Cox, who performed Monica Geller on the present, remembered Tyler as a magnanimous individual.
“The dimensions of gratitude you introduced into the room and confirmed daily on set is the scale of the gratitude I maintain for having identified you. Relaxation In peace James,” Cox wrote alongside an image of him on her Instagram web page.
Joey Tribbiani actor Matt Leblanc additionally shared a heartfelt message, which mentioned: “We had lots of laughs buddy. You may be missed. RIP my good friend.”
Lisa Kudrow, finest identified for portraying quirky masseuse Phoebe Buffay in “Buddies,” thanked Tyler “for being there for us all.”
David Schwimmer, who performed palaeontologist Ross Geller, thanked Tyler for “taking part in such a beautiful, unforgettable position” and “for being such a giant hearted gentleman and throughout mensch off display screen.”
“Buddies” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane informed CNN in a press release that Tyler was a “genuinely type, candy man.”
“It was probably the most memorable 10 years of my life, truthfully,” the actor mentioned in the course of the TV particular.
“I couldn’t have imagined only a higher expertise. All these guys had been incredible. It was only a pleasure to work with them. I felt very, very particular.”
