Iconic actor Leslie Jordan has passed away at the young and sassy age of 67. He died yesterday following a car accident in which he was the driver and only person injured. It’s thought that he had a medical emergency which caused the crash. He was a prolific Emmy-winning character actor, theater performer, playwright and beloved personality. He gained millions of fans with his hilarious and heartwarming social media posts early in lockdown. Leslie was incomparable, joyful, lovely and raucously funny and he will be so missed. Here’s some of People’s writeup on Leslie.
Leslie Jordan has died, PEOPLE has confirmed. He was 67.
“The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,” his agent David Shaul shared in a statement to PEOPLE. “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.”
Jordan died in a car crash in Hollywood, California, after an apparent medical emergency, TMZ first reported. The LAPD confirmed to PEOPLE that the accident occurred at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Monday morning.
Jordan’s death was also confirmed via his official Instagram on Monday afternoon, with a brief statement teasing that Jordan was still working in final days.
“The love and light that Leslie shared will never go out and we invite you to share their memories and comfort each other during this time,” the post read. “In the coming days we will be giving a glimpse of a project Leslie was really proud of and was looking forward to sharing with the world.”
Leslie was starring in the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat, the third season of which is airing now. He filmed 9 episodes for this season and production has halted following his death. People points out that Leslie was sober for over 20 years. He faced so much adversity as a gay man growing up in the south and yet he came out at 12 and was unapologetically himself. This is an incredibly hard story to write and we’re all gutted that we lost Leslie. I know him best from Will and Grace and he won me over on Instagram with his humor, light and laughter. The world will never have another Leslie Jordan and we are all greater for having known him.
My faves from him. pic.twitter.com/HtrR0jnemk
— Is That T-Mobile? (@HEYMICHSI) October 24, 2022
This is making me both laugh and cry at the same time. We love you Leslie and we’ll miss you.
Leslie had just bought his first property.
photos credit: Cover Images and Avalon.red
I will miss him so much.
This is a very difficult loss for so many. He was a beautiful soul. This feels really cruel – I think the universe overstepped. 🙁
My heart broke when I read the news. He was such a ray of sunshine.
He will be missed
What a loss. His videos got me through the pandemic.
Just crying going through his IG posts. I’m still shocked.
I had no idea he had a career outside of social media yet my heart still broke a little when I saw the headline. He brought me so many warm laughs over the last few years. Rest well, Leslie. My condolences to your loved ones.
I had no idea he had a social media career! I remember him from way back in the day, when he was doing one-off guest spots on Murphy Brown and Night Court! He was just so wonderful to watch. He could steal a scene without trying! Watching Megan Mullally try not to break every time they were on camera together was hilarious.
And yes, the world will be a much darker place without his effervescent light.
I have been a fan of his since small bit parts but he stole the show in EVERYTHING he was in. I loved him for so long. He was simply a joy. I mean he made me happy to see him and here his lovely southern accent. He was so authentic! The world is darker without his joy.
+1
Just when the world needed him most…
RIP.
I was so hoping you would post about this wonderful man’s passing CB. Thank you for giving him his own spot here. Such a delightful and talented soul who I think I can say was universally adored. He had such a positive spirit, and you could just see his kind heart. His posts over the pandemic shut downs were the stuff of inspired hilarity and sweet simplicity. I loved every one. Farewell, Beverley Leslie, you will shine in heaven which is exactly where you belong!
I was coming to post, but I don’t think I could say it better than you, Antipodean.
I will always remember him best as Beverly Leslie; his scenes with “frienemy” Karen Walker are some of the best comedy.
RIP Leslie, wishing light, love and laughter to your spirit.
Thanks, Jan90067, that’s kind of you to say. I was so shocked at his untimely passing. Why is it only the good ones are taken too soon? This man was a source of pure joy in a dark world. Absolutely and completely himself, yet so sublimely funny!
I hate this timeline. RIP.
Loved him on Will and Grace.
The world is definitely a little darker without his light.
Leslie Jordan what is the national treasure that brought nothing but light, happiness and laughter to everyone around him.
He was a constant source of sunshine in the darkness over the past few years, he kept me smiling and fighting through so many dark days, I am gutted. What a loss to humanity as a whole, why are the good ones always taken so early 🙁
I was so shocked to see the news! I think his mom had passed in the last year or so? He was such a funny, sweet man.
So sad & tragic. RIP Leslie, your light shined bright and you will be missed.
“It’s never too late to be happy, y’all.”
Words to remember. RIP, Leslie. You were one of the good guys.
Beautifully said Booboocita.
My daughter and I were both heartbroken. Her bc of his viral videos and me because of will and Grace and call me Kat. He was pure joy and this is such a loss.
Well shit – I LOVED him. His instagram was my favourite, I esp loved listening to his stories of growing up in the South.
I wonder if he ever got to meet his idol – Dolly!
He did and they became fast friends. I did not know this, but he released a gospel album last year and Dolly sang with him on one of the tracks. Here is Dolly’s statement about Leslie’s passing:
“Well I am as hurt and shocked as if I have lost a family member,” Parton began in her statement. “Leslie and I had a special bond, I think the world felt they had a special bond with him.”
She continued, “I know people always say ‘Oh, they will be missed’ but in this case that could not be more true. He will be missed by everyone who knew him personally and by everyone who was entertained by him.”
At the end of her post, Parton added, “Rest in peace lil’ brother.”
Last year, Parton and Jordan teamed up on a track called “Where the Soul Never Dies” for his gospel album “Company’s Comin.’”
He had such a unique, beautiful light that he added to the world. I live in St. Louis, and between the school shooting yesterday and Leslie’s passing, it was a very dark day.
This one hurts because he was one of my favorite everything. Interview, actor, social media follower, everything.
I know his most prolific is Beverly Leslie, but his arc on Boston Legal was legit one of the best of that shows run. He and Betty White had some fantastic scenes together. I hope they are in heaven talking about good times and their dogs together.
RIP Leslie Allen Jordan. May you continue to report for duty when you look down on us.
I think I first saw Leslie Jordan in a TV series with Burt Reynolds & Billy Bob Thornton. Leslie was the funniest part of the show. I’ve seen him in a lot of things, so many I can’t remember, but whenever he appeared, I’d think oh, great! I like him! Goshdarnit!!
I know when I heard the news his Boston Legal run was the first that popped into my head. He was so amazing in that and especially holding his own with such a scenery chewing actors as James Spader
And Danny crane aka Shatner
That show definitely had a lot of characters! But Leslie Jordan managed to shine and be so memorable just shows what a talent he was
When Alan called him a bad person and they were no longer friends, the subtle switch and the dead behind the eyes look he gave, chills. I was shocked he never got a Emmy for his turn on the show.
He was a delight. I loved his pandemic videos. He will be missed.
This is so sad.
I loved his tiktoks he brought so much light and laughter in such a dark times during the worst of the pandemic. And his appearances on RuPaul Drag Race were always such a treat. He leaned in to everything and just went with it. His drag name as a teenager was Miss Baby Wipes.
He will be so missed.
I was lucky enough to run into him at a very casual restaurant in Atl around ‘05. I was holding my toddler, refilling my drink at the drink stand, then turned and saw him next to me. I was a huge Will & Grace fan, and also remembered him from Boston Legal. I told him that I was a huge fan of his work on both, and he could not have been more kind. It was a brief interaction, but I always remembered it, and was so thrilled to see him win so many people over during Covid. He’ll be missed.
I am so going to miss my ‘fellow hunker downer’….I just loved him!
Same. His videos helped me so much during the lockdowns. He really was a ray of sunshine and will be so missed.
So sad!
I really hate the fact that he just now finally got his first apartment and then did not live to enjoy it longer. RIP.
I adored him. 💔
He’s one of those people I knew I’d seen in a million things, but couldn’t immediately tell you exactly what I knew him from. I caught a few of his COVID videos. I know a lot of people who followed him fervently during lockdown. What a wonderful energy, now gone. I was shocked to read the news yesterday.
Thank you so much for everything, Leslie. We love you.
I’m so sad to see this.
The only silver lining is that he really was thriving in the last few years, and seemed like he was really living and enjoying life. What a loss though, he brought joy to many.
I’m so sad to hear this! I don’t cry and I’m wiping tears I loved ‘Beverly Leslie’ so much. And then Leslie in real life. What a loss of pure light and joy.
WTF And Putin is still alive??? Why can’t he die of a medical emergency and cat crash?
I seem to remember him in Sordid Lives. Am I wrong? Condolences for a much-beloved man.
I watched him everyday during quarantine. This makes me really sad.
He was wonderful in Sordid Lives the series and the movie. I looked it up. So sad.
When I read the news my head went “Well well well…”
Thank you for all the laughter Sir.
I love the cheesy show “Lois and Clark” and Leslie had a marvelous turn as a man who suddenly got Superman’s powers. His name was William Wallace Webster Walldecker and he was hilarious! I loved Leslie – he really brightened up everything he was in. This is a painful loss.
Sigh…. Who didn’t laugh hysterically every single time Karen and Beverly Leslie ran into each other. What a joy he was! RIP, sir!
We lost BW and now we lost another great one. I hope they are both resting in peace and the legacy they leave behind on their works hopefully can live on for generations to come.
He was the sweetest angel on Earth. I just sobbed and sobbed when I read the death notice yesterday. Thanks CB for a beautiful sweet tribute. He was supposed to be immortal.
RIP Leslie Jordan. What an icon! You will be sorely missed!!!!