Matt LeBlanc is not looking to get back in front of the camera, after the death of his co-star Matthew Perry reaffirmed how ready he is to ‘rethink his life.’
The television comedian, 57, who has rarely been seen in public in the year since Perry’s death, has reportedly chosen to follow in Jack Nicholson’s footsteps and quietly retire from acting to focus on “what’s important to him.” “.
It comes after images of a disheveled LeBlanc sparked concerns that it may be “falling apart.”
“Matt is still upset about losing Matthew,” a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. ‘Such an important part of his life and a good friend is gone.
“It has made him rethink his life. “He wants to focus on other interests because that’s what matters to him right now.”
Matt LeBlanc is not looking to get back in front of the camera, after the death of his co-star Matthew Perry reaffirmed how ready he is to ‘rethink his life’ (pictured in September)
LeBlanc, 57, has decided to follow in Jack Nicholson’s footsteps and quietly retire from acting to focus on “what’s important to him,” sources told DailyMail.com (pictured in April 2016).
LeBlanc has not appeared in any film or television projects since the Friends HBO reunion special in 2021, and previously said he was “taking some time off.”
His last acting performance was as Adam Burns in the CBS series, Man with a Plan, between 2016 and 2020.
The source explained that persuading LeBlanc to return to the screen would be a difficult task.
“He would need the perfect opportunity to get back in front of the camera for any TV and film roles as he has quietly retired,” the source added.
‘He is financially stable and no longer wants to be the center of attention. He has researched how Rick Moranis and Jack Nicholson did it.
‘They just stopped and decided to live life and be happy with what they did in the past. You want to enjoy life and keep things simple.
Nicholson retired in 2010 after 55 years in the industry.
The update comes after images of a disheveled LeBlanc sparked concerns that it may be “falling apart.”
The source continued: “He would need the perfect opportunity to return in front of the camera for any TV and film roles as he has quietly retired.”
LeBlanc hasn’t appeared in any film or TV projects since HBO’s Friends reunion special in 2021, and previously said he was “taking some time off” (Friends cast shown together)
A source told InTouch that Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox have expressed concerns about their former Friends co-star.
They have reportedly been making an effort to spend more time with him in recent weeks and are making sure at least one of them keeps an eye on him.
No doubt, the actor is still mourning Perry’s death. The on-screen best friends were close in real life and were neighbors at the time of their deaths on October 28, 2023 at their home in Pacific Palisades.
Perry was the first of the Friends cast to publicly pay tribute to LeBlanc following the heartbreaking news.
‘Matthew. I say goodbye with a heavy heart,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. ‘The times we spent together are honestly among the favorite moments of my life.
‘It was an honor to share the stage with you and call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I will never forget you. Never.
‘Spread your wings and fly brother, you are finally free. Much love. And I guess you’ll keep the $20 you owe me.
Monday marked the first anniversary, which Aniston addressed with a series of never-before-seen photos online.
LeBlanc last appeared on the CBS series Man with a Plan from 2016 to 2020.
LeBlanc previously attempted to recreate the magic of Friends with the spinoff series Joey, but it was criticized and axed after two seasons (pictured with co-star Drea De Matteo).
In her caption, the movie icon wrote “1 year” while sharing the name of her foundation. There were also emojis for a red heart, a Band-Aid, and a dove.
Perry died, aged 54, after being found unconscious in the jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home.
His death was determined to be caused by “acute effects of ketamine.”
In August, five people were arrested in connection with his death: supplying him with drugs that caused his overdose.
Doctors Salvador Plasencia, 42, and Mark Chavez, 54, alleged drug dealers Jasveen ‘Ketamine Queen’ Sangha, 41, and Eric Fleming, 54, and Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, of 59, have been charged.
Perry attempted to recreate the magic of Friends with the spin-off show Joey, which followed her character’s new life in Los Angeles.
However, the show was fiercely attacked by critics and ended up being pulled midway through the second season.
Speaking about the universally panned show in 2015, 10 years after it was axed, he admitted: “It was doomed from the start. The writing and jokes were fine, but the conflict and obstacles in the stories weren’t valid enough.
The source noted: “He is financially stable and doesn’t really want to be the center of attention anymore.” (Friends of the cast appear together)
‘On Friends Joey was always the glass half full. With Joey it was the glass half empty. And that was sad. It was the same showrunner as Friends and I think we should have taken a year off.
‘In Friends I was sharing a 22-minute episode with six other characters. In Joey the script was all mine. It was a lot of responsibility.
“The pressure was so much that I remember feeling like an elephant had landed on my head.”
But the actor pointed out there was a silver lining to the show’s two-series run when he joked: “I made $30 million, I’d like another one of those flops!”
He then enjoyed success with the Showtime series Episodes from 2011 to 2017.
Before becoming the main presenter of the BBC motor vehicle series Top Gear between 2016 and 2019.