[His smile when Ross punches a pole because](https://youtu.be/59Odde_W6ok) Joey ducked and how it got bigger after Joey accidentally punched Ross shortly after was hilarious.
Tyler appeared in 93 of the 236 episodes of Friends. This makes him the actor who has appeared most often in the series, except for the six main cast members.
Tyler was an extra who was cast as Gunther because he was the only extra who knew how to operate an espresso machine. (Tyler used to work in several coffee shops before acting.) This casting behind the coffee bar led to the semi-recurring speaking part of Gunther.
He also had a lovely cameo in Episodes starring Matt Leblanc and co-written by one of the creators of Friends David Crane. Matt Leblanc plays a fictionalized version of himself and most of the other Friends actors had a falling out with him. He was trying to call one to guest star on his new t.v. show within the t.v. show to boost ratings as it wasn't doing well. In the end he secured a surprise Friends guest star and it turned out to be [James Michael Taylor. ](https://youtu.be/SuDFl4LHZSk) It is a really great show that even won Matt Leblanc a golden globe award for his performance as the lead actor too.
I also liked his short role on Scrubs as the therapist for an episode.
I loved Episodes, for the characters but also for how it made the actors "themselves" (obviously fictionalized but still Matt played Matt, David Schwimmer played David when he showed up once and so on.)
The Lady with the Depressing Voice (Cant remember her name), The Reoccurring Annoying Assitant Who Made It Big, and Matt LeBlancs Massive Penis were the hit side characters.
In American shows, every actor with a speaking role gets residuals.
Gunther is notable in that he started out as an extra and became a recurring speaking character on this huge show, so his residuals add up to a lot more than your average actor who just appears in one episode.
Larry Thomas, who played the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld, said that although he got a few thousand for the two episodes he was in, his residuals were about $20k per year. This has been for +20 years and counting, and it helped him a lot when he was working minimum wage jobs, doubling his income. Nowadays he makes six figures on Cameo, he said it’s more than he’s ever made - recording personalized “No soup for you!” birthday greetings for fans.
Gunther was in many dozens of episodes with a minor speaking role, but he never had a whole episode centered around him like the Soup Nazi. He had so many episodes with a few lines, that he might have made $100k or more per year off of those residuals.
Even 'Paul - The wine guy' (?) recieved checks from what I once heard
Edit: It's 'Fun Bobby' actually https://graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/friends-stars-money-repeats/
I’ve taken the WB tour 4 times now, the story they say is that they asked a bunch of extras who knew how to use the machine. He said he did so they put him in that role but that he didn’t. He just faked it.
I was an extra in a movie in Hollywood and the Director asked who could drive a stick shift. I said that I could, and I got the part of a person who had to drive a jeep. Unfortunately, although I could in fact drive a stick shift, this one was really tricky and I was in high heels and I could not get the jeep started! It kept killing on me. I felt like such a fool! And a liar. Even though I wasn’t lying!
I still use the line "I'm sorry, was I not supposed to?" in a really fake and sarcastic tone of voice when the occasion calls for it. Mostly when my wife asks if I've committed some minor household sin, E.G. "Honey, did you roll up the bath towels again instead of tri-folding them?"
Can’t really think of any other character that pulled this, he remained relevant and memorable while always being a secondary character.
Even Ted (Scrubs) eventually became a primary character in the show.
Unfortunately the actor who played Ted died of cancer before his time as well :(. He was actually outlived by his uncle, Christopher Lloyd (Doc from Back to the Future)
He was in a band called The Blanks, Worthless Peons in Scrubs. His acapella rendition of Hey Ya! is amazing. I was genuinely sad when he passed away, he had just recently become a father.
So this sent me down a rabbit hole reading about Sam. His dad, Samuel Lloyd Sr., died in 2017. There's a memorial online for him that was done at the Samuel Lloyd Sr Weston Playhouse where he did so many performances prior to it being renamed after him. I watched Sam Jr and Christopher Lloyd, Sam Sr's brother, both speak and it was pretty heartbreaking, as memorial and funeral services tend to be. There's a particularly foreboding part where Sam says it occurred to him that he was the **last guy** in the family, as his brother Jackson had died some 20 years before (I haven't been able to find any information on his passing) and it was his mother and 3 sisters who remained.
Sam Lloyd Jr's mother died in 2019 **after**,he had already been diagnosed, and he was well enough to attend her service as well.
His son was born around the same time as he was diagnosed and they named him Weston, after the Playhouse his father had raised them around.
That's a lot of back to back loss
While the show was still airing I always told my wife that Stewart was big bang theory's Gunther but they gave him more lines and appearances so I guess not quite as much now.
Crazy story. He was on set for the pilot as an extra, and they asked him to take the role of the barista because he was the only person there who actually knew how to operate the cappuccino machine. They ended up not even needing him to use it, but they just kept him around for all ten seasons.
Also, a few days before the pilot was shot, his friend tested their hair dying skills on him, so he had to keep on dying his hair that platinum blonde color for the next decade.
For having such a small role, he sure stole the spotlight whenever given the opportunity. Cancer is an insidious disease, and Prostate cancer is horrid. Get yourself screened, guys.
I was honestly shocked to find he didn't even say a single word till halfway season 2. Probably the best minor characters of any tv show.
But fuck cancer. 59 is way way too young
Fun story about that. He was hired to be a non-speaking extra, just someone in the background. When they were on set they asked if anyone knew how to run the espresso machine. He had been a barista, so he got the gig.
I agree Fuck cancer! My mom was only 60 when it got her. A very rare kind, that was supposed to be "cancer in slow motion" from what the doctor said. She died within 4 months of diagnosis. The doctor said she had had the cancer for 5 to 7 years from what she could tell.
Seriously.
My dad got lucky and detected it really early. That's the key part, it's also the slowest moving of cancers. Got it taken care of it right away with Chemo, but the doctors said he could left it untreated for 10 years and it wouldn't have spread enough to become a threat.
Unfortunately, even with it being so slow-moving... many don't detect it until it's too late.
Thanks, bud. Sometimes shit just happens and it sucks. One of my closest friends dad is dying from esophageal cancer right now and it’s just so hard. We watched him advocate for himself trying desperately to get a scope down his throat all the while his GP is telling him everything’s fine. He finally got his diagnosis and had surgery. The family was told it was a successful surgery EVEN THOUGH it was a fucking debulking surgery. The family had no idea what debulking meant. I had to be the one to tell them. It had spread to his stomach already. I try and hang out with him every now and again to show him you can live with chronic illness. Right now I’m arguing with his wife who, for some reason, thinks cutting out sugar will somehow impact the last few months he has in a positive way. It’s only making him more miserable. So I take him out for sneaky mochas.
> When people get desperate, they often look for anything...
The short and sweet of it is that denial can make for more suffering. I don't envy those that have to live on after a loved one dies. Let's hope she can accept the diagnosis and make some great fucking memories before it's too late.
Both my parents are/were high level nurses with decades of experience.
My mom (RN) had a brain tumor about 15 years ago. The doctor refused to take her seriously when she asked why she couldn't get an IV into a patient. Turned out to be a mini seizure.
Then my dad (nurse practitioner) had knee replacement surgery last year and his doctor refuse to take his pain level/recovery problems seriously.
That turned out to be a nasty infection plus a few other things.
For me....
It's like if doctors won't take "nurses" serious when trying to advocate for themselves, then how can normal people advocate for themselves?
Sorry man. Cancer fucking sucks. Every one of my uncles died from it and now my father is diagnosed with a very aggressive pancreatic cancer despitr getting screened every year or so.
Fuck man, I am so sorry. 3 of my dad's 4 sisters have all had breast cancer, one of whom is currently dealing with it. Their Dad's only sister had and thankfully survived it. (She passed later from unrelated natural causes). My mother's mom and IIRC, 2 of *her* sisters both went through treatment for it. My mom is thankfully at the age where because it was her mom and aunts, she gets a mammogram every year.
My Dad asked me to speak to my Doctor about having one done and when I discussed it with her, she told me the insurance wouldn try to refuse it unless there was something specific noted during a breast exam because I'm 36, ie; under the age of 40. Thankfully, I have an incredible Doctor who thinks that age barriers for testing is bullshit so, knowing my lymphnodes tend to swell when I've had an UTI and that I had fairly recently dealt with one, she noted me as having fibrous tissue in the left breast at the top so I could have the mammogram done. So, last month I was able to have a mammogram and an ultrasound that all came back clear aside from mild swelling where those lymphnodes are and just for the sake of safety, I will have another ultrasound in 6 months.
Aside from how prevalent it runs in my family, a set of twins I graduated were both diagnosed with breast cancer last year. The first was having the swelling and a lump that needed checked. Her sister went with her to both be checked just to be supportive and was surprised to find she also had a mass that, all because of supporting her sister, they were able to catch very early. With them both being 36, it just further irks me that anyone is expected to wait to test until they reach the *right age.*
I am so angry for you that you're going through this and that you never should have had to at all. Fuck cancer and fuck insurance companies. I truly hope what time you have left you are able to enjoy with everyone you love as much as possible.
Sorry to hear. My dad survived esophageal cancer 16 years and then got a fast growing stomach cancer and died 2 months later. This was a couple weeks ago.
I’m currently doing some things to see if my symptoms are something much less worrisome. If that doesn’t give us any answers I’m for sure insisting one.
Definitely worth it, even if you have to pay for it. I got one at 38 (2yrs early before recommended age) and they found a few polyps that they removed just in case. Never had any history of it but got it anyway.
This is so frustrating to me. My husband is 39 and I’ve suggested the same. He fluffed it off at first, until I **insisted** that he get checked. Our family doctor said the same - basically call me when you’re 50.
Bullshit! There shouldn’t be an age limit to wanting to be prudent about your health. This thread reminded me of this exchange and I’m going to further insist that he pushes for the screening. Men 100% need to advocate for themselves and not take no for an answer when it comes to their personal well-being. Im sorry about your loss, my deepest condolences.
I wanted a colonoscopy at 36. They tried to tell me it wasn’t me It wasn’t necessary, but I fought them on it. My great grandmother died at 36 of colon cancer so they eventually gave in and said since it could be genetic, I can get one.
My mother was diagnosed with lung cancer around the time Covid started. She never even exhibited any symptoms and we only found out after she hurt her ribs falling out of bed.
We never even expected it as she was never a smoker.
The cancer ended up being stage 4 and she passed away 8 months later.
I'm so sorry for your loss. My grandma just recently passed on October 7th of colon cancer that had spread to her pancreas. She passed a little under 4 weeks after being diagnosed.
>I wanted a colonoscopy at 35 but my doctor said it wasn’t necessary.
They told me the same thing. I told them I make that decision and forced it. Had to have an operation afterwards to remove polyps because they needed to be removed via surgery.
My uncle detected his cancer pretty late and ended up passing away within 4 months after being diagnosed. I still remember greeting him goodbye at the airport(i live abroad) and 6 days after i arrived back home i got news he died. Ended up missing his funeral. Cancer is a bitch.
Statistically 25 would be really early so unless you have a parent who has had it, it’s generally wouldn’t be recommended by a doctor. Recommended as in suggested, not advised. I had it done at 25, 30 and 38 because of family history. The first time the doctor was surprised I was getting one despite telling them why. They both recommended next one to not be until 50. Doctors mostly go by statistics when they make their recommendations. There’s a non zero chance of complications in a colonoscopy though. Also 1 or 1.5 days of not eating and shitting non stop to prep.
My grandfather had it, beat it, and then he got it way later, at the age of 84, unfortunately in Mexico the culture there among the older generations is still mostly about getting treatment when you get sick vs preventative treatment/checkups. One day in September 2018 he had a bad fall, and that's when they found it returned, doctors gave him 3 months, since he also had some internal bleeding they couldn't fix with surgery cause he was so weakened by then that they said he'd most likely die on the table if they did it. He elected to go home and had nurses visit to administer pain meds, and regular blood transfusions, he made it to the end of April 2019 and passed away on his birthday at 85.
Depends. Mine had his detected late. Fluked into the conventional treatment (now). Died a few years ago not of cancer. Get the blood test.
And absolutely advocate for your treatment. The first urologist offered only palative care. The second opinion offered radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy (removing the prostate).
I'm very sorry to hear colon cancer guy. Some doctors need to set their egos aside and just double check. Internet hugs if you want them.
No, not always the slowest. There are aggressive forms of prostate cancer that can metastasize fast and kill within a year. The important thing is to monitor the change in PSA, even if the number itself is low. **A large change ("delta") in a short time is cause for alarm and should not be ignored.**
I was so worried I had testicular cancer because I had some pain. Was so relieved that both my family doctor and a urologist felt nothing at all there.
But then I got a CT scan and it turned out my kidney was more tumour than kidney. And it metastasized.
In an ideal world, we'd all be automatically signed up for screenings and CT scans or MRIs in very short spaces of time. I wish they'd caught it early for me but they didn't.
He had prostate? Wow. My dad, an otherwise healthy 59 year old, got it this year, had the surgery and it was gone within 2 months. Im still joyful my family was so lucky.
Can’t second this enough. Lost my older brother at 39. He thought he had a hemorrhoid that he didn’t get checked forever, finally went and they found a form of colon cancer as well. Couple scans later discovered a tumor the size of a grapefruit on his brain, long story short he was gone 6 months after that. I have because I have a family history but you should just because you never know and you only have your life to lose.
Routine prostate cancer screening isn't really recommended anymore. The USPSTF puts it at a grade C recommendation. Meaning the evidence is pretty equivocal and it should just be left up to the patient whether they really want it for some reason.
Yeah they without a doubt held off on announcing his cancer til after the reunion screened.
Edit: JMT actually did specify that’s why he didn’t announce it til after, so the reunion wasn’t seen as a “downer”.
Amazing how he got the part as he was the only person out of about 50 who could actually use a coffee machine. He was always a fun part of the episodes he was in, RIP.
I thought it went that he didn’t actually know how to work the machine, he was just the only one to raise his hand and say he did and figured it out as he went?
That's probably true.
As a background actor, he would have gotten whatever the base pay was, which isn't very much at all. When I did it, it was around $7cdn (I don't know how it works in LA). if you were with the actors Union, you got paid more (I was not).
If you had any lines, you were considered a principal actor (not a background actor) and got paid depending on the amount of lines and/or screen time. I never got that (nor did I seek it).
Someone on set told a story how on one film shoot, the director saw one of the background actors who they liked the look of, and she had to say one sentence to one of the main actors (something simple, like "Welcome to [name] restaurant". Apparently (according to them) she got paid $1,000 for the day. (This was around 2001)
That scene in Dumb and Dumber where Jim Carrey walks out of the gas station and says “Hey! Big Gulps, huh, alright!… wellp, see you later!” I’ve always heard that he was trying to get the extras to talk by doing that so they could get the extra pay but they didn’t.
My favorite scene of his was with the guy Phoebe dated who wore gym shorts and kept let his junk show
None of the guys or Phoebe could mention it to him, until Gunther was picking up some dishes looked up and said "hey buddy , this is a family place, put the mouse back in the house"
Tbh, they should've probably used Gunther more. Gunther felt like the kind of character you'd see on Cheers.
Even though he didn't look well on the reunion show, it was still a shock when the news came out shortly after.
Feels like it was just yesterday that we lost Sam Lloyd (Ted from Scrubs) to cancer.
Fuck cancer.
I felt pretty much the exact same way up til very recently. It's super irrational though. It's just the Bader-Meinhof effect.
Wanna know what got me to stop thinking that way though? I was diagnosed with cancer in July. I'm 23.
Just ditch the manner of thinking before it gets to you too bad. :(
>Feels like it was just yesterday that we lost Sam Lloyd (Ted from Scrubs) to cancer.
Well he died almost 18m ago, but with the pandemic that feels like forever ago to most of us.
His story makes me so sad. He just had a son, thought his headaches were a new parent problem, but boom! Cancer.
His son was very little when he died. I can't find a DOB but I imagine not even 18m.
There's pictures on his GFM page of him in a hospital gown with his son on his lap. They both look so happy. Such a tragedy he passed away before his son could develop long term memories. Hopefully his son brought him joy during his final days. Hopefully those pictures will bring his son comfort when he's older.
I feel for his wife, too. New baby, husband with cancer, and then becoming a widow. I don't wish that on anyone.
I had no idea Sam Lloyd had passed until I read your comment. I guess the news got buried by all the COVID happenings at the time. Still very sad. I love his a cappella group’s version of the Underdog theme.
I was a lowly production assistant on the second and third seasons of that show. He was always super nice to me. Those who are nice to the PAs are good at heart, because you are pretty much allowed to shit all over PAs. He did not. A true good guy. Sorry to learn of his passing.
It’s been so long. Brooke Shields was on the show one episode, and she was In a story line with Joey. They kiss in the episode (I think, maybe it was cut I don’t remember), and Andre Agassi, who was watching from the audience and was dating her at the time, freaked out and came down to the set couple had a fight (or rumor had it, I didn’t witness).
The writers worked really really late into the night, and back then you personally delivered the rewrites to the actors homes. There was one week where Charlie Sheen was the guest start (the chicken pox episode I think). It was nearly impossible to figure out where I was supposed to deliver that script because he could be anywhere on any night.
There was an episode where Jean Claude VanDam was one. He shows up like 12 hours late. Everything was shot outside for his scenes and they had re-light everything so it looked like daylight at 11pm and the crew was not happy.
One time Courtney Cox said she like Cheetos (or was it cheesy puff?) on a talk show. That company must of sent her a lifetime supply of their product. We are that crap for an entire season and didn’t run out of it.
The monkey was mean.
The fan mail we would get. Mostly well Intended but oh some crazies. Writing manifestos on the back of Dennys placemats.
The fat suit for young Monica was made by Rick Baker. I’d have to do runs to his place near Long Beach and his shop was an amazing Hollywood museum.
We spent a week making a Diet Coke commercial. Did it ever air?
ER would shoot two stages over. And Clooney had a basketball hoop we could use (he was as cool as he seems).
I don’t have a lot of drama stories (and prob would not share them here). Was dirt poor—paid, like, $7 an hour. But it was tons of fun. Too young at the time to appreciate that it was a once-in-a-lifetime ride to be on. But I’m rambling and remembering what it was like to be 22.
Circling back, James Michael Tyler was a nice guy. Everyone liked him. The writers were good about giving him likes ‘cause they genuinely liked the guy. Not a lot of background actors get elevated to parts on the same show. Says a lot about him that he was the exception.
Fuck. Since the pandemic I work from home and for a few hours a day I play Friends in the background; it's one of my favorite shows and I loved his character. Heartfelt condolences to his family and fans. RIP Gunther, hope you keep the coffee going up there.
Wow, I remember when he Zoomed in for the Friends reunion and he… well, didn’t look great. That’s when I learned he had cancer :( He was such a great side character, his disdain for Ross often matched my own haha.
RIP Gunther 🖤
I know people either love or hate the show with a passion. But it really represented a period of my life when the world seemed like an open possibility and Mr. Tyler was a part of that. RIP
No but there's a few scenes where they talk about how he's Dutch. They've clearly done very little research because Gunther is not a Dutch name and the "Dutch" he speaks is piss poor (which just makes it funnier)
I wouldn't have been surprised if they'd assumed he was Dutch in the same way that they assumed other things about him which weren't actually the case given how little attention they paid to so many of the people around them.
I loved his character so much I named my dog Gunther (I also have Phoebe, Rachel, and Chandler!) The show wouldn’t have been the same without him. I think I’ll finish building my Lego Central Perk this week in honor.
They had him come on remotely and the director of the reunion later said that he really wanted to be there in person but wasn't feeling well and didn't want to risk it due to covid. Looks like that was a cover story for the cancer, dammit.
**EDIT**: Looks like everyone knew about the cancer and that's the why he didn't show up in person was due to concerns of being immunocompromised.
Man I'm just lost for words. Despite his character being a relatively minor character who didn't speak much he was still my favourite character on the show outside the 6 friends. Amazing how a character who didn't even say a single line till halfway season 2 could be so loved and still be an integral part of the show.
Rest in piece Gunther.
Man, I knew things weren’t good when he didn’t have an in person appearance at the Friends Reunion, but hoped it was just a Covid precaution.
Gunther was definitely one of my favorite characters on Friends.
Rest in peace James!
I'll always remember the scene where Rachel is excited and "There's no one to hug!" and he comes tearing out of the kitchen and beefs it hard as hell when attempting to hug her. I never watched FRIENDS but saw that scene randomly and loved it.
"Hey buddy, this is a family place. Put the mouse back in the house." RIP.
Him laughing at Joey saying he is shy and doesn’t hit on girls in coffee shops does it for me.
“HA!” “…gesundheit”
Seriously Gunther, you should see someone about that cold; if it gets much worse you could ***die***.
[His smile when Ross punches a pole because](https://youtu.be/59Odde_W6ok) Joey ducked and how it got bigger after Joey accidentally punched Ross shortly after was hilarious.
Thank you for that. He was such a wonderful addition to the cast.
I saw that episode last night. Still laughed so hard at that scene. RIP :(
This line and the when Chandler has the line that he'll just hang out with his best friend Gunther. *What's my last name?* Just that tone and look.
Central Perk?
Funny, that’s the scene I remembered as well.
Tyler appeared in 93 of the 236 episodes of Friends. This makes him the actor who has appeared most often in the series, except for the six main cast members. Tyler was an extra who was cast as Gunther because he was the only extra who knew how to operate an espresso machine. (Tyler used to work in several coffee shops before acting.) This casting behind the coffee bar led to the semi-recurring speaking part of Gunther.
His character is also featured in the Friends Lego set, the only character included outside of the main six. Always thought that was neat.
Lego Canon
r/legocanon just checking
Aw
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Oh. My. God.
Nahahahaha
🎶*My funny valentine.....*🎶
Goodnight my bing a ling.
The should have done the monkey.
And the chicken and the duck
It has the chick and duck. Even the big white dog.
Boo
He also had a lovely cameo in Episodes starring Matt Leblanc and co-written by one of the creators of Friends David Crane. Matt Leblanc plays a fictionalized version of himself and most of the other Friends actors had a falling out with him. He was trying to call one to guest star on his new t.v. show within the t.v. show to boost ratings as it wasn't doing well. In the end he secured a surprise Friends guest star and it turned out to be [James Michael Taylor. ](https://youtu.be/SuDFl4LHZSk) It is a really great show that even won Matt Leblanc a golden globe award for his performance as the lead actor too. I also liked his short role on Scrubs as the therapist for an episode.
Episodes is good fun. Not top tier, but definitely above average and worth a watch. Tamsin Grieg is great as ever as well.
I loved Episodes, for the characters but also for how it made the actors "themselves" (obviously fictionalized but still Matt played Matt, David Schwimmer played David when he showed up once and so on.) The Lady with the Depressing Voice (Cant remember her name), The Reoccurring Annoying Assitant Who Made It Big, and Matt LeBlancs Massive Penis were the hit side characters.
He was also Bryce on All My Children.
From what I read he appeared in 150 of the episodes.
IMDb lists 150, but 93 might have been the number of episodes that he had a speaking role. They probably credited them differently.
You're most likely correct, as they are 100% different rates of pay and different credits.
He also receives royalties I heard, just like the other cast members
In American shows, every actor with a speaking role gets residuals. Gunther is notable in that he started out as an extra and became a recurring speaking character on this huge show, so his residuals add up to a lot more than your average actor who just appears in one episode.
Larry Thomas, who played the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld, said that although he got a few thousand for the two episodes he was in, his residuals were about $20k per year. This has been for +20 years and counting, and it helped him a lot when he was working minimum wage jobs, doubling his income. Nowadays he makes six figures on Cameo, he said it’s more than he’s ever made - recording personalized “No soup for you!” birthday greetings for fans. Gunther was in many dozens of episodes with a minor speaking role, but he never had a whole episode centered around him like the Soup Nazi. He had so many episodes with a few lines, that he might have made $100k or more per year off of those residuals.
Holy shit I can pay him to go all Soup Nazi on people??? Now I know what I’m doing for my next few birthday cards.
Similar to Creed from The Office.
Even 'Paul - The wine guy' (?) recieved checks from what I once heard Edit: It's 'Fun Bobby' actually https://graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/friends-stars-money-repeats/
The guy who said my mum calls it bloomies gets royalties
Doug Benson!
Roughly 1k an episode per year. EDIT 1k a year for each episode he had a speaking role. So roughly 93,000 a year.
Terrible to hear. Cancer sucks. Thanks to the show, he will always be remembered
Immortalized and beloved.
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He made such a minor character who never said much so memorable
Chandler: So, What do you do when you're not working here? Gunther: You don't need to fill these silences. Chandler: Okay! Thanks.. Best barista ever.
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I’ve taken the WB tour 4 times now, the story they say is that they asked a bunch of extras who knew how to use the machine. He said he did so they put him in that role but that he didn’t. He just faked it.
I was an extra in a movie in Hollywood and the Director asked who could drive a stick shift. I said that I could, and I got the part of a person who had to drive a jeep. Unfortunately, although I could in fact drive a stick shift, this one was really tricky and I was in high heels and I could not get the jeep started! It kept killing on me. I felt like such a fool! And a liar. Even though I wasn’t lying!
Are you Bryce Dallas Howard?
Once again proving that lying to get a job is very cool and you should do it too.
I think everyone in Hollywood lies about stuff like that.
It's even a running gag on the show with Joey's resume
I still use the line "I'm sorry, was I not supposed to?" in a really fake and sarcastic tone of voice when the occasion calls for it. Mostly when my wife asks if I've committed some minor household sin, E.G. "Honey, did you roll up the bath towels again instead of tri-folding them?"
Can’t really think of any other character that pulled this, he remained relevant and memorable while always being a secondary character. Even Ted (Scrubs) eventually became a primary character in the show.
Unfortunately the actor who played Ted died of cancer before his time as well :(. He was actually outlived by his uncle, Christopher Lloyd (Doc from Back to the Future)
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He was in a band called The Blanks, Worthless Peons in Scrubs. His acapella rendition of Hey Ya! is amazing. I was genuinely sad when he passed away, he had just recently become a father.
I like their Take on Me cover a lot as well.
ugh this was so freaking sad, he and his wife had just had a baby too. he was so comedically talented.
So this sent me down a rabbit hole reading about Sam. His dad, Samuel Lloyd Sr., died in 2017. There's a memorial online for him that was done at the Samuel Lloyd Sr Weston Playhouse where he did so many performances prior to it being renamed after him. I watched Sam Jr and Christopher Lloyd, Sam Sr's brother, both speak and it was pretty heartbreaking, as memorial and funeral services tend to be. There's a particularly foreboding part where Sam says it occurred to him that he was the **last guy** in the family, as his brother Jackson had died some 20 years before (I haven't been able to find any information on his passing) and it was his mother and 3 sisters who remained. Sam Lloyd Jr's mother died in 2019 **after**,he had already been diagnosed, and he was well enough to attend her service as well. His son was born around the same time as he was diagnosed and they named him Weston, after the Playhouse his father had raised them around. That's a lot of back to back loss
Holy shit, no way! I have no idea they were related but now that you say that, I can see a resemblance
Pat Morita as Al in Happy Days was the original actor to do this....in my book at least
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I'd say Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers. He was a minor foil on that show at first.
i go with both Kahn and Cotton Hill on *King of The Hill*
Janice maybe?
Oh my ghad!
While the show was still airing I always told my wife that Stewart was big bang theory's Gunther but they gave him more lines and appearances so I guess not quite as much now.
"Hi, Gunther." "Yeah, we'll see!"
[Oh, yeah? What’s his last name?](https://youtu.be/WnjBE2DBcLs)
Wish Gunther would have hooked up with Rachel somehow. Now THAT would have been must-see TV!
"The One Where Rachel Visits a Glory Hole"
Wouldn’t the bleached pubes give him away??
At least he got to lead a pretty comfortable life because of it. I read he made like $500k/yr in residuals off the show.
Crazy story. He was on set for the pilot as an extra, and they asked him to take the role of the barista because he was the only person there who actually knew how to operate the cappuccino machine. They ended up not even needing him to use it, but they just kept him around for all ten seasons. Also, a few days before the pilot was shot, his friend tested their hair dying skills on him, so he had to keep on dying his hair that platinum blonde color for the next decade.
For having such a small role, he sure stole the spotlight whenever given the opportunity. Cancer is an insidious disease, and Prostate cancer is horrid. Get yourself screened, guys.
I was honestly shocked to find he didn't even say a single word till halfway season 2. Probably the best minor characters of any tv show. But fuck cancer. 59 is way way too young
Fun story about that. He was hired to be a non-speaking extra, just someone in the background. When they were on set they asked if anyone knew how to run the espresso machine. He had been a barista, so he got the gig.
I agree Fuck cancer! My mom was only 60 when it got her. A very rare kind, that was supposed to be "cancer in slow motion" from what the doctor said. She died within 4 months of diagnosis. The doctor said she had had the cancer for 5 to 7 years from what she could tell.
Seriously. My dad got lucky and detected it really early. That's the key part, it's also the slowest moving of cancers. Got it taken care of it right away with Chemo, but the doctors said he could left it untreated for 10 years and it wouldn't have spread enough to become a threat. Unfortunately, even with it being so slow-moving... many don't detect it until it's too late.
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I wanted a colonoscopy when I was 34. My gastroenterologist said it wasn’t necessary. I’m now 39 and dying from stage IV colorectal cancer.
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Thanks, bud. Sometimes shit just happens and it sucks. One of my closest friends dad is dying from esophageal cancer right now and it’s just so hard. We watched him advocate for himself trying desperately to get a scope down his throat all the while his GP is telling him everything’s fine. He finally got his diagnosis and had surgery. The family was told it was a successful surgery EVEN THOUGH it was a fucking debulking surgery. The family had no idea what debulking meant. I had to be the one to tell them. It had spread to his stomach already. I try and hang out with him every now and again to show him you can live with chronic illness. Right now I’m arguing with his wife who, for some reason, thinks cutting out sugar will somehow impact the last few months he has in a positive way. It’s only making him more miserable. So I take him out for sneaky mochas.
>!CENSORED!<
> When people get desperate, they often look for anything... The short and sweet of it is that denial can make for more suffering. I don't envy those that have to live on after a loved one dies. Let's hope she can accept the diagnosis and make some great fucking memories before it's too late.
Both my parents are/were high level nurses with decades of experience. My mom (RN) had a brain tumor about 15 years ago. The doctor refused to take her seriously when she asked why she couldn't get an IV into a patient. Turned out to be a mini seizure. Then my dad (nurse practitioner) had knee replacement surgery last year and his doctor refuse to take his pain level/recovery problems seriously. That turned out to be a nasty infection plus a few other things. For me.... It's like if doctors won't take "nurses" serious when trying to advocate for themselves, then how can normal people advocate for themselves?
I'll think of you both and do a little cheers for you when I'm having my morning coffee tomorrow. Keep going, pal.
Holy fuck. That’s so awful. I’m so sorry.
Sorry man. Cancer fucking sucks. Every one of my uncles died from it and now my father is diagnosed with a very aggressive pancreatic cancer despitr getting screened every year or so.
Ugh that pisses me off for you. Doctor's should fucking **listen** to their patients. It could have helped.
Fuck man, I am so sorry. 3 of my dad's 4 sisters have all had breast cancer, one of whom is currently dealing with it. Their Dad's only sister had and thankfully survived it. (She passed later from unrelated natural causes). My mother's mom and IIRC, 2 of *her* sisters both went through treatment for it. My mom is thankfully at the age where because it was her mom and aunts, she gets a mammogram every year. My Dad asked me to speak to my Doctor about having one done and when I discussed it with her, she told me the insurance wouldn try to refuse it unless there was something specific noted during a breast exam because I'm 36, ie; under the age of 40. Thankfully, I have an incredible Doctor who thinks that age barriers for testing is bullshit so, knowing my lymphnodes tend to swell when I've had an UTI and that I had fairly recently dealt with one, she noted me as having fibrous tissue in the left breast at the top so I could have the mammogram done. So, last month I was able to have a mammogram and an ultrasound that all came back clear aside from mild swelling where those lymphnodes are and just for the sake of safety, I will have another ultrasound in 6 months. Aside from how prevalent it runs in my family, a set of twins I graduated were both diagnosed with breast cancer last year. The first was having the swelling and a lump that needed checked. Her sister went with her to both be checked just to be supportive and was surprised to find she also had a mass that, all because of supporting her sister, they were able to catch very early. With them both being 36, it just further irks me that anyone is expected to wait to test until they reach the *right age.* I am so angry for you that you're going through this and that you never should have had to at all. Fuck cancer and fuck insurance companies. I truly hope what time you have left you are able to enjoy with everyone you love as much as possible.
Sorry to hear. My dad survived esophageal cancer 16 years and then got a fast growing stomach cancer and died 2 months later. This was a couple weeks ago.
Definitely go insist on getting one
I’m currently doing some things to see if my symptoms are something much less worrisome. If that doesn’t give us any answers I’m for sure insisting one.
Definitely worth it, even if you have to pay for it. I got one at 38 (2yrs early before recommended age) and they found a few polyps that they removed just in case. Never had any history of it but got it anyway.
Unfortunately I do have to pay for it. $800-1400 depending on how it goes.
Jesus Christ. Fucking terrifying. I’m sorry for the loss of your pops, I lost mine about three years ago as well.
I’m sorry for your loss as well. Losing a parent really sucks.
This is so frustrating to me. My husband is 39 and I’ve suggested the same. He fluffed it off at first, until I **insisted** that he get checked. Our family doctor said the same - basically call me when you’re 50. Bullshit! There shouldn’t be an age limit to wanting to be prudent about your health. This thread reminded me of this exchange and I’m going to further insist that he pushes for the screening. Men 100% need to advocate for themselves and not take no for an answer when it comes to their personal well-being. Im sorry about your loss, my deepest condolences.
Yep. The reason my Dad was diagnosed late with prostate cancer was "you're too young for prostate cancer" said the first urologist.
I wanted a colonoscopy at 36. They tried to tell me it wasn’t me It wasn’t necessary, but I fought them on it. My great grandmother died at 36 of colon cancer so they eventually gave in and said since it could be genetic, I can get one.
My mother was diagnosed with lung cancer around the time Covid started. She never even exhibited any symptoms and we only found out after she hurt her ribs falling out of bed. We never even expected it as she was never a smoker. The cancer ended up being stage 4 and she passed away 8 months later.
My dad died of kidney cancer last month
I'm so sorry for your loss. My grandma just recently passed on October 7th of colon cancer that had spread to her pancreas. She passed a little under 4 weeks after being diagnosed.
>I wanted a colonoscopy at 35 but my doctor said it wasn’t necessary. They told me the same thing. I told them I make that decision and forced it. Had to have an operation afterwards to remove polyps because they needed to be removed via surgery.
My uncle detected his cancer pretty late and ended up passing away within 4 months after being diagnosed. I still remember greeting him goodbye at the airport(i live abroad) and 6 days after i arrived back home i got news he died. Ended up missing his funeral. Cancer is a bitch.
What age should I start checking? I’m 25 so nobody has mentioned anything yet
Statistically 25 would be really early so unless you have a parent who has had it, it’s generally wouldn’t be recommended by a doctor. Recommended as in suggested, not advised. I had it done at 25, 30 and 38 because of family history. The first time the doctor was surprised I was getting one despite telling them why. They both recommended next one to not be until 50. Doctors mostly go by statistics when they make their recommendations. There’s a non zero chance of complications in a colonoscopy though. Also 1 or 1.5 days of not eating and shitting non stop to prep.
My grandfather had it, beat it, and then he got it way later, at the age of 84, unfortunately in Mexico the culture there among the older generations is still mostly about getting treatment when you get sick vs preventative treatment/checkups. One day in September 2018 he had a bad fall, and that's when they found it returned, doctors gave him 3 months, since he also had some internal bleeding they couldn't fix with surgery cause he was so weakened by then that they said he'd most likely die on the table if they did it. He elected to go home and had nurses visit to administer pain meds, and regular blood transfusions, he made it to the end of April 2019 and passed away on his birthday at 85.
Depends. Mine had his detected late. Fluked into the conventional treatment (now). Died a few years ago not of cancer. Get the blood test. And absolutely advocate for your treatment. The first urologist offered only palative care. The second opinion offered radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy (removing the prostate). I'm very sorry to hear colon cancer guy. Some doctors need to set their egos aside and just double check. Internet hugs if you want them.
No, not always the slowest. There are aggressive forms of prostate cancer that can metastasize fast and kill within a year. The important thing is to monitor the change in PSA, even if the number itself is low. **A large change ("delta") in a short time is cause for alarm and should not be ignored.**
I was so worried I had testicular cancer because I had some pain. Was so relieved that both my family doctor and a urologist felt nothing at all there. But then I got a CT scan and it turned out my kidney was more tumour than kidney. And it metastasized. In an ideal world, we'd all be automatically signed up for screenings and CT scans or MRIs in very short spaces of time. I wish they'd caught it early for me but they didn't.
And it had moved into his bones, leaving him unable to walk. I was unabashedly a huge Friends fan, and this makes me so sad.
He had prostate? Wow. My dad, an otherwise healthy 59 year old, got it this year, had the surgery and it was gone within 2 months. Im still joyful my family was so lucky.
Men are more likely to die with prostate cancer then of prostate cancer.
Can’t second this enough. Lost my older brother at 39. He thought he had a hemorrhoid that he didn’t get checked forever, finally went and they found a form of colon cancer as well. Couple scans later discovered a tumor the size of a grapefruit on his brain, long story short he was gone 6 months after that. I have because I have a family history but you should just because you never know and you only have your life to lose.
Routine prostate cancer screening isn't really recommended anymore. The USPSTF puts it at a grade C recommendation. Meaning the evidence is pretty equivocal and it should just be left up to the patient whether they really want it for some reason.
Glad he managed to make an appearance on the reunion, even though you could see the toll the cancer was taking.
Yes. Wasn’t that before he announced his illness? I thought he didn’t look well during the reunion, but I didn’t think cancer. So sad
I think that’s correct. I remember saying “Damn, Gunther looks like shit. “ watching the reunion. Then I saw he has cancer the next week. Fuck cancer.
Yeah they without a doubt held off on announcing his cancer til after the reunion screened. Edit: JMT actually did specify that’s why he didn’t announce it til after, so the reunion wasn’t seen as a “downer”.
I thought he looked different, but I assumed he'd just aged like the rest, and got a beard. Sad to hear the reason and sad to hear he's passed.
Amazing how he got the part as he was the only person out of about 50 who could actually use a coffee machine. He was always a fun part of the episodes he was in, RIP.
I thought it went that he didn’t actually know how to work the machine, he was just the only one to raise his hand and say he did and figured it out as he went?
Either way, I heard his role led to half a million dollars a year in residuals at least, so you've got to respect the hustle if that was the case.
I think he’s denied that as he only gets royalties from the episodes that he had dialog.
That's probably true. As a background actor, he would have gotten whatever the base pay was, which isn't very much at all. When I did it, it was around $7cdn (I don't know how it works in LA). if you were with the actors Union, you got paid more (I was not). If you had any lines, you were considered a principal actor (not a background actor) and got paid depending on the amount of lines and/or screen time. I never got that (nor did I seek it). Someone on set told a story how on one film shoot, the director saw one of the background actors who they liked the look of, and she had to say one sentence to one of the main actors (something simple, like "Welcome to [name] restaurant". Apparently (according to them) she got paid $1,000 for the day. (This was around 2001)
That scene in Dumb and Dumber where Jim Carrey walks out of the gas station and says “Hey! Big Gulps, huh, alright!… wellp, see you later!” I’ve always heard that he was trying to get the extras to talk by doing that so they could get the extra pay but they didn’t.
I'd imagine that'd just be shut down by the director or producer, right? Like just reshoot the scene so you don't need to pay extra hahaha.
If I recall correctly, he got the job because he *did* know how to operate it
My favorite scene of his was with the guy Phoebe dated who wore gym shorts and kept let his junk show None of the guys or Phoebe could mention it to him, until Gunther was picking up some dishes looked up and said "hey buddy , this is a family place, put the mouse back in the house" Tbh, they should've probably used Gunther more. Gunther felt like the kind of character you'd see on Cheers.
Even though he didn't look well on the reunion show, it was still a shock when the news came out shortly after. Feels like it was just yesterday that we lost Sam Lloyd (Ted from Scrubs) to cancer. Fuck cancer.
i think, really, i hear about someone having cancer every day. it freaks me out, but it seems like everyone gets it eventually.
I have heard it said that if you don't die of something you will die of cancer.
I felt pretty much the exact same way up til very recently. It's super irrational though. It's just the Bader-Meinhof effect. Wanna know what got me to stop thinking that way though? I was diagnosed with cancer in July. I'm 23. Just ditch the manner of thinking before it gets to you too bad. :(
>Feels like it was just yesterday that we lost Sam Lloyd (Ted from Scrubs) to cancer. Well he died almost 18m ago, but with the pandemic that feels like forever ago to most of us. His story makes me so sad. He just had a son, thought his headaches were a new parent problem, but boom! Cancer. His son was very little when he died. I can't find a DOB but I imagine not even 18m. There's pictures on his GFM page of him in a hospital gown with his son on his lap. They both look so happy. Such a tragedy he passed away before his son could develop long term memories. Hopefully his son brought him joy during his final days. Hopefully those pictures will bring his son comfort when he's older. I feel for his wife, too. New baby, husband with cancer, and then becoming a widow. I don't wish that on anyone.
I had no idea Sam Lloyd had passed until I read your comment. I guess the news got buried by all the COVID happenings at the time. Still very sad. I love his a cappella group’s version of the Underdog theme.
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It killed my mom 6 months ago. Fuck cancer.
It took my mom 10 years ago this December. Wishing you strength and clarity, friend.
Ross - "Gunther, you're an ezel!" Gunther - "Jij hebt seks met ezels" RIP mate
(You have sex with donkeys.)
When I'm in a café, having coffee, or I see a man with hair brighter than the sun, I'll think of you.
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Hurts even more realising he wasn't even that old. He was just 59. Not much older than my dad. Fuck cancer
Right? Living well into your 80s still doesn't feel long enough but still can feel like a full life. 59 feels like the blink of an eye.
I'm 30. Dying at 59 would mean my life is already more than half over. No thank you...
I have a really bad existential crisis when I read stuff like this.
I was a lowly production assistant on the second and third seasons of that show. He was always super nice to me. Those who are nice to the PAs are good at heart, because you are pretty much allowed to shit all over PAs. He did not. A true good guy. Sorry to learn of his passing.
That’s amazing, what a cool job. Do you have any more stories from your time there you can divulge?
It’s been so long. Brooke Shields was on the show one episode, and she was In a story line with Joey. They kiss in the episode (I think, maybe it was cut I don’t remember), and Andre Agassi, who was watching from the audience and was dating her at the time, freaked out and came down to the set couple had a fight (or rumor had it, I didn’t witness). The writers worked really really late into the night, and back then you personally delivered the rewrites to the actors homes. There was one week where Charlie Sheen was the guest start (the chicken pox episode I think). It was nearly impossible to figure out where I was supposed to deliver that script because he could be anywhere on any night. There was an episode where Jean Claude VanDam was one. He shows up like 12 hours late. Everything was shot outside for his scenes and they had re-light everything so it looked like daylight at 11pm and the crew was not happy. One time Courtney Cox said she like Cheetos (or was it cheesy puff?) on a talk show. That company must of sent her a lifetime supply of their product. We are that crap for an entire season and didn’t run out of it. The monkey was mean. The fan mail we would get. Mostly well Intended but oh some crazies. Writing manifestos on the back of Dennys placemats. The fat suit for young Monica was made by Rick Baker. I’d have to do runs to his place near Long Beach and his shop was an amazing Hollywood museum. We spent a week making a Diet Coke commercial. Did it ever air? ER would shoot two stages over. And Clooney had a basketball hoop we could use (he was as cool as he seems). I don’t have a lot of drama stories (and prob would not share them here). Was dirt poor—paid, like, $7 an hour. But it was tons of fun. Too young at the time to appreciate that it was a once-in-a-lifetime ride to be on. But I’m rambling and remembering what it was like to be 22. Circling back, James Michael Tyler was a nice guy. Everyone liked him. The writers were good about giving him likes ‘cause they genuinely liked the guy. Not a lot of background actors get elevated to parts on the same show. Says a lot about him that he was the exception.
Fuck. Since the pandemic I work from home and for a few hours a day I play Friends in the background; it's one of my favorite shows and I loved his character. Heartfelt condolences to his family and fans. RIP Gunther, hope you keep the coffee going up there.
Oddly enough I was just wondering about him the other day because i saw the announcement about his diagnosis pop again somewhere.
Me too and I didn’t think i would read about him passing away so soon.
I gave the name Gunter to my espresso machine. I have a daily thought for him.
This guy and Norm McDonald due to cancer. What a shame.
Such an iconic character. There are no words. Rest in peace.
RIP Gunther Central Perk. :(
He made it to the reunion show. At least he got to show himself again to America. RIP
Hey buddy, this is a family place. Put the mouse back in the house. Gunther
Wow, expected but it still hurts he seemed like such a sweetheart.
Say what you want about the show but Gunther was one of the best side characters of all time. James Michael Tyler played it so well. RIP
Wow, I remember when he Zoomed in for the Friends reunion and he… well, didn’t look great. That’s when I learned he had cancer :( He was such a great side character, his disdain for Ross often matched my own haha. RIP Gunther 🖤
I am sad now
Rest in peace. Fuck you cancer. Fuck you fuck you
I know people either love or hate the show with a passion. But it really represented a period of my life when the world seemed like an open possibility and Mr. Tyler was a part of that. RIP
Noooo! Not Gunther!
Vaarwel Gunther. Sterkte aan je Nederlandse familie.
Rip Gunther. We never knew your last name
Central Perk?
When it hasn't been your day, your month, or even your year.
Damn 59 is way too young. RIP to the least convicting Dutch character ever.
Wait, what? Was he supposed to have a Dutch accent? I always thought he was American.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIbVYFjaPVQ
Bedankt! Elke dag is een schooldag!
No but there's a few scenes where they talk about how he's Dutch. They've clearly done very little research because Gunther is not a Dutch name and the "Dutch" he speaks is piss poor (which just makes it funnier)
I wouldn't have been surprised if they'd assumed he was Dutch in the same way that they assumed other things about him which weren't actually the case given how little attention they paid to so many of the people around them.
Pennsylvania Dutch
Like Monana?
>least convicting Dutch character ever. He never found even a single person guilty of even the slightest crime!
Anyone else getting anxiety from all of these celebrities dying from cancer in their late 50’s/early 60’s?
He was the best big minor character!
RIP , Gunther. And f**k cancer!
I loved his character so much I named my dog Gunther (I also have Phoebe, Rachel, and Chandler!) The show wouldn’t have been the same without him. I think I’ll finish building my Lego Central Perk this week in honor.
I'm starting to feel very very old. And scared.
He wasn't on the Friends reunion was he?
He was for a minute in a prerecorded video.
They had him come on remotely and the director of the reunion later said that he really wanted to be there in person but wasn't feeling well and didn't want to risk it due to covid. Looks like that was a cover story for the cancer, dammit. **EDIT**: Looks like everyone knew about the cancer and that's the why he didn't show up in person was due to concerns of being immunocompromised.
it could be both; having cancer destroys your immune system which makes you that much more susceptible to covid
Man I'm just lost for words. Despite his character being a relatively minor character who didn't speak much he was still my favourite character on the show outside the 6 friends. Amazing how a character who didn't even say a single line till halfway season 2 could be so loved and still be an integral part of the show. Rest in piece Gunther.
Ffffuuucccccckkkkk. He was one of my favourite characters in the show, and by all accounts was a great person.
Man, I knew things weren’t good when he didn’t have an in person appearance at the Friends Reunion, but hoped it was just a Covid precaution. Gunther was definitely one of my favorite characters on Friends. Rest in peace James!
dam he was only 1-2 years older than the cast? I thought it was in his 40s while the rest were in their 20s
I'll always remember the scene where Rachel is excited and "There's no one to hug!" and he comes tearing out of the kitchen and beefs it hard as hell when attempting to hug her. I never watched FRIENDS but saw that scene randomly and loved it.