By Graham Dudman in Florida for The Sun, August 6th, 1997.
Father of friends Hunk Leblanc lives like a gypsy in giant mobile home.
He's one of the hottest hunks on telly and earns £65,000 an episode as Joey in Friends.
But while Matt LeBlanc lives the high life, his father leads a gypsy-like existence, touring the States in a motor home.
But, despite the amazing difference in their lifestyles, Paul LeBlanc says he couldn't be happier - or closer to his superstar son.
While 29-year-old Matt has won the hearts of millions of female fans as joker Joey in the Channel 4 sitcom, his father has left his own trail of broken romances - including six marriages.
He says: "I've enjoyed women's company but it always seems to end in tears. I know Matt looks a bit like me but I hope he has better luck with ladies."
Paul divorced Matt's mum Pat when the lad was just a toddler.
He continues: "I've always loved women. In fact I've loved them so much I married six of them.
"My problem has been that I fall in love so quickly and go head-first into a relationship. It's kind of like leaping into something then beginning to look around and realise what's happened after it's too late.
"I've had long talks with Matt about the fairer sex and I hope he has more luck with woman than I've done."
In fact Matt has romanced several stunning women including a three-year fling with 29-year-old Playboy playmate Tonya Poole.
The blonde 34C-22-34 model says: "Girls flocked to him. He's very charming and drop-dead handsome. Matt wasn't into kinky sex, just straight sex and lot's of it."
After dumping Tonya, Matt left behind a string of broken hearts including Gabrielle Reece, ex-girlfriend of Superman star Dean Cain, Goldie Hawn's stunning 17-year-old daughter Kate, US soap star Symba Smith, British actress Minnie Driver, porn actress Jenna Jameson and even his manager Camille Cerio.
Paul adds: "he's not married, he's good looking and he's a few dollars in his pocket so he's doing what any young man would do."
Even so, Paul reckons Matt has managed to keep his feet on the ground because he treats Hollywood as a game.
Fun.
He says: "Matt hasn't changed one bit. The whole thing is like one big football match as far as he is concerned.
"When he started doing Friends it was great fun for him and still is, except they're paying him crazy money. He was always very level-headed as a youngster and that hasn't altered.
"he loves the attention he gets and manages to cope with all the pressures because he find the whole fame thing very funny.
"Matt has told me his secret to surviving is not like to take it all too seriously. He likens it to playing a game and that's what he's doing."
Paul, 57. spoke exclusively to The Sun after we tracked him down to a motor home park near Tampa, Florida. The Vietnam war veteran has been a virtual recluse for years, travelling around American with his 96-year old grandma Pearl - that's Matt's great grandmother.
Campers have no idea that their scruffily-dressed neighbour, who spends his days in vests and shorts, has a son who is one of the world's biggest stars.
Talking about Matt's amazing success for the first time, Paul said: "I real all kind of figures in the papers about how much he's getting paid but it's really none of my business. All I know is he's getting very well paid and enjoying every moment of being a star.
"But my life as a traveller suits me just fine. It's a lot simpler with a lot less hassle.
"I am very proud of what he has done. I've got every episode of the show on video and watch them over and over again.
"It still freaks me out when I sit watching the TV and see him. It's hard to believe it's my Matt on Friends but it really is.
"Every time I see him these days he behaves just like he did when he was a kid, always joking about and laughing at everything. He was a very good-natured boy and still has a wonderful soft side to him.
"He doesn't see anything bad in anyone and likes to be friends with everyone he meets."
Pals say Matt ensures that both his parents have enough money. After they divorced in the Sixties, Paul went AWOL from the U.S. Army following duty in Vietnam.
He eventually returned one Christmas when Matt was just eight. But Paul denies stories that he abandoned Matt and is now shunned by his famous son. He says: "I've been accused of so many things when it comes to Matt that I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Let me set the record straight - I am very tight with my son, we get on very well.
"I've been to see him seven times at this home in California and I'm going there again real soon. Matt came here for a few days a couple of months ago.
"It was great to see him but as soon as he arrived, some people in the trailer next door spotted him and they were over trying to take his picture.
"He was OK about it but it was hard for him because he just wanted to hang out with his dad.
"I love him dearly as a father would love a son. Look around my home and you'll see his pictures everywhere."
Luxury.
Matt's face looks down from almost every wall in the motor home.
A wooden carving of the name Matt hangs above the entrance to the kitchen and a signed photograph of the actor hangs in a frame in Paul's bedroom.
Paul bought his luxury motor home for £85,000 four hears ago after selling his home in Florida.
He said: "I'd come out of a number of bad relationships and had my grandmother to look after.
"Nana loves to travel and I wasn't going to put her in a home so this was the perfect solution. I've done 52,000 miles and love it."
Paul earns a modest living making wood carvings. He has no lady in his life at the moment - but keeps reminders of those from his past.
There is a photo of each of his six wives on his van's bedroom wall.