Gunther (Friends character)

Gunther was a character in the popular television sitcom Friends played by James Michael Tyler. Gunther was the manager of the Central Perk coffeehouse, where the six main characters spent a great deal of their free time.

Related Topics:
Sitcom - Friends - James Michael Tyler - Central Perk

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Over the course of the series it emerged that Gunther had a crush on Rachel. He often fantasized about marrying her and let slip to Joey that one of the perks of his job was being able to stare at her all day. At Ross's bachelor party before his marriage to Emily Waltham he thanked Ross for not marrying Rachel. In the final episode, as Rachel prepared to leave for Paris, Gunther declared his undying love for her. He was politely turned down.

Related Topics:
Rachel - Joey - Ross - Paris

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Gunther was a permanent fixture in the everyday lives of the friends, yet he never penetrated their inner circle. This became a running joke. At Ross' bachelor party, Chandler announced that he wanted Gunther to be his best man. Gunther immediately asked Chandler what his last name was; Chandler thought about it before defeatedly answering "Gunther Centralperk?" His last name remains unknown to the audience for the entire series.

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Gunther's peroxide blonde hair was also a source of much entertainment. Rachel described it as being "as bright as the sun", and when he told Joey he had an appointment to have it dyed, Joey said, "but I love your natural colour". When guessing the identity of the father of Rachel's baby, Phoebe asked, "Is it Gunther?" which Rachel denied and Phoebe said "Thank God, because that hair on a baby?" The hair colour was actually an accident. The day before his audition, one of the actor's friends who studied to become a hairdresser experimented on his hair. When he showed up the producer liked it so much they decided to keep it.

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Gunther used to be an actor, having played a character called Bryce in All My Children. The character was eventually killed off after being buried in an avalanche.

Related Topics:
All My Children - Avalanche

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