<p>Actor James Michael Tyler, who played Central Perk waiter Gunther on the hit sitcom <em>Friends</em>, said he has stage four prostate cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.</p>.<p>The 59-year-old actor revealed he was diagnosed with the disease in September 2018 after a routine check-up.</p>.<p>"I was 56 years old at the time, and they screen for PSA, which is prostate-specific antigen. That came back at an extraordinarily high number... so I knew immediately when I went online and I saw the results of my blood test and blood work that there was obviously something quite wrong there.</p>.<p>"Nearly immediately, my doctor called me and said, 'Hey, I need you to come in tomorrow because I suspect that you may have quite a serious problem with your prostate'," Tyler said in an interview with <em>NBC's Today </em>show.</p>.<p>After he missed a test during the pandemic, the cancer spread to his bones and he can no longer walk.</p>.<p>"Late-stage cancer," he told host Craig Melvin. "Eventually, you know, it's gonna probably get me," the actor added.</p>.<p>Tyler, who made a brief appearance on the <em>Friends </em>reunion special last month via Zoom, said he chose not to reveal his diagnosis during the event but was "happy to be included" in all the festivities.</p>.<p>"It was bittersweet, honestly... It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn't wanna bring a downer on it, you know? I didn't want to be like, 'Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer'," he said.</p>.<p>The actor also said the cast and crew knew about his diagnosis.</p>.<p>"David Schwimmer (who played Ross Geller on the show) has corresponded with me via Instagram. The producers are aware, they've been aware for a long time," he said.</p>.<p>Tyler also urged men to get tested early to be able to battle the disease through an early diagnosis.</p>.<p>"There are other options available to men if they catch it before me. Next time you go in for just a basic exam or your yearly checkup, please ask your doctor for a PSA test. It's easily detectable. If it spreads beyond the prostate to the bones, which is most prevalent in my form, it can be a lot more difficult to deal with," he added.</p>
<p>Actor James Michael Tyler, who played Central Perk waiter Gunther on the hit sitcom <em>Friends</em>, said he has stage four prostate cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.</p>.<p>The 59-year-old actor revealed he was diagnosed with the disease in September 2018 after a routine check-up.</p>.<p>"I was 56 years old at the time, and they screen for PSA, which is prostate-specific antigen. That came back at an extraordinarily high number... so I knew immediately when I went online and I saw the results of my blood test and blood work that there was obviously something quite wrong there.</p>.<p>"Nearly immediately, my doctor called me and said, 'Hey, I need you to come in tomorrow because I suspect that you may have quite a serious problem with your prostate'," Tyler said in an interview with <em>NBC's Today </em>show.</p>.<p>After he missed a test during the pandemic, the cancer spread to his bones and he can no longer walk.</p>.<p>"Late-stage cancer," he told host Craig Melvin. "Eventually, you know, it's gonna probably get me," the actor added.</p>.<p>Tyler, who made a brief appearance on the <em>Friends </em>reunion special last month via Zoom, said he chose not to reveal his diagnosis during the event but was "happy to be included" in all the festivities.</p>.<p>"It was bittersweet, honestly... It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn't wanna bring a downer on it, you know? I didn't want to be like, 'Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer'," he said.</p>.<p>The actor also said the cast and crew knew about his diagnosis.</p>.<p>"David Schwimmer (who played Ross Geller on the show) has corresponded with me via Instagram. The producers are aware, they've been aware for a long time," he said.</p>.<p>Tyler also urged men to get tested early to be able to battle the disease through an early diagnosis.</p>.<p>"There are other options available to men if they catch it before me. Next time you go in for just a basic exam or your yearly checkup, please ask your doctor for a PSA test. It's easily detectable. If it spreads beyond the prostate to the bones, which is most prevalent in my form, it can be a lot more difficult to deal with," he added.</p>