Friends Cast: Where Are They Now?
8. James Michael Tyler (Gunther)
Gunther didn’t really have much of a story in Friends, just an undying and unrequited love for Rachel. However, he was frequently hilarious with this schtick, and became a fan favourite despite a limited impact.
Post Friends, Tyler had a short appearance as a couples counsellor in Scrubs, but mainly he’s been trading on his role as Gunther. He’s appeared in various Friends adjacent parts, like video games, compilation shows and a cameo as himself on Matt LeBlanc’s show Episodes.
He even provided the voice over for the Friends version of Scene It, and opened the special Central Perk on London’s Carnaby Street for Friends’ 15th anniversary, as well as appearing at the SoHo one on the 20th.
The behind the scenes story of his role on Friends might point to exactly why he’s had limited success since. Tyler wasn’t hired as an actor in the typical way with an audition, instead he was hired as an extra, and ended up getting more screen time because he was the only one who knew how to work the coffee machine.
How different Friends might have been if he hadn’t been able to.