Emmy-winning actor, writer and singer Leslie Jordan best known for his roles in “Will & Grace,” “American Horror Story” and “Hearts Afire,” has died at the age of 67.
On Monday morning, Jordan was driving in Hollywood and crashed into the side of a building at Cahuenga Blvd. and Romaine St. Some sort of medical emergency is suspected.
Jordan was an experienced actor, appearing in well-known shows such as “The Help”, “The Cool Kids”, and most recently “Call Me Kat” which is currently airing its third season on Fox. In 2006 he won the Emmy Award for guest actor in a comedy series because of his role in “Will & Grace” playing Karen’s Beverly Leslie- a sexually ambiguous socialite who happened to be her friend but also kind of her enemy.
He was a guest on multiple TV shows including “Ally McBeal,” “Ugly Betty,” “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” “Hidden Palms,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Caroline in the City,” “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” “Reba,” “Boston Public,” “Nash Bridges” and “Boston Legal,” as well as films like “Ski Patrol,” “Roadside Rodeo,” “Love Ranch,” “Southern Baptist Sissies” and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.”
Jordan played three characters on three seasons of Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story.” They appeared in the recurring roles for the “Coven,” “Roanoke,” and “1984” installments.
Jordan’s most popular role to date is Earl “Brother Boy” Ingram in the stage play-turned-movie, “Sordid Lives.” In 1993, he wrote and performed his first autobiographical stage show called, “Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far,” which received critical acclaim and ran for seven months straight. The play, which detailed Jordan’s earlier life in Chattanooga, Tenn., featured the performer with a gospel choir singing comical songs about racism and homophobia. At the time of its production, Variety complimented Jordan’s “endearing stage presence” and described the show as “bittersweet and hilarious.”
In 2020, Jordan became a social media sensation, gaining millions of Instagram followers due to his hilarious videos posted throughout the pandemic.
Jordan released a gospel music album titled “Company’s Comin’” in 2021 and, later that year, appeared as a guest panelist on “The Masked Singer.” He performed the gospel standard “This Little Light of Mine” on the show.
In 2021, Jordan was awarded GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ Timeless Star award. He appeared on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” as a guest judge in 2013 and will appear again in 2022 as a guest director. During the AIDS crisis, he volunteered with the AIDS Project Los Angeles and Project Angel Food.
Jordan was born in Tennessee and raised Southern Baptist, but relocated to Los Angeles in 1982. Just a few years later, he started accruing acting credits. He entered his 20s and concurrently began struggling with drug and alcohol addiction; fortunately, he got clean in 2010 and has been sober ever since.
“The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,” stated Jordan’s agent, David Shaul. “Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times. What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being. Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today.”
Fox Entertainment released a statement that reads:, “We are shocked and devastated by today’s tragic passing of Leslie Jordan. Leslie was far more than an Emmy Award-winning comedic talent with whom we’ve laughed alongside for all these years. He was the kindest person you could ever imagine who simply lit up a room and brought pure joy and huge smiles to millions of people around the world. The truest of Southern Gentlemen, Leslie carried an infectious exuberance, indelible sense of humor and, throughout, gifted us with countless fond memories that will last forever. As we grieve this sad news, we also wish to extend our most profound sympathies to Leslie’s family, friends and fans, whom he held so dear.”
