Tyler was new to Hollywood when he got the role he for most people will be associated with - Gunther in the TV series "Friends".
He played the role of director of the café Central Perk in 150 episodes and became for many a viewer favorite.
"The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh 'friend') from the hit series 'Friends', but Michael's closest knew him as an actor, musician, as involved in the fight against cancer, and a wonderful husband," the family wrote in a statement.
James Michael Tyler suffered from prostate cancer in 2018, a disease that meant that he was only included via link when the "Friends" stars were reunited for a TV special this spring.
He then did not tell why he could not be with the others in the studio.
In June, he told in a television interview about his illness and that he could no longer walk.
- In the end, it will take me, he said in the interview with NBC then.
James Michael Tyler died at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 59.