Comedian And Beloved TV Presence Leslie Jordan Dies In Car Crash

Leslie Jordan, who rose to fame with his recurring Emmy Award-winning role as Beverly Leslie on sitcom Will & Grace, and found a whole new generation of fans courtesy of social media, died on Monday morning in a car accident in Hollywood, California after crashing into the side of a building at Cahuenga Boulevard and Romaine Street. It was suspected he suffered some sort of medical emergency. He was 67.

“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 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,” said Sarabeth Schedeen, Jordan’s talent agent, in a statement.

Born April 29, 1955 and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee in a highly conservative, deeply religious atmosphere, Leslie Jordan debuted on television with a guest appearance in 1986 in the action/adventure series The Fall Guy. Additional appearances in TV shows like sitcoms Night Court, Annie McGuire (with Mary Tyler Moore), Murphy Brown and Newhart; and drama Midnight Caller followed before he landed his first regularly scheduled role in the short-lived comedy The People Next Door in 1989.

Jordan also began in film in 1988 with a small part in Richard Pryor comedy Moving, and became known for his diminutive yet larger-than-life stature and distinctive Southern drawl in a host of other films including horror spoof Frankenstein’s General Hospital, Missing Pieces, Hero, Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday and Eat Your Heart Out.

In 1991, Jordan scored another regularly scheduled sitcom role, in Married With Children spin-off Top of the Heap (with Matt LeBlanc pre-Friends). While it only lasted six episodes, it opened the door to more series roles in the drama Bodies of Evidence (1992-93), and the John Ritter comedy Hearts Afire (from 1993 to 1995), not to mention dozens of other TV appearances. But it was his 17 episodes on Will & Grace (including the reboot) that put him centerstage, resulting in the Emmy Award in 2006 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

Jordan was equally distinctive in the drama category, including three different seasons of Ryan Murphy FX anthology American Horror Story. And he landed his next regular series role in 2018-19 Fox sitcom The Cool Kids.

On stage, Jordan was an accomplished actor and playwright. In 1993, he created his first autobiographical stage show, Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far, which chronicled his early life and featured the actor backed by a gospel choir singing satirical songs about racism and homophobia. And, in one of his better-known performances onstage, he played Earl “Brother Boy” Ingram, which he reprised in the cult film of the same name in 2000.

With no shortage of roles, both in comedy and drama, and on television, film and on stage, Jordan then successfully tackled social media, gaining millions of Instagram followers due to his humorous videos posted throughout the pandemic.

At present, Jordan was in season three opposite Mayim Bialik in FX comedy Call Me Kat. Earlier this month he released a gospel album called Company’s Comin’ featuring Dolly Parton, Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Eddie Vedder and Tanya Tucker. And, in 2021, he penned his memoir, How Y’all Doing? Misadventures and Mischief From a Life Well Lived.

“Crushed to learn about the loss of @thelesliejordan, the funniest & flirtiest southern gent I’ve ever known,” tweeted Will & Grace star Eric McCormack. “The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his #WillandGrace episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man.”

“My heart is broken. Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with,” tweeted Will & Grace’s Sean Hayes. “Everyone who ever met him, loved him. There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. You will be missed, my dear friend.”