Born:
July 25, 1967
in
Newton, Massachusetts
Best Known For:
Playing Joey Tribbiani in Friends.
Early-life:
Matthew Steven LeBlanc was born on July 25, 1967, in the working-class town of Newton, Massachusetts, and grew up in a small apartment with his single mother. After receiving his first motorcycle at eight, LeBlanc participated in various competitions with hopes of racing professionally until his mother persuaded him to find a different outlet for his talents. He trained as a carpenter, and after graduating from high school, moved to New York with $3,000 raised from selling his truck.
Career:
LeBlanc tried modelling, but didn't enjoy it. Instead, he appeared in several adverts and, in 1988, began formal acting training. Within a year he had a starring role in the TV 101 series. He followed that with Top of the Heap and small-screen movie Anything to Survive. In 1994 he struck gold when he was cast as Joey Tribbiani in hit sitcom Friends. The same year, LeBlanc made his film debut in The Killing Box. He has also starred in Lost in Space, Charlie's Angels and All the Queen's Men. After Friends he played the title role in spin-off series, Joey, but it failed to resonate with audiences and was axed after two seasons. In 2011 he began playing a version of himself in the critically acclaimed Episodes.
Quote:
'If I'm ever again involved in a project whose path is as golden as Friends is, it'll be a miracle.'
Trivia:
Is the only cast member of Friends not to have appeared on Saturday Night Live.