James Michael Tyler became a household name following his time on the hit Warner Bros. sitcom, Friends.
When it came time for the Friends reunion, viewers noticed James wasn't present. While the actor appeared via Zoom, fans were later made aware that his absence was due to his current battle with cancer.
Tyler managed to land the role of Gunther, the Central Perk manager who oversaw Rachel and Joey's time working at the café. The actor went on to appear in nearly 150 episodes, leaving many to wonder just how much he earned during his time on the show.
How Much Did James Michael Tyler Earn On 'Friends'?
James Michael Tyler has been a fan favorite from Friends since the very beginning of the show! While the role of Gunther could have easily gone to anyone, Tyler managed to secure the spot after being one of the few extras who were able to maneuver a coffee machine.
This skill not only secured James his role on the series but one that would go on to snag nearly 150 episodes of 236 over the course of ten seasons. While the character didn't always have the most screen time, he delivered some of the most hilarious lines.
The star had a close relationship with Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, whose characters spent the most time sharing scenes with Gunther, especially when it came to Gunther's disdain for Ross during his time dating Rachel.
When it comes to his success in the industry, James Michael Tyler has amassed a net worth of $4 million, sparking interest in just how much he earned on Friends.
Although the main six cast members were collecting a whopping $1 million each the final season, Tyler's salary wasn't necessarily in that ballpark, however, he made quite the coin playing Gunther.
During his first season, James Michael Tyler earned himself $7,000 per episode for six episodes. For season two, that went up to $10,000 before securing $20,000 per episode in seasons three and four.
Things only went up for James from then on. The actor then went on to earn $30,000 per episode in seasons five and six, all while receiving a final salary of $40,000 for the remainder of the series.
Over the course of his time on the show, Celebrity Net Worth calculated that he earned an impressive $4.65 million from playing Gunther on Friends, which doesn't account for another $1-$2 million that he collected when the show was sold into syndication.
Today, James still works in the industry, however, he has since stepped away from the limelight following his cancer diagnosis. While he's been suffering from prostate cancer since 2018, the actor is only now making it public.
During his most recent interview with The Today Show, James shared details regarding his diagnosis, saying, "In September of 2018, I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which had spread to my bones," he told host Craig Melvin.
While fans missed the star from the Friends reunion, his illness left him with no choice but to appear in a virtual setting only. The actor revealed that he would ultimately succumb to his illness considering how late it was caught.
Fans and followers of Tyler and the show have shared their love and support for James, who is determined to keep pushing.