While the six central characters in the American sitcom “Friends” hogged all the limelight, the true-blue fanatics of the show have forever had a soft spot for Gunther, the Central Perk manager, for his undying love for Rachel and his stinging sarcastic remarks. 

However, James Michael Tyler, the man who gave life to the iconic character on screen, died at age 59 on Sunday, according to media reports citing the actor’s manager. Tyler was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2018 which later spread to his bones.

So to remember the actor and the legacy that he lives behind, let’s take a look at his finest moments on “Friends” that literally had us ‘Laughing Out Loud’. 

1. “I dropped a cup”

Gunther’s obsession with Rachel was quite well known on the show. In one particular episode, Rachel was asked out on a date at the Central Perk, in front of Gunther.

After he had been thinking of ways to ask Rachel out himself, this moment clearly upsets him.

Gunther heads to the back of the shop and starts smashing a lot of things, with the noises shocking everyone inside the little cafe. However, when he reappears, Gunther, with his cold dry, delivery simply states “I dropped a cup.”

2. “You don’t need to fill these silences”

Although the group of friends would cross paths with Gunther every single day, they never really bothered to know him or make him part of their gang. And Gunther knew that quite well.

One day, Chandler walks in and asks Gunther for a cup of coffee and while he is making it, Chandler tries to initiate a conversation to fill the gap, asking what he does when he is not working at the coffee shop. 

Gunther at his brutal best goes, “You don’t need to fill these silences.” Savage.

3. “Wish she was my wife”

Gunther’s unrequited love for Rachel was a major trigger for the laughs throughout the entire series and also provided for fantastic comedic golds.

The finest probably comes in the episode that starts with the audience hearing the inner dialogues and feeling of all the friends out loud.

While Ross keeps talking about his ‘science stuff’ and Rachel grapples to fathom the depth of the terminologies, Gunther walks in with a cup of coffee.  

Firstly, he questions what she sees in Ross, and then smells Rachel’s hair, thinking, “I love Rachel. I wish she was my wife.” It’s a hilarious moment as it’s the first time he openly admits this, even if it’s in his own head.