Friends star Matt LeBlanc has been spotted in public for the first time since December — and the first time since five were arrested last month in connection with Matthew Perry’s death in October 2023.
The eight-time Emmy nominee, 57, was looking casual in jeans, a black tee, sneakers, and a baseball cap as he hit up a car showroom in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley on Friday, according to photos published by TMZ.
The sighting was the first of the Episodes actor since mid-December, when the outlet published snaps of Matt meeting friends for dinner at Malibu hot spot Nobu.
In addition to playing respective best Friends Joey and Chandler on the NBC hit, Matt and Matthew were close off-screen.
Matt joined his “utterly devastated” costars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer in releasing a joint statement mourning Matthew just days after he was found dead in his hot tub on October 28 at age 54.
“We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” said the actors, who all attended Matthew’s Los Angeles funeral.
More from CafeMom: Doctor Charged in Matthew Perry's Death Has Reopened His California Urgent Care Clinic
Authorities spent some time investigating Matthew's death.
Matthew, who was candid about decadeslong battle with substance abuse, died from the “acute effects of ketamine.” His death was ruled accidental, with drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine — intended to help addicts wean themselves off of opioids — listed as contributing factors.
Though he’d been believed to be sober at the time of his death, Matthew was known to be undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to treat anxiety and depression.
In May, after the toxicology report determined the fatal dosage could not have been from said therapy, law enforcement sources told TMZ that both local and federal authorities were investigating how Matthew accessed the drug.
Authorities announced on August 15 that Matthew’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, as well as doctors Mark Chavez and Salvador “Dr. P” Plasencia, had been arrested.
Some people have pleaded guilty in the case.
Iwamasa, 59, and Matthew’s acquaintance, Surreal Life director Erik Fleming, both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. The latter also pleaded guilty to one count of distribution resulting in death.
Following his own plea deal, Mark Chavez in late August was arraigned on one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, for which he is expected to later plead guilty.
Dr. P, 42, and 41-year-old drug dealer, “Ketamine Queen” Jasveen Sangha, have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial for their own alleged roles in Matthew’s death.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News (TNS)
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