Matt LeBlanc

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Matt LeBlanc

LeBlanc in 2010
Born Matthew Steven LeBlanc
July 25, 1967 (1967-07-25) (age 44)
Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation Actor, producer
Years active 1987–present
Spouse Melissa McKnight
(2003-2006; divorced; 1 child)

Matthew Steven "Matt" LeBlanc (born July 25, 1967) is an American actor, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani on the NBC sitcoms Friends and its spin-off Joey.

In 2011, LeBlanc began starring as a fictional version of himself in Episodes, a BBC2/Showtime television series created by Friends co-creator David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik. LeBlanc won a Golden Globe award for his work on Episodes, after being nominated three times for his work as Joey Tribbiani on Friends.

Contents

[edit] Early life

LeBlanc was born in Newton, Massachusetts. His mother, Patricia (née Grossman), was an office manager, and his father, Paul LeBlanc, was a mechanic.[1] His mother was of Italian descent and his father was of French-Canadian ancestry.[2][3]

[edit] Career

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 the Alanis Morissette single "Walk Away". He also appeared in the last seconds of the music video for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Into the Great Wide Open." In 1991, 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. He also played his Top of the Heap character Vinnie Verducci in a number of Married... with Children episodes.[citation needed] LeBlanc also appeared in one episode of Red Shoe Diaries in 1991.[citation needed] In 1994, he starred in Bob Seger's "Night Moves" music video.[citation needed]

LeBlanc found success in the role of Joey Tribbiani 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 viewers.

LeBlanc has appeared in the films Ed (1996), Lost in Space (1998), Charlie's Angels (2000), and All the Queen's Men (2001).

In 2000, LeBlanc starred in Bon Jovi's music video "Say It Isn't So".[4]

Matt LeBlanc's 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.[5][6] The series is written by Friends co-creator David Crane and his partner Jeffrey Klarik.[7]. LeBlanc won the 2012 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Series Comedy for his performance.[8]

LeBlanc appeared in an episode of the eighteenth series of Top Gear where he set the fastest time of 1:42.1 in the Kia C'eed, narrowly beating previous holder Rowan Atkinson by 0.1 seconds.[9]

[edit] Personal life

In May 2003, LeBlanc married Melissa McKnight, an ex-model.[10] 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.[10] Their daughter Marina, born in 2004, began suffering seizures at age eight months, which affected her motor skills. By the time she was two years old, however, the condition, thought to be a form of dysplasia, had largely receded.[10]

In June 2005, LeBlanc admitted to "careless and irresponsible" behavior with a stripper during a motorcycle trip to Canada.[10] LeBlanc and McKnight separated on January 1, 2006.[10][11] By that time, LeBlanc was involved in a relationship with actress Andrea Anders, who played his neighbor on Joey.[11] In March of that year, LeBlanc filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce became final on October 6, 2006.[11]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Film

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Anything to Survive Billy Barton Television film
as Matthew LeBlanc
1993 Grey Knight Terhune US video title: Ghost Brigade
International title: The Killing Box
1993 Red Shoe Diaries 3: Another Woman's Lipstick Kyle
1994 Reform School Girl Vince Television film
1996 Ed Jack 'Deuce' Cooper
1997 Red Shoe Diaries 7: Burning Up Jed
1998 Lost in Space Major Don West
1993 Lookin' Italian Anthony Manetti US 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
2006 The Prince Television film, producer
2010 Jonah Hex Executive producer

[edit] Television

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Doll Day Afternoon[citation needed] GI Joe TV short
1988–1989 TV 101 Chuck Bender 13 episodes
1989 Just the Ten of Us Todd Murphy Episodes: "Quarterback Sneak"; "That Championship Season"
1990 Monsters Tommy Episode: "A Shave and a Haircut, Two Bites"
1991 Top of the Heap Vinnie Verducci 7 episodes
1991 Married... with Children Vinnie Verducci Episodes: "Oldies But Young 'Uns"; "Top of the Heap"; "Kelly Does Hollywood: Part 1"
1991 Vinnie & Bobby Vinnie Verducci 7 episodes
1991 Red Shoe Diaries Tom's Brother Episodes: "Just Like That"; "Kidnap"
1993 Class of '96 Frank Goodman Episode: "Bright Smoke, Cold Fire"
1994–2004 Friends Joey Tribbiani 236 episodes
2004–2006 Joey Joey Tribbiani 46 episodes
2011– Episodes Fictional version of himself 7 episodes
2012 Top Gear Himself 1 episode

[edit] Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1995 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Won
2002 Emmy Awards[12] Outstanding Lead Actor (comedy) Friends Nominated
2002 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by An Actor in a Musical or Comedy Friends Nominated
2002 Teen Choice Awards TV Choice Actor Friends Won
2003 Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor (comedy) Friends Nominated
2003 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by An Actor in a Musical or Comedy Friends Nominated
2004 Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor (comedy) Friends Nominated
2004 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by An Actor in a Musical or Comedy Joey Nominated
2005 People's Choice Awards "Favorite Male Television Star Friends Won
2011 Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor (comedy) Episodes Nominated
2012 Golden Globe Awards Best Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy Episodes Won

[edit] References

  1. ^ Matt LeBlanc Biography, FilmReference.com
  2. ^ http://www.teentelevision.com/2003/05/05/matt-leblanc-wed-in-hawaii
  3. ^ LeBlanc's mother came from Italy, though his father is French-Canadian
  4. ^ "Bon Jovi - Say It Isn' So". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRSB-QZHpXM. Retrieved May 22, 2011. 
  5. ^ Rampton, James (January 6, 2011). "Episodes: The one where Matt LeBlanc plays himself...". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/episodes-the-one-where-matt-leblanc-plays-himself-2177012.html. Retrieved March 2, 2011. 
  6. ^ "Matt LeBlanc Spoofs Himself On Comedy ‘Episodes’". access hollywood. January 4, 2011. http://www.accesshollywood.com/matt-leblanc-pokes-fun-at-the-world-of-tv-friends-and-himself-on-showtimes-episodes_article_41726. Retrieved March 2, 2011. 
  7. ^ 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. 
  8. ^ "Nominations & Winners". Golden Globes website. http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/. Retrieved January 16, 2012. 
  9. ^ "Episode 2". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01brd8t. Retrieved February 5, 2012. 
  10. ^ a b c d e Wulff, Jennifer. "Matt Leblanc's Surprise Split", People, vol. 65, no. 15, April 17, 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c "Matt LeBlanc's Other Woman". People. April 6, 2006. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1180477,00.html. Retrieved March 27, 2009. 
  12. ^ Matt LeBlanc Emmy Nominated

[edit] External links

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