Friends’ Gunther James Michael Tyler Reveals He Is Battling Stage 4 Prostate Cancer & Can No Longer Walk

James Michael Tyler was also missing from the recent Friends reunion episode but he joined the show via zoom call.

Friends’ Gunther James Michael Tyler Reveals He Is Battling Stage 4 Prostate Cancer

In a heart-breaking news shared with fans, actor James Michael Tyler best known for playing Gunther in the popular sitcom Friends on Monday revealed he is battling stage 4 prostate cancer.

The 59-year-old actor opened up on his diagnosis with cancer during an appearance on NBC’s Today show. Tyler told host Craig Melvin that he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2018, and it has now spread to his bones.

The actor added that he can no longer walk and is confined to a chair. Tyler was missing from the recent Friends reunion episode but he joined the show via zoom call.

"I'm sorry to say that I'm not with you today to announce that there's going to be a Friends movie. Actually, I'm here to let you know that in September 2018, I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which had spread to my bones," the 59-year-old actor shared on June 21 on Today show. "I've been dealing with that diagnosis for almost the past three years. ... It's stage 4 (now)."

James Tyler added that his disease started ‘mutating’ during the coronavirus pandemic, and now he can no longer walk. “I missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing. So the cancer decided to mutate at the time of the pandemic, and so it’s progressed,” he shared, adding that it’s a ‘late-stage cancer’. “So eventually, you know, it’s gonna probably get me,” the actor said, fighting off tears.

The Friends actor concluded by urging fans to go in for regular medical tests, adding that prostate cancer is ’99 percent treatable’ if detected early.