One of the most gullible characters of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is Gunther. Gunther’s innocence and gullibility make him one of the favorite characters of ours, apart from the six friends. James Michael Tyler, who played the role of Gunther, Central Perk’s barista and the coffee shop manager, is no more. He passed away at the age of 59.

We all know him from the man who has bleached hair, who was in unrequited love with Rachel Green, and who had relatable long quotes.

His manager Toni Benson wrote, “The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh ‘Friend’), from the hit series Friends, but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband.”

Gunther’s character in Friends, a 1994 American sitcom, appeared in over 150 episodes across all 10 seasons, managing Central Perk gracefully.

So, let’s recall some of the best moments of James Michael Tyler as Gunther in Friends.

Gunther buys Rachel’s cat

Rachel found a pure-breed, hairless Sphinx cat, who is wildly overpriced and disgusted by everyone else except Gunther. But, after buying the hairless cat, Rachel realizes this cat is a mistake and sells it to Gunther, who willingly purchases the Sphinx cat, thinking that Rachel will realize his platonic love.

James Michael Tyler explained the situation, “I would try to put myself in Gunther’s mindset — basically he hates everything except Rachel, well, hate is probably too strong of a word, but I don’t think Gunther had a lot of patience for the rest of [the gang].”

“I dropped a cup”

Gunther lost when someone asked Rachel out on a date in front of him at Central Perk. He had always been thinking of asking Rachel out on a date, but this incident certainly broke his heart. Gunther got back to the interior of the coffee shop and smashed a few things. After returning, Gunther gave a deadpan look, “I dropped a cup.”

https://youtu.be/tTZwyQJiavc

“You don’t need to fill these silences”

The group of friends hung out at Gunther’s cafe every day, but never ever bothered to make friends with him. Gunther was cool about that. One day, when Chandler tried to initiate a conversation with him while he was making a cup of coffee, Gunther savagely replied, “You don’t need to fill these silences.”

“I make four bucks an hour. I saved up for 350 years”

One day Joey found Porche keys at Central Perk and asked Gunther if he knew the owner of the Porche or if it belonged to him or not. Joey faced Gunther’s sarcastic humor as he got a response, “Yes, that’s what I drive. I make four bucks an hour. I saved up for 350 years.”

“I love you”

In the last episode of Friends, Gunther finally declares his true feelings to Rachel. As Rachel played by Jennifer Aniston, departs to France for a new job, Gunther takes a shot. He explains, “I know you’re leaving tonight, but I just have to tell you. I love you… I don’t know if that changes your plans at all? But I thought you should know.”

After hearing Gunther’s proposals, Rachel replied, “Gunther. Oh, I love you too. Probably not in the same way, but I do. And when I’m in a cafe, having coffee, or I see a man with hair brighter than the sun, I’ll think of you.”

Tyler has appeared in many roles like “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”, “Scrubs”, and “Modern Music”. He died battling prostate cancer in his home in Los Angeles. He will always be in our hearts as “Gunther”.