Matt LeBlanc's Ex-Wife Melissa McKnight Was Blindsided By Their "Sudden" Divorce

Publish date: 2024-06-11

Highlights

Matt LeBlanc is better known for playing Joey Tribbiani in the beloved sitcom Friends. His character’s goofy personality quickly made him a fan favorite and, to this day, Joey is still one of the most popular characters in the television industry.

LeBlanc has been romantically linked to many famous women since the ‘80s. Back then, he used to date actress and model Teri Copley. Years later, he was rumored to be dating Kate Hudson.

By the time Friends came along, LeBlanc seemed to have settled down, as he got married and had a child with Melissa McKnight. However, when the show came to an end, LeBlanc abruptly divorced McKnight, completely blindsiding the actress. Here’s what really happened between the two.

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Matt LeBlanc Met First Wife, Melissa McKnight, Through A Mutual Friend

Mellissa McKnight is a renowned British-American model, actress, television personality, and entrepreneur. She first met Matt LeBlanc back in 1997 when they were introduced by their mutual friends Lou Diamond Phillips and his wife Kelly Phillips. McKnight had divorced her first husband, Anthony Robert Esposito with whom she shared two children, only a year before.

Despite this, the two actors quickly hit off and began dating. LeBlanc proposed to her a year later.

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McKnight and LeBlanc got married in 2003, after more than five years together. They tied the knot at a private ceremony in Hawaii. Of course, the list of 75 guests included LeBlanc’s Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow. In 2004, the happy couple welcomed their daughter Marina Pearl LeBlanc into the world. Unfortunately, Marina began suffering seizures when she was only eight months old. But by the time she was two years old, the condition had mostly subsided. Around this time, she was diagnosed with cortical dysplasia, a brain disorder that affects neurological functions.

Throughout their relationship, LeBlanc and McKnight appeared to be a happy couple, often making public appearances together. That’s why fans were shocked to learn LeBlanc filed for divorce from McKnight after only two years of marriage.

Matt LeBlanc Snd Melissa McKnight’s Divorce Was So “Sudden” She Didn’t See It Coming

Matt LeBlanc unexpectedly filed for divorce from Melissa McKnight in 2006 citing irreconcilable differences. “The dissolution is amicable,” his publicist, Joe Libonati, wrote in a public statement at the time. “They remain devoted parents and friends.” Given that thy had been almost a decade together, fans were shocked by the news. And they weren’t the only ones.

As it turns out, McKnight never saw the divorce coming. “It was very sudden,” Kelly Phillips, McKnight’s long-time friend who had introduced the couple to each other told PEOPLE at the time. “She was absolutely blindsided by what transpired.” Despite this, LeBlanc went on with the divorce proceedings.

LeBlanc and McKnight’s divorce was finalized in September 2006. Ultimately, it was determined that the former couple would share joint legal custody of their then-2-year-old daughter Marina. Moreover, LeBlanc was ordered to provide $15,000 in monthly child support payments until Marina turned 18. The Friends star also agreed to completely cover any medical, caregiver, and education costs necessary for Marina.

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LeBlanc was rather inconsolable upon learning of his daughter’s condition when she was just 11 months old.

Despite the divorce, the actor made an effort to be an active parent to Marina, who is now 20 years old. In fact, LeBlanc put his acting career on pause to care for his daughter back when her condition was more severe.

“My daughter was diagnosed with a brain problem,” he explained. “It was a very dark period, but we were able to get through it — don’t they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?”

Matt LeBlanc Went On To Date One Of His Co-Stars After He Divorced Melissa McKnight

Matt LeBlanc never revealed the real reason behind his divorce from long-time partner Melissa McKnight. In fact, when he originally filed for divorce, he simply cited “irreconcilable differences.”

Not long after his divorce was finalized, LeBlanc publicly admitted that he was in a relationship with another woman. This turned out to be none other than his Joey co-star Andrea Anders. Although this Friends spin-off was canceled mid-way through its second season, LeBlanc and Anders had enough time to hit it off. Ultimately, LeBlanc and Anders dated for eight years, before finally splitting up in 2015.

Shortly after breaking up with Anders, LeBlanc met TV producer Aurora Mulligan on the set of Top Gear. However, the two wouldn’t begin officially dating until 2016.

Throughout their relationship, LeBlanc and Mulligan maintained a low-key profile, barely making public appearances together. Later last year, LeBlanc announced that he had split up from Mulligan after six years together.

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