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Leslie Jordan, a Quarantine Hero With Memorable Roles in ‘Will and Grace‘ and ’Sordid Lives,’ Dead at 67

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Leslie Jordan, the endlessly effervescent and entertaining actor, comedian, and singer, died Monday, Oct. 24, following a fatal car crash in Los Angeles. He was 67.

Jordan’s agent, David Shaul, confirmed the actor’s death to Rolling Stone. “The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,” he said. “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.”

According to The Los Angeles Times, Jordan was driving a BMW when he crashed into the side of a building in the Hollywood area at around 9:30 a.m. Jordan was declared dead at the scene, though an exact cause of death has yet to be determined: It’s unclear if Jordan died in the crash, or if he suffered a medical emergency right before (the condition of the vehicle suggested Jordan may have lost control of it before the crash).

Jordan spent several decades working on stage and screen, popping up on hit shows like American Horror Story and The Cool Kids, as well as Will and Grace, for which he won an Outstanding Guest Actor Emmy in 2006. He’s also widely known for his performance in Del Shores’ LGBTQ classic, Sordid Lives. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jordan captured the internet’s attention with his regular quarantine video musings, going viral on several occasions.

Jordan was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 29, 1955. Though he grew up in a strict Southern Baptist community, Jordan came out as gay to his mother when he was 12. Jordan has described her as accepting, noting in an Instagram video this past March that her initial response was to try and protect him, encouraging him to “live a quiet life,” lest he be subject to ridicule.

“So, here I am,” Jordan exclaimed with a laugh, “living a quiet life!” 

As Jordan told The Guardian last year, he first left home in his early 20s and moved to Atlanta, where he started working with race horses and the famous trainer Horatio Luro. During a belated stint in college, he studied journalism and theater, then moved to Los Angeles, where he quickly started getting cast in commercials, TV shows, and occasional movies. He also delved into the city’s gay nightlife scene, and in the early Nineties, worked with nonprofits to provide food and comfort to people battling HIV and AIDS. 

Throughout all of this, however, Jordan was drinking heavily and using drugs. He finally got sober at the age of 42 following a stint in jail. “That’s what I tell people: if you want to get sober, try 27 days in the LA men’s county jail,” he quipped. “That will sober your ass up.”

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