James Michael Tyler, Gunther of ‘Friends,’ reveals stage 4 cancer battle

James Michael Tyler, the actor who played Gunther in “Friends,” revealed that he’s been battling with advanced prostate cancer for three years.

He told Today in an interview that he was diagnosed in September 18. He was 56 years old then and he’s now in stage four.

“I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which had spread to my bones,” James said.

“Late stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it’s gonna probably get me,” he added.

The actor said he tried hormone therapy which “worked amazingly for about a year.”

“All I had to do was take a pill in the morning and the night, and boom, life was pretty much normal,” he said.

However, James said the cancer eventually spread to his bones and spine which resulted in paralysis of his lower body.

“I missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing,” he said.

“So the cancer decided to mutate at the time of the pandemic, and so it progressed,” he added.

James is currently undergoing chemotherapy which is “aggressively” fighting the cancer.

Last month, James appeared in the “Friends” reunion through a Zoom call.

According to him, he is happy to have made the appearance “light-hearted.”

“It was my decision not to be a part of that physically,” he said. “I didn’t wanna bring a downer on it.”

“I didn’t want to be like, ‘Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer,’” he continued.

James said his reason for sharing this battle of his now is to encourage others to get screened for the condition and “save just one life.”

According to Mayo Clinic, prostate cancer is the most common types of cancer among men. —Franchesca Viernes/JST, GMA News