Leslie Jordan | |
|---|---|
Jordan in September 2022 at theNational Book Festival | |
| Born | Leslie Allen Jordan (1955-04-29)April 29, 1955 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | October 24, 2022(2022-10-24) (aged 67) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Burial place | Hamilton Memorial Gardens |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1986–2022 |
Leslie Allen Jordan (April 29, 1955 – October 24, 2022) was an American actor, comedian, writer, and singer.[1] His television roles includeBeverley Leslie onWill & Grace (2001–2006 and 2017–2020), several characters in theAmerican Horror Story franchise (2013–2019), Sid onThe Cool Kids (2018–2019), Phil onCall Me Kat (2021–2022), and Lonnie Garr onHearts Afire (1993–1995). On stage, Jordan played Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram in the 1996 playSordid Lives, later portraying the character in the2000 film of the same name. During theCOVID-19 pandemic, he became anInstagram contributor, amassing 5.8 million followers in 2020, and published his autobiographyHow Y'all Doing? Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived in April 2021.
Jordan was born inMemphis, Tennessee on April 29, 1955[2] and grew up inChattanooga.[3][4] He graduated fromBrainerd High School.[5] He said his mother, Peggy Ann Jordan (née Griffin; 1935–2022)[6] was supportive and accepting, despite never truly understanding him. Leslie's father, Allen Bernard Jordan, was a major in theUnited States Army Reserve and died along with two others in the crash of a civilianBeechcraft Debonair airplane atCamp Shelby, on March 31, 1967. At the time Leslie was almost 12 years old.[3][7][6][8] In a 2014 interview, he said that he had a difficult time growing upSouthern Baptist. "I was baptized 14 times. Every time the preacher would say, 'Come forward, sinners!' I'd say, 'Oooh, I was out in the woods with that boy. I better go forward.'"[9]
In 1982 Leslie Jordan moved toLos Angeles, where he became involved with drugs and alcohol and was arrested several times. He began to journal daily, which helped him recover from drug and alcohol abuse.[10] In 2010, Jordan told talk show hostWendy Williams that he had been sober for 13 years.[11] In the same appearance, Jordan said that before he gave up drinking, he once shared a cell withRobert Downey Jr., and when they both appeared later onAlly McBeal, Downey couldn't quite place where they had met before.[11] Jordan wasgay.[12] Early in theAIDS crisis, Jordan became involved inAIDS Project Los Angeles as a buddy and as a food delivery-person forProject Angel Food.[13]
Jordan began his career in 1986, appearing as Malone in the adventure seriesThe Fall Guy.[14] He quickly became recognizable in the industry for his diminutive size and Southern drawl.[3] He appeared as newspaper editor Mr. Blackly in the movieThe Help.[15] His television career includes guest appearances onMurphy Brown,Will & Grace,Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,Star Trek: Voyager,Caroline in the City,Pee-wee's Playhouse,Reba,Boston Public,Boston Legal,Nash Bridges,American Horror Story,Perfect Strangers, andHearts Afire.[16] In 1990, Jordan portrayed the ski patrol director inSki Patrol.[17] In 2007, he guest-starred on the comedy dramaUgly Betty as celebrity-trasher Quincy Combs, and he starred as Jesse Joe in the short-lived CW television program Hidden Palms.[18]
On the television seriesWill & Grace, Jordan playedBeverley Leslie,Karen Walker's pretentious, poorly-closeted rival,[19] for which he received anEmmy Award forOutstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006. HisEmmy Award earned him an invitation to present the awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series at the 2006 Emmy Awards withCloris Leachman a week later.[20] Jordan starred in the pilot episode ofLaugh Out, the world's first interactive, gay-themed comedy show.[19] On August 18, 2014, he became a housemate in thefourteenth season of the British reality game showCelebrity Big Brother. He was the second person to leave the Big Brother house (August 29, 2014).[21] In January 2015, he guest-starred in the British sitcomBenidorm for two episodes, as the character Buck A. Roo.[22] On November 1, 2017, he appeared in the new British television dramaLiving the Dream, produced jointly bySky andBig Talk Productions but branded as a Sky Original Production.[23] In 2018–2019, he starred in theFox sitcomThe Cool Kids, along withMartin Mull,Vicki Lawrence, andDavid Alan Grier.[24]
On April 2, 2020, it was announced Jordan would play the series regular role of Phil in the Fox sitcomCall Me Kat, along withMayim Bialik,Swoosie Kurtz,Kyla Pratt, andCheyenne Jackson.[25] The show premiered in January 2021. In the same year, Jordan was a guest panelist onseason six ofThe Masked Singer during Week 5 where he also did a performance of "This Little Light of Mine" as "Soft Serve".[26] He later returned as a guest panelist inseason seven andseason eight. A posthumously-airing holiday episode ofLego Masters was one of his final works before his death.[27]
Jordan played Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram inSordid Lives and also portrayed this character in the popularcult film of the same name. He reprised the role in atelevised spin-off of the movie, which aired onLogo, where he played a character who is institutionalized in a mental hospital.[28] He wrote and starred in the autobiographical playLost in the Pershing Point Hotel, which was made into a motion picture. In 2004, he toured the country performing his one-man stage comedy,Like a Dog on Linoleum, to generally favorable reviews.[29][30]
Jordan's first autobiographical stage show was calledHysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far,[13] with music and lyrics byJoe Patrick Ward.[31][32] The production, in which Jordan was backed by a gospel choir singing satirical songs about racism andhomophobia, was producedoff-Broadway at theSoHo Playhouse and ran for seven months. Next, he distilled his experiences growing up as an effeminate, tiny boy inthe South and in show business into an autobiographical one-man show,My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. During the opening ofMy Trip Down the Pink Carpet, Jordan's microphone stopped working, but he kept on with the show like nothing happened; the show was a success.[13] After touring the nation for several months with the production, the show opened off-Broadway at the Midtown Theater on April 19, 2010. The show was produced by Jordan's friend, actressLily Tomlin. He announced onThe Paul O'Grady Show that he would be bringing his show to London'sApollo Theatre.[33]
Jordan released agospel music album,Company's Comin' in 2021.[1]
At the time of his death, Jordan had accumulated 5.8 million Instagram followers. His following grew substantially in response to his comedy posts during the COVID-19 pandemic.[34]
On October 24, 2022, at approximately 9:30 amPDT, while driving to film scenes at theCall Me Kat set,[35] Jordan's car hit the side of a building atCahuenga Boulevard and Romaine Street inHollywood.[35] He was believed to have experienced a medical episode that led to the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene.[36] He was 67 years old.[37]
In January 2023, an autopsy report revealed Jordan died by "suddencardiac dysfunction".[38] According to theLos Angeles County Coroner's Office, he died from sudden cardiac dysfunction due toarteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. There was no evidence of alcohol or other drugs in Jordan's system. At the time of his death, he had been sober for more than two decades.[39]
In 2021, Jordan receivedGALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics' Timeless Star award, the group's career achievement honor given to "an actor or performer whose exemplary career is marked by character, wisdom and wit."[40] He accepted the award, previously bestowed onJane Fonda,Meryl Streep,John Waters,Harvey Fierstein,Lily Tomlin,Dame Angela Lansbury, andSir Ian McKellen, in the Society'sDorian Awards 'Toast' TV.[41] Jordan also won an Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy SeriesEmmy Award in 2006 for his part as Beverley Leslie inWill & Grace.[42]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Moving | Customer at Bar | [46] |
| 1990 | Ski Patrol | Murray | [46][47][48] |
| 1992 | Hero | Court Official | [46][47] |
| Missing Pieces | Krause | [47] | |
| 1993 | Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday | Shelby | [46][47][49] |
| 1995 | Black Velvet Pantsuit | Ernie | [50][51] |
| 1996 | Shoot the Moon | [52] | |
| 1997 | Two Weeks from Sunday | Short[53] | |
| 1998 | Goodbye Lover | Homer | [46][47] |
| Hamburger Helper | Larry Lewis | Short | |
| 1999 | Eat Your Heart Out | Director | [46] |
| 2000 | John John in the Sky | Tot Dixon | a.k.a.I'll Wave Back[46] |
| Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel | Storyteller | Writer (play; screenplay)[46][47] | |
| Sordid Lives | Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram | [46][47][48] | |
| 2001 | The Gristle | Jake Bennett | [54] |
| 2003 | Farm Sluts | Coroner | Short |
| Moving Alan | Arthur | [55] | |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | Photographer (voice) | [56][57] |
| Madhouse | Dr. Morton | [46] | |
| 2005 | Sissy Frenchfry | Principal Principle | Short[46] |
| 2007 | Watch & Learn | Martin | Short[58] |
| Undead or Alive: A Zombedy | Padre | [46][47] | |
| 2008 | Roadside Romeo | Additional voices | [citation needed] |
| 2009 | Eating Out 3: All You Can Eat | Harry | [46][47] |
| Rockabilly Baby | Writer (play)[59][60] | ||
| 2010 | Demonic Toys: Personal Demons | Prof. Butterfield | [46] |
| Love Ranch | Mr. Hainsworth | [46] | |
| Leslie Jordan: My Trip Down the Pink Carpet | Himself | Stand up (also a book)[44][61] | |
| 2011 | The Help | Mr. Blackly | [46][47][48] |
| Mangus! | Bruce Jackson | [62] | |
| 2012 | Hollywood to Dollywood | Himself | [46] |
| Yahoo! News/Funny or Die GOP Presidential Online Internet Cyber Debate | Ron Paul | [63] | |
| 2013 | Southern Baptist Sissies | Peanut | [46] |
| 2014 | Lucky Dog | Mr. Kaufman | [46] |
| 2016 | Fear, Inc. | Judson | [46] |
| 2017 | A Very Sordid Wedding | Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram | [46] |
| 2021 | The United States vs. Billie Holiday | Reginald Lord Devine | [46] |
| I'm Not for Everyone | Himself | Music Video[64] | |
| TBA | Strangers in a Strange Land | Gentleman | Post-production; posthumous release[65] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Fall Guy | Malone | [46] |
| The Wizard | Jimmy | [49] | |
| 1987 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Worm | [66] |
| 1988 | Frankenstein General Hospital | Iggy | [46][47] |
| Night Court | Irwin | [46][66] | |
| 1989 | Midnight Caller | Little Bob Johnson | [46] |
| Murphy Brown | Kyle | [46][47] | |
| Newhart | L. Gardner | [48] | |
| The People Next Door | Truman Fipps | 10 episodes[52][67][68] | |
| The Road Raiders | Whip | Uncredited[52] | |
| 1990 | American Dreamer | Short | [48] |
| Babes | Clem | [52] | |
| Pee-wee's Playhouse | Busby | [69] | |
| Sugar and Spice | Monsieur Jacques | [52] | |
| 1991 | Top of the Heap | Emmet Lefebvre | 6 episodes[46][68] |
| 1992 | Bodies of Evidence | Lemar Samuels | 16 episodes[46][48] |
| Perfect Strangers | Rob Bob Phillips | [48] | |
| 1992–1993 | Reasonable Doubts | Asst. Public Defender Clifford Sizemore Marvin Sizemore | 16 episodes[48][68] |
| 1993 | Getting By | Mr. Bergner | |
| 1993–1994 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Alan Morris / The Invisible Man William Wallace Webster Waldecker / Resplendent Man | [46][49] |
| 1993 | Nurses | Mr. Cooley Waits | [70] |
| 1993–1995 | Hearts Afire | Lonnie Garr | 28 episodes[46][48] |
| 1994 | Roseanne | Gordy | [48] |
| 1995 | Charlie Grace | Darnell Sims | [71] |
| Courthouse | Mr. Barnes | [72] | |
| 1996 | Coach | Blatt | [46][48] |
| Star Trek: Voyager | Kol | Episode: "False Profits"[46][49] | |
| Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Earl Borden | [73] | |
| 1997 | Arli$ | Skip Lloyd | [74] |
| The Pretender | Pat | [46][48] | |
| Weird Science | Boyd Butayne | [52][49] | |
| Wings | Teddy Kolb | [46] | |
| 1998 | Buddy Faro | Frankie Delgado | [75] |
| Caroline in the City | Dr. Leslie | [48] | |
| Dharma & Greg | Kenny | [46][48] | |
| Ellen | Top Studio Executive | [48] | |
| Maximum Bob | Cletus Huntley | [52] | |
| Pacific Blue | Bo Nyby | [76] | |
| 1999 | Martial Law | Horatio Hawkins | [77][52] |
| 2000 | Any Day Now | Big Top Police Officer | [52] |
| FreakyLinks | Hotel Clerk | [46] | |
| Nash Bridges | Walter Marley | [46] | |
| Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Chuck | [52][78][79] | |
| The Strip | Gaston | [52] | |
| 2000, 2002 | Son of the Beach | Jordan | 2 episodes[52] |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Dr. Benjamin Harris | [46] |
| 2001–2002 | Boston Public | Dr. Benjamin Harris | Recurring role;5 episodes[46][48] |
| 2001–2006, 2017–2020 | Will & Grace | Beverley Leslie | 17 episodes[46][48] |
| 2003 | Judging Amy | Reginald Hoyt | [46] |
| Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales | Rog Monroe | [46] | |
| 2003–2004 | Reba | Terry / Jeweller | Recurring role;3 episodes[46] |
| 2004 | George Lopez | Doctor | Episode: "Leave It To Lopez"[46] |
| Monk | Town Official | [46] | |
| 2005 | Boston Legal | Bernard Ferrion | Recurring role;6 episodes[46] |
| Chasing Christmas | Past | [46] | |
| 2005–2006 | American Dad! | Beauregard LaFontaine (voice) | 2 episodes[46] |
| 2007 | Ugly Betty | Quincy Combs | Episode: "Punch Out"[46][48] |
| Hidden Palms | Jesse Jo | Recurring role;5 episodes[46] | |
| 2008 | 12 Miles of Bad Road | Kenny Kingman | Recurring role;6 episodes[80][81] |
| Privileged | Dale Dart | [82] | |
| Sordid Lives: The Series | Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram | 10 episodes[46] | |
| 2008–2011 | Under the Pink Carpet | Himself | 4 episodes[83] |
| 2009 | Alligator Point | [84] | |
| Glenn Martin, DDS | Additional voices | [85] | |
| 2011 | Desperate Housewives | Felix Bergman | [46] |
| Shake It Up | Theodore Van Glorious | [46] | |
| 2012 | DTLA | Theatre Director | [46] |
| The Game | Donatella Sweetescott | [86] | |
| The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Episode: "I Do and I Don't..."[46] | ||
| The Neighbors | Carla | Episode: "Thanksgiving Is for the Bird-Kersees"[46] | |
| 2012–2013 | Raising Hope | Reverend Bob | [46] |
| 2013 | The Exes | Percy | Episode: "Toy Story"[87] |
| American Horror Story: Coven | Quentin Fleming | Recurring role; 3 episodes[46][48] | |
| Supernatural | Yorkie, Mutt (voice) | Episode: "Dog Dean Afternoon"[88][89] | |
| Baby Daddy | Edwin the Mall Elf | Episode: "Emma's First Christmas"[46] | |
| 2013, 2022 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Himself | 2 episodes, including "RuPaul Roast"; guest judge/guest director[46] |
| 2014 | Partners | Marion Phillips | Episode: "Jurist Prudence"[90] |
| Celebrity Big Brother UK | Himself | Series 14, 12 episodes[21] | |
| 2015 | Benidorm | Buck A. Roo | Series 7, episodes 1 & 2[47] |
| 2015–2017 | Con Man | Leslie Jordan / 'Curley' | Recurring role; 6 episodes[46] |
| 2016 | American Horror Story: Roanoke | Ashley Gilbert (reenactor of Cricket Marlowe) | Recurring role; 3 episodes[46][48] |
| K.C. Undercover | Cecil B. DeVille | [46] | |
| 2017 | Life in Pieces | Neils | Episode: "Poison Fire Teats Universe"[46] |
| 2017–2019 | Living the Dream | Aiden | [46] |
| 2018 | The Last Sharknado: It's About Time | Benjamin Franklin | [91] |
| 2018–2019 | The Cool Kids | Sid | Main role[46][48] |
| 2019 | American Horror Story: 1984 | Courtney | Recurring role; 4 episodes[46][48] |
| 2021 | The Great North | Thomas Wintersbone (voice) | Episode: "Pride and Prejudice Adventure"[92] |
| Fantasy Island | Jasper | Episode: "Día de los Vivos"[93] | |
| Special | Charles | Episode: "Why Is No One Ready?"[94] | |
| 2021–2022 | Call Me Kat | Phil | Main role[46][48] |
| The Masked Singer | Soft Serve/Guest panelist | 4 episodes[46] | |
| 2022 | Trixie Motel | Himself | Episode: "Malibu Barbara"[95] |
| Celebrity IOU | Himself | Posthumous release | |
| Lego Masters | Himself | Episode: "Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular"; posthumous release |
Sober for 22 years, Mr. Jordan, 65...