# Gunther is dead and cancer is a piece of shit **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [October 24, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127 "2021-10-24T23:57:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/1 "2021-10-24T23:57:43Z")
[James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther on 'Friends,' has died | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/24/us/james-michael-tyler-died-friends/index.html). Stupid cancer. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/2 "2021-10-25T02:32:58Z")
Gunther was probably the only male character on that show who could have made Rachel happy. If she hadn’t been such an insufferable snob. RIP, Gunther. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/3 "2021-10-25T03:23:08Z")
I’m so sorry to learn this. He was terrific in that role. > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Gunther was probably the only male character on that show who could have made Rachel happy. The man with hair brighter than the sun. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/4 "2021-10-25T09:02:42Z")
I read somewhere that he got the role by being the only extra on set who knew how to operate the coffee machine. This turned into him being the character with the most appearances on the show outside the main six. Funny how these little things turn out. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/5 "2021-10-25T12:48:10Z")
When I saw the heading on this thread my immediate thought was “Jeez, did I miss a reboot of _ **Car 54, Where Are You?** _?!?” 🤔😮 Sorry, I only ever watched _ **Friends** _ when Paget Brewster was a guest star, but I’ll extend my RIP anyway. Because yes, cancer sucks! It’s always coffee time in Heaven. 😇 ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/6 "2021-10-25T12:57:47Z")
That’s my understanding as well. He had worked as a barista (or perhaps was working as a barista at that time), and so he knew how to run the espresso machine. Which is kind of funny, because I can’t recall any episode where we actually saw the machine being operated. He made a brief appearance via Zoom in the Friends reunion special a couple of months ago. It was obvious even then that he was very ill. All six of the Friends were clearly happy to see him. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/7 "2021-10-25T13:06:07Z")
Yes, when something destroys its own host that is, in effect, giving it a place to live and is keeping it alive, that “something” is definitely “a piece of shit”. When you kill your host, it’s like burning down your own house. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/8 "2021-10-25T14:48:46Z")
My favorite Gunther scene is when Rachel, after finally completing a crossword puzzle on her own (but not really) is in the coffee shop and says “I finished it! And there’s no one here to hug!” and you hear the crash of a tray and dishes as Gunther comes running out from the kitchen and trips and falls. RIP, James. You took what was to be a bit part and made it beloved. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/9 "2021-10-26T13:40:13Z")
Here is a nice tribute in _The Atlantic_ which talks about the extra dimension that James brought to what could have been a bit part. Warning: may be pay-walled. > **[How Gunther Broke the Fourth Wall](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/10/james-michael-tyler-gunther-friends/620487/)** > > James Michael Tyler, who died yesterday, played the beloved 'Friends' character with a sense of ironized self-awareness. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/10 "2021-10-26T16:36:34Z")
My favorite was when Gunther insulted Ross in Dutch, causing Ross to become obsessed with figuring out what he said for the rest of the episode. At one point Ross thought he had it figured out and attempted a comeback in bad Dutch, but Gunther’s nonchalant reply, although still in Dutch, clearly indicated that Ross hadn’t said what he thought he said. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/11 "2021-10-26T16:40:08Z")
Ezel! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/12 "2021-10-26T19:03:38Z")
RIP, James. May you catch Rachel in the afterlife. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunther-is-dead-and-cancer-is-a-piece-of-shit/953127/13 "2021-10-26T19:24:57Z")
Yes, indeed. A great supporting player on _Friends_. He will be missed.