James Michael Tyler, famed for his role as Gunther in Friends, has died aged 59.
Jennifer Aniston has led tributes to the sitcom star known for portraying the role of the blonde-haired, quirky Central Perk manager, who died at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, his representatives said.
The Rachel Green actress, who was often the subject of Gunther's affection in the much-loved series, said the show “would not have been the same” without him.
Jennifer shared an Instagram post which included a photo of Tyler from the set and a clip of the pair in the final episode as Gunther declares his love for Rachel before being let down gently.
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"Friends would not have been the same without you," the 52-year-old wrote alongside the post.
“Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives. You will be so missed."
Co-star Courteney Cox posted the same photo of Tyler in a pink-striped collared shirt and tie to express her "gratitude" to her former co-star.
She wrote: “The size of gratitude you brought into the room and showed every day on set is the size of the gratitude I hold for having known you.
“Rest In peace, James.”
Matt LeBlanc, who played Joey Tribiani in the sitcom, shared the same photo of Tyler as his co-stars, while the actor led with a still of the pair on either side of Central Perk’s counter.
“We had a lot of laughs buddy,” he wrote alongside the Instagram post. "You will be missed. RIP my friend."
The official Friends Twitter account said: “Warner Bros Television mourns the loss of James Michael Tyler, a beloved actor and integral part of our FRIENDS family.
"Our thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues and fans."
Tyler revealed in June he had prostate cancer, telling a US TV show he was diagnosed with an advanced form of the disease in 2018 which had spread to his bones.
In a statement announcing his death, Tyler’s representatives said: "The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh ‘Friend’), from the hit series Friends, but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband.
"Michael 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."
The actor, whose other TV roles included teen sitcom Sabrina, The Teenage Witch and medical comedy Scrubs, appeared via video link during the much-anticipated Friends Reunion earlier this year.
It was afterward he revealed he was battling prostate cancer and that it was the reason he did not attend the Friends reunion in person after fans pointed out his absence.
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