Asked about his prognosis, Tyler was blunt: “Stage 4, advanced cancer, so it’ll probably catch me eventually. “

While still alive, however, Tyler is adamant about using his unfortunate reality to encourage other men to get checked out early on.

“I would have come in sooner, and you know, I would have hopefully been caught earlier,” he said tearfully. “The next time you come for a basic check-up or your annual check-up, please ask your doctor for a PSA test. [If] caught early it’s 99% treatable. … My goal now is to help save at least one life. “

Tyler’s Gunther, who humorously had an intense crush on Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), was a reliable stage thief through 150 episodes over the 10 seasons of the iconic ’90s sitcom from 1994 to 2004, whenever the crew ventured into Central Perk.

The 59-year-old made a cameo appearance during Friends: Reunion, but due to its condition it only appeared through Zoom.

“I wanted to be a part of it, and initially I was going to be on stage, at least, with them, and be able to participate in all the festivities,” Tyler revealed, according to Today‘s written on its segment. “It was bittersweet, honestly. I was very happy to be included. It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and to make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn’t want to bother. , you know? … I didn’t mean, ‘Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.’ “

Tyler added that David Schwimmer, who played Ross Geller for the duration of the series, contacted him on Instagram.