Reclusive Friends star Matt LeBlanc spotted out in LA after making major career change

Friends star, Matt LeBlanc has kept a low profile in recent years after shooting to fame in the iconic series in which he played Joey Tribbiani from 1994 to 2004

Matt LeBlanc has been papped in Los Angeles in a rare sighting of the reclusive star.

The Friends icon, 57, who played Joey Tribbiani in the smash-hit series from 1994 to 2004, was seen out shopping for groceries at Ralph's store in Encino, Los Angeles, rocking a grey beard and sporting a burgundy Carhartt jacket, jeans and a Mercedes Benz cap.

The surprise sighting comes after the actor announced a huge career change, 30 years after shooting to fame as loveable New Yorker, Joey. After taking a lengthy hiatus from the limelight apart from his three-year stint on Top Gear, the star is now reportedly part-owner of RPM Motorcars, which is based in the L.A neighbourhood of Sherman Oaks.

The dealership offers 'high quality, exotic, luxury, and sport cars for everyone' and have 'an array of exotic cars ranging from Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, Ferrari and more' according to its website. Business documents filed in Delaware show Matt has part-owned the business since October 2020, according to the Mail.

The publication also reports that the business is a family affair, with the star's daughter Marina, 20, also spotted at the dealership multiple times in recent weeks. Marina is LeBlanc's only child with ex-wife Melissa McKnight, to whom he was married from 2003 to 2006.

Matt has had a tough few years after losing four of his closest friends. The former Top Gear host was bereft when his co-star, Matthew Perry died last year, after being found unconscious in a hot tub following a drug overdose.

Matt has kept a low profile since the tragedy, with his recent Instagram posts dedicated to his recently deceased colleagues, including James Michael Tyler - another Friends star, best known for playing Central Perk employee Gunther.

Another friend the star has lost is Top Gear contributor, Sabine Schmitz. The German racing driver died in March 2021 after battling 'an extremely persistent cancer.'

Sabine had been a popular member of the Top Gear gang and presenting team since 2016, having first appeared on the show in 2004. Her final appearance on the BBC series came during its 28th season, and despite her illness, she still flew to London to attend the series’ Leicester Square premiere in January 2020.

Matt, who was a close friend of Sabine's having featured on multiple episodes in the show with her, later admitted he was devastated by her death. Sharing a photo of himself with his former colleague on social media, he wrote: "Taken far too soon. She shined so bright and I will always remember her smile. RIP my friend."

There was more Top Gear tragedy for the actor when American rally driver Ken Block was killed in a freak snowmobile accident in January 2023.

Block, who featured alongside Matt on an episode of the show in 2016, was driving up a steep slope at his ranch in Utah when his snowmobile flipped and fell on top of him, causing fatal injuries.

Matt had featured in a memorable Top Gear episode with Block, during which they gatecrashed a fake wedding at St. Paul's Cathedral in a jazzed up Ford Mustang. In a moving Instagram tribute, the actor later admitted his friend, a veteran stunt-driver, was "taken too soon" in a touching post.

The Mirror has contacted Matt's reps for comment on this story.

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