“Friends” star Matt LeBlanc confessed that he was offered a part on the ABC sitcom that he felt compelled to turn down.
Speaking to USA Today, the actor revealed that he was offered the part of Phil Dunphy in the pilot episode of the Emmy-winning show. However, he understood quickly that he was not right for the part. The outlet even notes that the role was written with Ty Burrell, the man who ultimately went on to play Phil, in mind. However, when the network gave the showrunners push-back on Burrell, LeBlanc was approached in 2009.
“I remember reading it thinking, ‘this is a really good script, (but) I’m not the guy for this. I’d be doing the project an injustice to take this. I know what I can do, I know what I can’t do. Plus, I’m having too much fun laying on the couch,’” LeBlanc said.