Jennifer Aniston remembers Friends costar James Michael Tyler: “You will be so missed”

Following the heartbreaking news of actor James Michael Tyler’s passing on Oct. 24 following his battle with cancer, Tyler’s frequent scene partner Jennifer Aniston is paying tribute to her late costar via a touching Instagram post.

“Friends would not have been the same without you,” Aniston began in remembering Tyler, whose character Gunther is best known for harboring a secret admiration for Aniston’s character Rachel throughout the series — a bit that led to many iconic and comedic moments over the years.

“Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives,” Aniston continued. “You will be so missed James Michael Tyler.”

Accompanying Aniston’s heartfelt tribute was a scene from the Friends series finale in which Gunther finally found the courage to confess his secret love for Rachel, a scene that is beloved by many and regarded as one of the many highlights from the Emmy-winning series’ final episode.

Widely considered to be “the seventh friend,” Tyler was a beloved member of the Friends cast appearing in 150 episodes across the show’s ten seasons, having first originated the role in the second episode of the series.

While he was able to join his costars for HBO Max’s Friends reunion, the late actor was unable to attend the reunion in person due to his battle with cancer — a battle he had kept private until shortly after the reunion special aired.

It seems only fitting Aniston was the first Friends star to honor Tyler via a sweet tribute given the connection her character shared with Tyler’s Gunther, though tributes from fellow costars Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox followed shortly after with both actresses taking to Instagram to remember the late actor.

“The size of gratitude you brought into the room and showed every day on set is the size of the gratitude I hold for having known you. Rest In peace James,” Cox wrote of her late costar. Added Kudrow, “James Michael Tyler, we will miss you. Thank you for being there for us all.”