This Actor Got His Friends Part Solely For His Coffee-Making Skills

If there's a more inspiring story than that of Friends cast member James Michael Tyler, we haven't heard it yet.

As unfortunate as his death was, his sudden success still serves as an example to many actors who feel their careers are at a standstill.

The television industry has seen many examples of a supporting character being promoted to a regular role. If the actor has enough charm to keep viewers intrigued and wanting more, writers and producers are usually willing to oblige and give them more screen time.

That's not so often the case with extras.

It's hard to stand out from the crowd when your job is literally running the coffee bar in the background of endless conversations. But Friends' Gunther became as important to the story as the Central Perk coffee shop itself. Cast for his coffee-making skills as a barista, James Michael Tyler was noticed for another feature of his.

His bright blond hair was not originally intended to look that way. However, the day before the audition, he let his hairdresser friend experiment with some bleach. The end result was so fun and gave the actor such a distinctive look that he had to go back to it every time he stepped on set.

Now it's almost impossible to imagine Gunther any other way. James Michael Tyler's charisma and talent really brought out the character that wasn't supposed to be on the show at all.

“When he started as an extra on Friends his unique spirit caught our attention and we knew we had to turn him into a character. It made Gunther’s unrequited love incredibly believable,” said the show’s creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane.

Although the actor passed away from complications of prostate cancer in 2021, his comedic legacy and memory will live on forever with all Friends fans.

If you are feeling nostalgic and want to relive your favorite Gunther moments, you can stream the iconic '90s sitcom on Netflix or MAX.

Source: The Independent