They were co-stars for a decade – and even an on-screen couple for a while. So, 20 years after Friends wrapped for good, Jennifer Aniston is taking the theme song literally and vowing to be there for Matt LeBlanc. We’re told the two are spending more time together than ever, with Jen determined to help him through a tough time.
Matt, 57, is apparently still struggling to cope with the loss of his friend and co-star Matthew Perry, who died of a fatal ketamine overdose in his Los Angeles home last year. Now, we’re told Jennifer, 55, is keeping a close eye on him – with back up from fellow co-star Courteney Cox, 60.
‘They’re all still grieving the loss of Matthew, and Jen in particular harbours a lot of guilt about not being there for him like she should have been,’ a source tells heat.
‘Watching Matt struggle has been extremely difficult for Jen. She’s been spending a lot of time with Matt at his home in Pacific Palisades – cooking for him, or just hanging out and watching movies, or sitting and chatting. She’s even stayed over a couple of times, and both she and Courteney have been in contact to ensure at least one of them is around to keep an eye on him.’
Matt, Matthew, Courteney and Jen starred in Friends together alongside Lisa Kudrow, 61, and David Schwimmer, 57, from 1994-2004. The actors all remain close to this day, with Lisa even writing the introduction to Matthew’s 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing. Sources have said the loss of Matthew last October hit them all hard, with reports saying that it was particularly tough for Matt, who has previously referred to the cast of the sitcom as his ‘family.’
‘Like the rest of them, Matt has been deeply affected by Matthew’s death and the grief has hit him really hard,’ we’re told. ‘Work has dried up, he’s found it difficult to date despite being desperate to settle down, and he’s been eating badly and not working out, which has been a huge knock to his confidence.’
Matt has rarely been spotted in public since the loss of his friend, and we’re told Jen is determined to stop him becoming a recluse. Our source says, ‘She’s taken it upon herself to connect Matt with some therapists and get her trainer to his house – she’s insisted that he needs to start working out and do everything he can to boost his mental health.’
While Jen-An went on to become a movie star after the show ended – starring in hits including The Good Girl and We’re The Millers – most of Matt’s post-Friends work has been on TV, such as in sitcoms Joey and Episodes, as well as a stint presenting Top Gear in the UK. He had a small role in the Charlie’s Angels movies, but by and large has failed to retain the star power he once had.
Jennifer has had several high-profile relationships, including her five-year marriage to Brad Pitt, 60, and her two-year marriage to actor and director Justin Theroux, 53, while Matt split from Irish TV producer Aurora Mulligan, 40, back in 2022 after six years together, and also shares a daughter, Marina, 20, with his ex-wife Melissa McKnight. But while Jen and Matt are both single, our source says it’s strictly platonic between them – and Jen is hoping to set him up when he’s feeling better.
‘Jen’s praying that she and Courteney can help Matt out of this dark place and get him back to where he feels hopeful about life again,’ we’re told.
‘She’s keen to set him up with one of her friends, and would love to see him happy and loved-up again, but she knows that before that happens, he needs to build himself back up both mentally and physically – learning to love himself again first and foremost.’