On the heels of the Friends Reunion, fans of the show have been pleasantly entertained with a blast from the past. The stars from the show have been more active on social media both leading up to, and shortly after the release of the HBO special, and people are enjoying watching the cast interact with one another in such a positive way.
There was one person notably missing from the reunion, and that was Gunther, played by James Michael Tyler. Fans have just been made aware of why he couldn't be there to celebrate with his cast-mates and are reeling from the sudden dose of reality that he has just shared with the world.
James Michael Tyler is suffering from stage 4 prostate cancer.
James Michael Tyler Has Cancer
It has been difficult for James Michael Tyler to share this news with fans, but he has stage 4 prostate cancer and is currently wheelchair-ridden. His prognosis is not promising.
He opened up about how he discovered that he was ill, and just how quickly cancer spread through his body. He devastatingly revealed that as a result of COVID lockdowns, many medical treatments and opportunities for testing were pushed back, including his.
Not only that, but he indicated that he missed a test due to the closures related to the pandemic, only to return to his medical appointments to find that cancer has spread to his bones.
At this time, James remains in a wheelchair and has come to the painful realization that this is not something he is going to recover from. He has lost the use of his legs and can no longer walk.
Hindsight is 20/20 and he is now wishing he had listened to his wife and gone in for a checkup sooner. He advises all men to go in to get their prostate checked and insists there is hope for those who find their health problems during the early stages.
Fans Are Devastated
Of course, fans across the globe are devastated at the discovery of this news. Gunther was a fan favorite, and he was very much a staple of the show. His humor and sarcastic delivery of humor brightened the script time and time again. James Michael Tyler is just 59 years old, and fans are devastated to learn that his days with them have been shortened.
Social media has flooded with well-wishes and prayers for his recovery. Fans have written in to say; "Listening to his story was heartbreaking I'm praying for him & his family. Guys when you go for your check-ups get tested," as well as; "Oh no, not Gunther. Damn, sending prayers to you."
One fan emotionally chimed in to say; "oh God, no... please, please don't stop fighting. We love you."