How Matt LeBlanc landed major “Harry Potter” star a “Friends” guest role — and an Emmy nomination

Joey NolfiThu, September 10, 2026 at 10:15 PM UTC

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Gary Oldman on ‘Friends’; Cast of ‘Friends’Credit: NBC; Reisig & Taylor/NBCU via gettyKey Points -

Gary Oldman revealed how Friends actor Matt LeBlanc got him a surprise guest role on the sitcom.

Oldman said the pair’s relationship dates back to their time in the sci-fi comedy film Lost in Space.

The Oscar winner’s role later landed him an Emmy nomination.

Oscar winner Gary Oldman has a steadfast pal in Matt LeBlanc — enough so that the latter landed the Harry Potter alum a surprise guest role on Friends that later led to an Emmy nomination.

Before Oldman won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, LeBlanc helped secure his Emmy nod thanks to a two-episode stint on Friends in 2001, where he joined the cast as Richard Crosby in the two-part episode titled “The One With Monica and Chandler’s Wedding.”

During a Thursday afternoon panel discussion at the Toronto International Film Festival, the 68-year-old praised LeBlanc after the pair became friends while filming the 1998 sci-fi flick Lost in Space.

“How did I end up in Friends? Matt LeBlanc!” Oldman said on stage during the conversation. “We became buddies, and the [role of Crosby, an actor] came up. He said, ‘Would you like to do it?’”

Oldman said he “could get really used to” the flow of making a sitcom.

“You come in on a Monday, do the read-through. Then, they rewrite. They send you rewrites on Wednesdays. I can’t remember if we came in on Thursday. On Friday, we blocked it. On Friday afternoon, you shoot it in front of an audience. You’re done by five. I thought, ‘I could get used to this!’” the star remembered.

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He also praised the beloved NBC series’ ensemble cast, which, in addition to LeBlanc, also included Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, and the late Matthew Perry.

“I tell you, what was wonderful was observing them going through the technical rehearsal,” Oldman lauded. “Watching those actors, it was like breathing for a little bit. It’s as easy as breathing. It was a wonderful experience of watching the rehearsal and behind the scenes of that show.”

Though Oldman’s first Emmy nomination came for Friends, he has since earned three more after landing regular television work on the Apple thriller series Slow Horses, which debuts for season 6 on Sept. 16.

‘Lost in Space’ cast including Gary Oldman and Matt LeBlancCredit: New Line Cinema / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Oldman has earned three consecutive Emmy nominations in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category for his role fronting the project — the latest of which he’ll contend for during Monday night’s Emmys ceremony.

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Elsewhere, Oldman played Sirius Black in several Harry Potter movies, and mounted two other Oscar-nominated performances in 2011’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and 2020’s Mank.

on Entertainment Weekly

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