Matt LeBlanc is not looking to get back in front of the camera, after the death of his costar Matthew Perry reaffirmed how ready he is to ‘rethink his life.’
The TV comic, 57, who has rarely been seen in public in the year since Perry died, has reportedly chosen to follow in Jack Nicholson‘s footsteps and silently retire from acting to focus on ‘what is important to him.’
It comes after pictures of a disheveled LeBlanc sparked concerns that he may be ‘unravelling.’
‘Matt is still upset over the loss of 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 as that’s what is important to him right now.’
Matt LeBlanc is not looking to get back in front of the camera, after the death of his costar Matthew Perry reaffirmed how ready he is to ‘rethink his life’ (pictured in September)
LeBlanc, 57, has chosen to follow in Jack Nicholson ‘s footsteps and silently retire from acting to focus on ‘what is important to him,’ sources have told DailyMail.com (pictured in April 2016)
LeBlanc has not appeared in any film or TV projects since the Friends HBO reunion special in 2021, previously saying he was ‘taking some time off.’
His last acting gig was as Adam Burns on CBS series, Man with a Plan, between 2016 and 2020.
The source explained that persuading LeBlanc to return to screens would be a tough ask.
‘He would need the perfect opportunity to return in front of the camera for any role in TV and film as he has silently retired,’ the insider added.
‘He is financially stable and doesn’t really want to be in the limelight anymore. He has looked into how both 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. He wants to enjoy life and keep things simple.’
Nicholson retired in 2010 after 55 years in the industry.
The update comes after pictures of a disheveled LeBlanc sparked concerns that he may be ‘unravelling.’
The insider continued: ‘He would need the perfect opportunity to return in front of the camera for any role in TV and film as he has silently retired’
LeBlanc has not appeared in any film or TV projects since the Friends HBO reunion special in 2021, previously saying he was ‘taking some time off’ (Friends cast pictured together)
An insider told InTouch that Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox have expressed concerns for their former Friends costar.
They have reportedly been making an effort to spend more time with him in recent weeks and are making sure that at least one of them is keeping an eye on him.
The actor is undoubtedly still grieving Perry’s death. The on-screen best friends were close in real life and were neighbors around the time of his death on October 28, 2023 at his home in Pacific Palisades.
Perry was the first of the Friends cast to publicly pay tribute to LeBlanc following the heartbreaking news.
‘Matthew. It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye,’ he wrote on Instagram at the time. ‘The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life.
‘It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I’ll never forget you. Never.
‘Spread your wings and fly brother you’re finally free. Much love. And I guess you’re keeping the 20 bucks you owe me.’
Monday marked the one year anniversary, which Aniston addressed with a series of never-before-seen photos online.
LeBlanc last appeared on CBS series, Man with a Plan, between 2016 and 2020
LeBlanc previously attempted to recreate the magic of Friends with spin-off series Joey – but it was slammed by critics and axed after two seasons (pictured with costar Drea De Matteo)
In her caption the movie icon wrote ‘1 year’ as she shared the name of his foundation. There were also emojis for a red heart, a Band-Aid and a dove.
Perry died, aged 54, after being found unresponsive in his hot tub of his LA home.
His death was determined to have been caused by ‘acute effects of ketamine.’
In August, five people were arrested in connection to his death – supplying him with drugs that led to 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, 59, have all been charged.
Perry famously attempted to recreate the magic of Friends with spin-off show Joey – which followed his character’s new life in Los Angeles.
Yet the show was savaged by critics and ended up being pulled halfway through series two.
Speaking about the universally slammed show in 2015 – 10 years after it was axed – he admitted: ‘It was doomed from the start. The writing and the jokes were OK but the conflict and the obstacles in the stories were not valid enough.
The source noted: ‘He is financially stable and doesn’t really want to be in the limelight anymore’ (Friends cast pictured together)
‘In Friends Joey was always glass is half full. In Joey he was 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 me. It was a lot of responsibility.
‘The pressure was so much, I remember feeling like an elephant had sat on my head.’
But the actor pointed out there was a silver lining to the airing of the two-series show as he quipped: ‘I made 30 million dollars, I’d like another one of those failures!’
He went on to enjoy success with the Showtime series, Episodes, from 2011 to 2017.
Before he went on to become the lead presenter for BBC’s motor vehicles series, Top Gear between 2016 and 2019.