MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

- JANICE BECKETT-MSIZA

HE'S one of Tinseltown's most beloved stars, an award-winning comic who shot to fame in Friends as Joey Tribbiani, the lovable and goofy ladies' man who brought laughter to generations of fans.

But Matt LeBlanc's most recent screen appearance - back in 2021 in Friends: The Reunion special - may well have been his last hurrah.

Rumours are swirling that the reclusive actor has quietly called it quits in the wake of the death of his close friend and Friends castmate Matthew Perry, who died a year ago of a drug overdose.

He was among four of Matt's circle of friends who've passed away in recent years, along with rally driver Ken Block, German racing driver Sabine Schmitz and James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther in Friends.

Matt (57) was seen in public last month the first time in about a year when he was car-shopping in Los Angeles with his only child, Marina (20).

Insiders say Matthew's death might have been the final straw for Matt, who hasn't been active on social media since his friend died in his hot tub last October.

His last Instagram post was a tribute to Matthew, shared two weeks after his death. "It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favourite times of my life," he captioned a carousel of photos.

"It was an honour 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."

Matt is still griefstricken over his friend's death, a close source says, and is reevaluating his future.

"Such an important part of his life is gone.

It's made him rethink his life. He wants to focus on other interests as that's what's important to him right now.