Leslie Jordan dead at 67: Beloved actor dies in car crash
Beloved actor Leslie Jordan has died tragically at the age of 67.
The “Will & Grace” star — who became a social media sensation during the COVID-19 pandemic — crashed his BMW into the side of a building in Los Angeles on Monday morning. It’s believed Jordan suffered a medical emergency while behind the wheel.
The pint-sized performer — who measured just 4 feet, 11 inches tall — rose to to television fame in the 1990s with roles in sitcoms including “Hearts Afire” and “Murphy Brown.”
In recent years, however, Jordan became bigger than ever, appearing in “American Horror Story” and clocking up more than 5.8 million followers on Instagram, where he shared humorous stories in his trademark Southern drawl.
The stories, which often revolved around his childhood in Tennessee and his years in Hollywood, brought cheer to millions of housebound Americans struggling amid COVID lockdowns.
During one candid and hilarious confession, Jordan admitting to watching porn during the stay-at-home orders, quipping: “Oh, don’t judge me… it’s better than CNN!”
In a heartbreaking statement shared Monday afternoon, his manager told The Post: “The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan. Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of it’s 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,” his manager added. “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.”
Jordan’s viral fame brought him to CNN’s New Year’s Eve 2021 countdown, where he rang in 2022 with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.
He also secured a plum role on the Fox sitcom “Call Me Kat” alongside Mayim Bialik. The show is currently in its third season.
Jordan — who was raised as a Southern Baptist — often sang gospel hymns on his Instagram account. His final post came Sunday when he shared a newly written inspirational tune of his own.
The beloved star — who last year released his memoir “How Y’all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived” — was openly gay and was widely revered as a queer icon.
Jordan was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1955.
Precocious and flamboyant from a young age, Jordan says he struggled growing up in a traditional family and a conservative city, despite being supported by his beloved mom, Peggy.
Jordan faced further difficulty at the age of 11, when his father, Allen — a major in the United States Army Reserve — died in a plane crash.
In 1982, the ambitious Southerner picked up and left for Los Angeles to pursue a career in showbiz.
However, he soon became involved with drugs and alcohol and, by his mid-20s, had been arrested several times. He later claimed he once even shared a jail cell with Robert Downey Jr.
Jordan became sober in the 1990s and did not touch alcohol ever again. In an interview with Page Six last year, he stated: “I got into AA 22 years ago, and I was made to examine things. I was made to write about my fears, about my beliefs, to find a god of my own understanding. And it’s getting rid of that fear, that burning lake of fear.”
“I don’t know at what point, but here I am, 65, perfectly comfortable with who I am, what I am, and how did that happen? I think just living life and exploring things and reading things,” he continued.
After conquering his demons, Jordan began landing roles in primetime dramas, including “Reasonable Doubts,” “Ally McBeal,” “Judging Amy” and “Boston Legal.”
But the joyous star became best-known for his comedic roles, appearing for three seasons in the sitcom “Hearts Afire.”
By the late 1990s, he was a fixture on American primetime sitcoms, with guest roles on “Dharma & Greg,” “Ellen,” “Wings” and “Caroline in the City,” to name a few.
Jordan hit the big-time in 2001, with the role of sassy socialite Beverley Leslie in “Will & Grace” — a part he played for five seasons. He later revived the role during the show’s 2017 reboot.
But, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan found himself rocketing to even higher levels of fame as he took to Instagram to share short, humorous videos of himself sheltering in place with his eccentric Southern family.
The funnyman frequently began his video updates with the catchphrase: “Hello fellow hunker downers, Leslie Allen Jordan reportin’ for duty.” The trademark greeting garnered a line of merchandise as he clocked up millions of devoted followers.
In addition to nabbing a book deal off the back of his social media stardom, Jordan also secured the role on “Call Me Kat,” which he began shooting opposite Bialik in late 2020.
He additionally recorded a gospel album featuring duets with Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile and Eddie Vedder, among others, that was released last year.
Jordan’s beloved mother, Peggy, passed away earlier this year.
He paid tribute to her in an emotional Instagram post in May, stating: “We lost mama but she will live on forever in our memories and stories. Love you, mama, and always will. Love. Light. Your, Leslie.”
