Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc
LeBlanc at the 2013 British Academy Television Awards
Born	Matthew Steven LeBlanc (1967-07-25) July 25, 1967 Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, comedian, producer
Years active	1985–present
Spouse(s)	Melissa McKnight (m. 2003; div. 2006)
Children	1

Matthew Steven "Matt" LeBlanc (born July 25, 1967)^[1] is an American actor, comedian, and producer, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani on the NBC sitcom, Friends. In 2011, LeBlanc began starring as a fictional version of himself in Episodes, a BBC Two/Showtime television series created by Friends co-creator David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik. He won a Golden Globe award for his work on Episodes, and was nominated for an Emmy three times for his work on Friends and four times for Episodes. On February 4, 2016, it was confirmed by the BBC that he would become one of the presenters of the motoring show Top Gear, which would begin its 23rd series on May 8, 2016.

Early life

LeBlanc was born in Newton, Massachusetts. His mother, Patricia (b. 1937), was an office manager, and his father, Paul (1931–1997), was a mechanic.^[1][2] His mother is of Italian ancestry and his father of French-Canadian.^[3]

Career

LeBlanc first appeared in a 1987 Heinz Tomato Ketchup commercial. In 1988, he starred in the television drama TV 101 for one season. He went on to star in a spin-off of Married... with Children titled Top of the Heap. The Fox series lasted seven episodes airing in April and May 1991.

LeBlanc found success in the role of Joey Tribbiani on Friends, and went on to play this character for 12 years — 10 seasons of Friends and two seasons of Joey. Friends was successful and LeBlanc, along with his co-stars, gained wide recognition among viewers. He has appeared in the films Lookin' Italian (1994), Ed (1996), Lost in Space (1998), Charlie's Angels (2000), and All the Queen's Men (2001).

He appeared in two of Jon Bon Jovi's music videos: "Miracle", from the Young Guns II soundtrack in 1990, and "Say It Isn't So" in 2000.^[4] He also appeared in Alanis Morissette's single "Walk Away" in 1991, the last seconds of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Into the Great Wide Open" in which he is seen getting a tattoo, and in Bob Seger's "Night Moves" in 1994.^[5]

His production company, Fort Hill Productions, co-produced the made-for-TV movie, The Prince, in 2006.

In 2011, LeBlanc began appearing as a fictional version of himself in Episodes, a BBC/Showtime television series about a British television series that is remade for an American audience.^[6][7] The series is written by Friends co-creator David Crane and his partner Jeffrey Klarik.^[8] LeBlanc won the 2012 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Series Comedy for his performance.^[9] The latest season of Episodes, its fifth, is scheduled to begin filming in 2016.^[10]

In February 2012, LeBlanc appeared in the second episode of the eighteenth series of Top Gear, where he set the fastest time of 1:42.1 in the Kia Cee'd, narrowly beating previous holder Rowan Atkinson by 0.1 seconds.^[5] He also appeared in Series 19 Episode 4 to race the New Kia Cee'd, and beat the old car time.

In August 2015, he joined model Sean O'Pry and comedic actor Chris Rock on the runway for Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour at LA's Staples Center while she performed her hit single Style.

In February 2016, the BBC announced LeBlanc is to be one of the new presenters of Top Gear.^[11]

Personal life

In May 2003, LeBlanc married Melissa McKnight, a former model.^[12] McKnight and LeBlanc had been introduced in 1997 by her friend Kelly Phillips, wife of actor Lou Diamond Phillips, and LeBlanc proposed to her a year later.^[12] Their daughter Marina, born in 2004, began suffering seizures when she was eight months old. By the time she was two years old, however, the condition, thought to be a form of dysplasia, had mostly subsided.^[12]

LeBlanc and McKnight separated on January 1, 2006.^[12][13] In March of that year, LeBlanc filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce became final on October 6, 2006.^[13]

After his divorce, LeBlanc began dating actress Andrea Anders. The two met while filming the short-lived sitcom Joey. A representative for the pair confirmed the couple had split in January 2015.^[14]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matt LeBlanc.

• Matt LeBlanc at the Internet Movie Database
• Matt LeBlanc at Emmys.com