Matt LeBlanc, famous for playing Joey on “Friends,” recently appeared in public again at 57, showing a big change in his look. After staying out of Hollywood for years, his new appearance surprised fans, leading to mixed reactions online.
LeBlanc became very popular for his role as Joey Tribbiani on “Friends,” where people loved him for his humor, good looks, and memorable lines. But after the show ended, LeBlanc started to step away from the spotlight.
Let’s look at Matt LeBlanc’s journey and changes over the years — from playing the lovable Joey Tribbiani on “Friends,” going through what he described as the hardest time of his life, to his recent public appearance that left some social media users concerned about him.
1994 – 2000
Matt LeBlanc became a major star in the mid-90s thanks to his role as Joey Tribbiani on the hit sitcom “Friends.” The show, which first aired in 1994, quickly became a global sensation, winning over millions of fans and making LeBlanc a household name.
LeBlanc’s character, Joey, was a struggling actor with a big heart, known for his great sense of humor, his simple yet lovable personality, and his iconic catchphrase, “How you doin’?” Joey was the ladies’ man of the group, combining his good looks with a childlike charm that instantly made him a fan favorite.
With his sharp jawline, thick dark hair, and a smile that could brighten any room, LeBlanc’s good looks played a big role in his character’s appeal. Fans were captivated by his natural charm and the boyish innocence that made Joey both relatable and impossible to resist.
2004 – 2006
After “Friends” ended in 2004, LeBlanc tried to keep Joey Tribbiani’s story going with the spin-off show, “Joey.” While the series aimed to recreate the success of “Friends,” it struggled to connect with audiences.
Running from 2004 to 2006, “Joey” only lasted for two seasons before it was canceled due to low ratings and poor reviews.
During these years, LeBlanc went through personal struggles that made this time even harder. He was dealing with a painful divorce, and the pressure of trying to save the show added to his stress.
“My marriage was maybe doomed anyway, I don’t know,” LeBlanc admitted. On top of this, his young daughter was diagnosed with a health issue, adding to the emotional weight he was carrying.
Sadly, the challenges continued. LeBlanc also faced betrayal when a nanny sold a story about his daughter’s health to the media.
He described this time as one of the darkest periods of his life, feeling torn between his responsibilities as a father and his efforts to make “Joey” a success.
LeBlanc often struggled to be funny on set, with his mind constantly distracted by worries about his daughter’s health and the turmoil in his personal life.
Despite these challenges, he pushed through, later reflecting on how these tough times helped him grow. “But I got through it. Don’t they say, ‘What doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger?’” he shared.
2007-2011
After “Joey” was canceled in 2006, LeBlanc made the surprising choice to leave the entertainment industry. For five years, he stayed out of the spotlight, taking a break to focus on his personal life.
Looking back on this time, LeBlanc said, “For years and years, I barely left the house. I was burnt out. I wanted to not have a schedule, not be somewhere. I was in a position to do that.”
LeBlanc described this period as a dark chapter in his life, where he nearly faced a nervous breakdown. “My agent was bummed. Most actors call their agents and say, ‘What’s going on?’ I’d call mine and say, ‘Please lose my number for a few years,’” the actor revealed.
In 2011, LeBlanc made a surprising return to television, playing a fictionalized version of himself in the series “Episodes.” “None of it’s me. Even the parts that are me, are not me,” LeBlanc explained cryptically.
LeBlanc’s comeback in “Episodes” highlighted his natural comedic talent, a key part of his personality. “I like to laugh. I’ve been like this my whole life. I have funny bones. If there’s ever any kind of tension, I’ll always be the one to try and be funny to loosen things up,” he shared.
2017
After eight years of playing his unique character, LeBlanc bid farewell to “Episodes” in 2017. Looking back, he expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’ve just been so, so lucky to be a part of it.”
During this period, LeBlanc’s appearance had notably changed. He had a fuller figure and a more rugged look compared to his earlier days as Joey, with his hair now turned a distinguished silver.
In 2022, LeBlanc made one of his final public appearances before stepping back from the spotlight once more. He showcased a distinguished look, blending his signature casual charm with a touch of mature elegance.
My wife disowned her parents after our son’s birth – 15 years later, she told me the shocking truth
There are times in life when we are at our best, but in the next moment things take an unlike turn no can ever predict.
The story a man named Henry shared resembles a movie plot. The shocking turn of events changed his family forever in ways he could never expect.
As he explained in his post, following the birth of their son, his wife Candice decided to cut ties with her parents. Although he could never understand the reasons behind this drastic decision, he decided to respect her wishes.
However, over time, he felt torn between his wife and his in-laws who loved their grandson Lucas very much. They always showered him with gifts and attention, and this made it even more difficult for him to understand why his wife got estranged from her parents who seemed to be the perfect grandparents.
Intrigued, he decided to learn the truth no matter the cost.
One day, he confronted his wife and asked her why she didn’t want to see her parents. It was unacceptable that she cut all ties with them all of a sudden. Candice refused to speak about it, but Henry was determined and he even threatened to leave her if she didn’t tell him the truth.
At that moment, Candice broke down in tears and it felt like her entire world collapsed. What she had to stay left Henry in a state of shock. He couldn’t even move as he tried to process his wife’s words.
Candice revealed to him that her parents, who were rich and influential people, wanted a grandson whom they would leave their inheritance to, so when Candice gave birth to a baby girl, they forced one of the nurses at the hospital to switch the girl with a baby boy.
Realizing that Lucas wasn’t their biological son shattered Henry’s heart into a million pieces. At the same time, he wondered where his biological child was and what happened to her.
He couldn’t believe that Candice lived with that secret for so long.
Candice told him that the nurse who helped do the crime regretted her decision and wanted to reveal the truth, but her parents got her fired. All she could do was leave a handwritten note revealing the dark secret.
The next step was finding their daughter, Darcy. It wasn’t an easy thing to do, but they eventually tracked the child down and reunited with her. Sadly, the process of taking her back had been a complex one and required plenty of time and long legal battles.
Henry and Candice shared the truth with Lucas and Darcy and both of them accepted it pretty well. The two siblings get along and support each other, and Lucas shows resilience and gratitude for being part of a unique story.
As of Candice’s parents, the family decided not to be close with them as they once were.
Candice had carried the burden of the secret for too long, but she only did that for Lucas.
This truly is an extraordinary story, don’t you think so?
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