Hollywood Funnyman Leslie Jordan Has Tragically Passed Away
Comedic actor Leslie Jordan has died in a car accident.
This article is more than 2 years old
Emmy-winning actor and singer Leslie Jordan tragically passed away at age 67, per Variety. The actor was best known for starring in Will & Grace, American Horror Story, and Hearts Affairs. Jordan was driving in Hollywood Monday morning when he struck the side of a building at Cahuenga Blvd. and Romaine St.
In 2020, Leslie Jordan became a social media megastar through his humorous videos posted during the pandemic. When discussing the tragic loss of the actor, Jordan’s agent David Shaul said that the “world is definitely a much darker place today without [Jordan’s] love and light.” Shaul called Jordan a “mega talent and joy to work with.”
Leslie Jordan appeared as a newspaper editor in the 2011 period comedy-drama The Help. He played the role of Mr. Blackly and starred opposite Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, and Viola Davis. In 2021, Jordan received GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ Timeless Star award for his career “marked by character, wit, and wisdom.”
Outside of his acting career, Leslie Jordan is also an accomplished stage actor and playwright, having written and starred in the autobiographical play Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel. The play was also made into a motion picture.
The actor also included much social commentary in his work. Leslie Jordan’s first autobiographical stage show, Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far, incorporated satirical music regarding racism and homophobia. Jordan was backed by a gospel choir during the production.
A funny incident during Leslie Jordan’s career as an onstage performance actor was his microphone inexplicably turning off. While many would’ve probably stopped and asked why the production was going off the rails, Jordan remained calm and continued with the show as if nothing had happened. It’s one of those moments where Jordan proved how much of a professional he was.
Leslie Jordan had a ton of television credits in his name. He starred in the 1993’s Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman as Alan Moris, a.k.a. The Invisible Man. In his later years, Jordan appeared in many television sitcoms such as Will & Grace, Boston Legal, Ugly Betty, and others. His last role was in the reality television series Trixie Motel where he played himself in an episode.
The actor made his final feature film appearance in the biographical drama The United States vs. Billie Holiday. The film centered on American jazz singer Billie Holiday and her participation in the “War on Drugs.” In the movie, Leslie Jordan played a radio journalist named Reginald Lord Devine.
Leslie Jordan’s role on Will & Grace earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2006. In 2021, he published his autobiography titled How Y’all Doing: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived. During the AIDS crisis, Jordan became involved in AIDS Project Los Angeles(APLA) as a food delivery person for Project Angel Food.
Whether on the screen or stage, Leslie Jordan’s enthusiasm could be felt through his performances. On behalf of everyone here on Giant Freakin Robot, we give our condolences to Leslie Jordan’s family and friends.
