UPDATE, JAN. 19, 2023: The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has revealed the official cause of death for actor Leslie Jordan. He died last year in October at age 67 following a minor car crash.
The official cause was sudden heart failure due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the coroner’s office said. It was deemed a natural death.
EARLIER: The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office told Deadline Jordan was pronounced dead at the scene and an examination is pending.
A statement on Jordan’s Instagram page reads, “The love and light that Leslie shared will never go out…”
In addition to Will & Grace, Jordan appeared on TV in American Horror Story, Hearts Afire, Murphy Brown, Ugly Betty, and Boston Public. Film credits include The Help and Ski Patrol. He appeared onstage in the comedy Sordid Lives and reprised the role of “Brother Boy” in the 2000 film adaptation.
Jordan also appeared as himself in his own Instagram posts which became wildly popular as he documented his daily attempts to entertain himself during the pandemic. Among his most-viewed was a video where Jordan demonstrated his twirling talents.
Born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee – he’d utilize his Truman Capote-esqe Southern drawl to terrific comic effect – Jordan moved to Los Angeles in 1982, “with $1500 sewn into his clothing by his steel magnolia Mother,” he’d later write on his website.
Within four years of arriving in L.A., Jordan had started a prolific television career with often scene-stealing appearances on The Fall Guy, Night Court, Murphy Brown and Newhart. In 1990 he appeared in the film Ski Patrol as well as on the cult TV favorite Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
The ’90s proved even busier, with roles on American Dreamer, Perfect Strangers, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, Reasonable Doubts, Bodies of Evidence, Hearts Afire, Coach, The Pretender, Ellen, Dharma & Greg, and Caroline in the City.
But it was his recurring role on Will & Grace that provided his signature role. Beginning in 2001, Jordan portrayed the viciously witty Beverley Leslie, the only character on Will & Grace who could match Mullally’s Karen insult-for-insult. “Well, well, well, Karen Walker,” Jordan once famously quipped. “I thought I smelled gin and regret.”
Jordan played the character throughout the series’ finale in 2006, then reprised the role in the 2017 reboot. Unlike the actor who played him, Beverley Leslie refused to come out of the closet, despite all evidence to the contrary. “Me, a homosexual?” Beverley once said in astonishment. “The very idea makes me howl with manly laughter.” Jordan won a 2006 Emmy as Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series for his Will & Grace performance.”
Aside from Will & Grace, Jordan is perhaps best known as one of the American Horror Story repertory of actors, appearing as different characters in seasons from 2013 to 2019.
He also played Sid in the 2018 series The Cool Kids, and as Phil in the 2021 series Call Me Kat with Mayim Bialik and Swoosie Kurtz.
On stage, Jordan appeared in the Off Broadway autobiographical stage show Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far in 1994, with music and lyrics by Joe Patrick Ward. In 2010 he wrote and starred in a second autobiographical one-man-show titled My Trip Down the Pink Carpet, also Off Broadway.
In a statement, Jordan’s attorney Eric Feig, of Eric Feig Entertainment & Media Law, said “Today one of Hollywood’s brightest lights went out. We are heartbroken at the untimely passing of our client and friend Leslie Jordan, one of the most talented actors, singers and performers we have had the joy, privilege and honor to know and work with. Beyond his talents, Leslie’s gifts of bringing joy to those he touched, his ability to connect with people of all ages, his humility, kindness and his sweetness will be sorely missed by all. Yesterday, on Leslie’s Instagram, Leslie posted himself singing the hymn “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.” Today, Leslie was called way too soon and the world is a little bit darker without him.”
The statement on Jordan’s Instagram page says, “In the coming days we will be giving a glimpse of a project Leslie was really proud of and was looking forward to sharing with the world.”
“He was the funniest, loveliest guy on the planet,” AHS actor Dylan McDermott posted in a response, “and a true friend.”
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