Lisa Kudrow: 'Friends' actress remembers her co-star James Michael Tyler, who died last year

Kudrow paid tribute to Tyler, who played Gunther on the show, in an interview with Today.

"He was such a kind, sweet man," she said. "And he was so funny."

Lisa Kudrow has paid tribute to her late "Friends" co-star James Michael Tyler, who died last year at the age of 59.

In an interview with Today, Kudrow said that she was "heartbroken" when she heard about Tyler's death.

"He was such a kind, sweet man," she said. "And he was so funny. He always made us laugh on set."

Tyler played Gunther, the manager of Central Perk, the coffee shop where the "Friends" characters often hung out.

He was a fan favorite character, and his death was a huge loss for the "Friends" family.

Kudrow said that she will always remember Tyler as a "wonderful friend and colleague."

"He was a very special person," she said. "I miss him very much."

Tyler died on October 24, 2021, after a battle with prostate cancer.

He was diagnosed with the disease in 2018, but he kept his illness a secret from most of his friends and colleagues.

In a statement released after his death, Tyler said that he wanted to keep his diagnosis private so that he could continue to work and live his life as normally as possible.

"I wanted to keep it private so that I could continue to work and live my life as normally as possible," he said. "I didn't want to be a burden to my friends and family, and I didn't want to have to deal with the pity or the sadness that comes with a diagnosis like this."

Tyler's death was a reminder of the importance of getting regular cancer screenings.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, and it is important to catch it early when it is most treatable.

If you are a man over the age of 50, talk to your doctor about getting a prostate cancer screening.