Matt LeBlanc
| Matt LeBlanc | |
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 LeBlanc at the 1995 Emmy Awards. Photo by Alan Light. |
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| Born | Matthew Steven LeBlanc July 25, 1967 Newton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, television producer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse | Melissa McKnight (2003-2006) |
Matthew Steven "Matt" LeBlanc (born July 25, 1967) is an American actor, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani, whom he played for ten years in the NBC sitcoms Friends and Joey.
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Early life
LeBlanc was born in Newton, Massachusetts, the son of Patricia Grossman, an office manager, and Paul LeBlanc, a mechanic.[1] His mother is Italian American[2] and his father is a mix of Irish, Dutch, English and French[3]. LeBlanc graduated from Newton North High School in 1985. Before Newton North, Matt attended Frank Ashley Day Junior High School and Williams Elementary School, both located in Newton.
Career
In the late 1980s, LeBlanc began appearing in a number of television ads, including well-known spots for Heinz, Levi's, 7 Up and Coca-Cola He did a CocaCola commercial just outside of Yuma, Arizona. In the 1988 film Tequila Sunrise, one of Le Blanc's ads can be seen in the background, his face clearly visible and stained.[4]
In 1988, he landed his first regular TV role on the drama TV 101 which ran for one season. In 1990 he starred in Jon Bon Jovi's music video "Miracle," from Young Guns II sound track. In 1991 he starred in the music video for Alanis Morissette single "Walk Away," in which he played her boyfriend. He also appeared in the last seconds of the music video for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers's song "Into the Great Wide Open." Later in 1991, he went on to star in a spin-off of Married... with Children entitled Top of the Heap. The short lived series only lasted 7 episodes in April and May 1991. He also played his Top of the Heap character Vinnie Verducci in a number of Married... with Children episodes. LeBlanc also appeared in one episode of Red Shoe Diaries in 1991. In 1994, he starred in Bob Seger's "Night Moves" music video.
LeBlanc found most success in the role of Joey Tribbiani in 1994 on Friends, and went on to play this character for twelve years — ten seasons of Friends and two seasons of Joey. Friends was successful and LeBlanc, along with his co-stars, gained wide recognition among television viewers. On the Jay Leno show, LeBlanc said that when he went for the audition, he was broke. However, after the show he was one of the highest paid actors on television.
LeBlanc's most notable movie roles have been in the films Ed (1996), Lost in Space (1998), Charlie's Angels (2000) and All the Queen's Men (2001).
In 2000 LeBlanc stared in Bon Jovi's music video "Say It Isn't So".
LeBlanc is due to star in Episodes, a BBC/Showtime television series about a fictional British television series that is remade for an American audience. The series will be written by Friends co-creator David Crane and his partner Jeffrey Klarik, and will star LeBlanc as "himself".[5]
LeBlanc's production company, Fort Hill Productions, co-produced the made-for-TV movie, The Prince in 2006.
Personal life
On May 3, 2003, LeBlanc married his girlfriend of six years, Melissa McKnight. Their daughter, Marina, was born in 2004.
The couple separated on January 1, 2006, and in March of that year, LeBlanc filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce became final on October 6, 2006. LeBlanc is the cousin of baseball pitcher Wade LeBlanc.[6]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Anything to Survive | Billy Barton | TV Movie as Matthew LeBlanc |
| 1993 | Grey Knight | Terhune | USA Video Title: Ghost Brigade International Title: The Killing Box |
| Red Shoe Diaries 3: Another Woman's Lipstick | Kyle | ||
| 1994 | Reform School Girl | Vince | TV movie |
| 1996 | Ed | Jack 'Deuce' Cooper | |
| 1997 | Red Shoe Diaries 7: Burning Up | Jed | |
| 1998 | Lost in Space | Major Don West | |
| Lookin' Italian | Anthony Manetti | USA Video Title: Showdown | |
| 2000 | Charlie's Angels | Jason Gibbons | |
| 2001 | All the Queen's Men | O'Rourke | |
| 2003 | Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle | Jason Gibbons | |
| 2010 | Jonah Hex | Executive producer |
Television
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–1989 | TV 101 | Chuck Bender | 13 episodes |
| 1989 | Just the Ten of Us | Todd Murphy | Episode: "Quarterback Sneak" Episode: "That Championship Season" |
| 1990 | Monsters | Tommy | Episode: "A Shave and a Haircut, Two Bites" |
| 1991 | Top of the Heap | Vinnie Verducci | 7 episodes |
| Married... with Children | Vinnie Verducci | Episode: "Oldies But Young 'Uns" Episode: "Top of the Heap" Episode: "Kelly Does Hollywood: Part 1" |
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| Vinnie & Bobby | Vinnie Verducci | 7 episodes | |
| Red Shoe Diaries | Tom's Brother | Episode: "Just Like That" Episode: "Kidnap" |
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| 1993 | Class of '96 | Frank Goodman | Episode: "Bright Smoke, Cold Fire" |
| 1994–2004 | Friends | Joey Tribbiani | 236 episodes |
| 2004–2006 | Joey | 46 episodes | |
| 2010 | Episodes | Matt LeBlanc | Pre-production[5] |
Awards
Primetime Emmy Award
- 2002 Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actor - Comedy Series" - "Friends"
- 2003 Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actor - Comedy Series" - "Friends"
- 2004 Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actor - Comedy Series" - "Friends"
- 2003 Nominated, "Best Performance by An Actor in a Musical or Comedy" - "Friends"
- 2004 Nominated, "Best Performance by An Actor in a Musical or Comedy" - "Friends"
- 2005 Nominated, "Best Performance by An Actor in a Musical or Comedy" - "Friends"
Teen Choice Awards
- 2002, Won, "TV Choice Actor" - Comedy" - "Friends"
People's Choice Awards
- 2005, Won, "Favorite Male Television Star" - "Friends"
References
- ↑ Matt LeBlanc Biography
- ↑ The Washington Post
- ↑ http://www.tv.com/matt-leblanc/person/899/biography.html
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001455/bio
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Parks, Tim (September 30, 2009). "LeBlanc to star as himself on 'Episodes'". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a179903/leblanc-to-star-as-himself-on-episodes.html. Retrieved September 30, 2009.
- ↑ "Matt LeBlanc's Other Woman". People. April 6, 2006. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1180477,00.html. Retrieved March 27, 2009.