LeBlanc was born and raised in Massachusetts.
Alongside his five co-stars, LeBlanc shot to fame.
And we’re sure we’ll be seeing more of him in the years to come.
Curious to learn more?
Here is the stunning transformation of Matt LeBlanc.
LeBlanc’s father, Paul, left Patricia when LeBlanc was young.
“We never really had any money but she supported me in everything I did.”
Years later, LeBlanc returned to Newton to attend his high school reunion.
I’m 1,000 years old.
Clearly, he’s come a long way since his Massachusetts days.
In fact, he had plans to become a carpenter.
He even studied building construction management at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.
“I made a complete kitchen and installed it in a house,” he said to Kimmel.
At around 18, LeBlanc decided to leave his job in a framing crew behind to pursue acting.
“Although his mother was initially worried, LeBlanc moved to New York to give it a try.
At first, he struggled to make ends meet.
Junkies and hookers were all over the place” (via The Independent).
Despite his mother’s misgivings, LeBlanc kept on trying to make his dreams happen.
LeBlanc met her manager, who took him on.
Soon, he was landing commercials for brands like Levi’s, Heinz, and Coca-Cola.
Before long, he landed his first few TV gigs.
In 1988, he starred in “TV 101,” a short-lived CBS show about high schoolers.
Then, in 1989, he appeared in two episodes of “Just the Ten of Us.”
At the time, the actor was struggling to make ends meet.
I had exactly $11 in my pocket the day I was hired."
The audition process involved several callbacks, including a chemistry read with Courteney Cox.
Soon, he and his cast mates were being recognized everywhere they went.
For Matt LeBlanc, it proved to be the best decade of his life.
He ended up making$1 million an episode.
Plus, he made friends for life in his five co-stars.
In other words, their bond was incredibly special.
So, naturally, saying goodbye to his cast mates was incredibly hard.
“That was a rough week,” LeBlanc said toGlamourof the final episode.
“That was really tough knowing that that was coming to an end.
The greatest gig ever.
That was really rough.”
In another interview with theBBC, LeBlanc explained once again that “Friends” was a truly wonderful experience.
“I had the best time doing it,” he said.
She already had two children from a previous relationship and LeBlanc became their stepfather.
While “Friends” had changed his professional life, having Marina proved to be just as life-changing.
“I couldn’t believe it.
At first, LeBlanc was too busy with work to spend much time with Marina.
We go there together as a family …
I gotta keep my family as normal an existence as possible.”
“But we’re making progress.
It’s kind of nostalgic.
It takes me back to when ‘Friends’ first started.”
The show didn’t take off and was canceled after just two seasons.
Even though the show ended earlier than LeBlanc might have anticipated, he remained proud of his work.
“Was it ‘Friends?’
No, it wasn’t nothing would have been.
But I was proud of it.”
First, he and his wife, Melissa McKnight,went through a divorceafter three years.
“The dissolution is amicable,” read a statement at the time (viaCBS).
“They remain devoted parents and friends.
For the sake of their family, they ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”
His plan was to spend time with his daughter.
“Work wasn’t a priority.
His initial plan was to take just one year off, but soon, it became five or six.
“I was enjoying life and just having a good time.
It went by really quickly,” he said toThe Hollywood Reporter.
In fact, he explained that he didn’t actually think about acting at all.
It sounds like taking some time off was exactly what LeBlanc needed.
“People will speak slowly to me sometimes,” said LeBlanc toThe Guardianin 2012.
That’s not who I am.”
The show ran until 2017.
When it came to an end, LeBlanc was sad to leave it behind.
The CBS show followed a man who becomes a stay-at-home dad after his wife returns to work.
So that’s what I was looking for," he said.
You want to have craftsmen around you.
It makes me look better."
And that’s exactly what he got with his co-stars.
“I’m just enjoying not having to do anything it’s been kinda nice.”
LeBlanc also stated that he wouldn’t be interested in returning to play Joey once again.
“I’ve talked to the writers about it.
Nobody wants to see Joey at his colonoscopy!
Nobody wants to see that.”
We are a family."
Later, LeBlanc took toInstagramto share apersonal statement about the death of his friend.
The post featured a series of images of the pair acting together in “Friends.”
“It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye.
Spread your wings and fly, brother, you’re finally free.
