Leslie Jordan, a veteran character actor whose pandemic lockdown videos made him a viral star in his 60s, has died at the age of 67. According to TMZ, Jordan was in a car accident in West Hollywood on Monday morning. The last video posted on his prolific Instagram feed had gone up just one day earlier.
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“The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,” Jordan’s agent, David Shaul, said in a statement to Variety. “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.”
Born on April 29, 1955, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Jordan maintained his distinctive Southern drawl throughout his career, which made him instantly memorable in an endless series of TV guest-starring roles, from Night Court to 2021‘s Fantasy Island reboot. He also had a recurring role on Fox’s Call Me Kat, and had reprised his Emmy-winning role of Beverley Leslie on the 2020 revival of Will & Grace.
But for the fans who felt they knew and loved him beyond his “that guy” ubiquity, Instagram was almost certainly the reason. “It’s a wonderful time to be Leslie Jordan” wrote The New York Times in June 2020. Posting Instagram videos about being stuck at home, first with his mother in Tennessee and then back home in Los Angeles, Jordan was bored, restless, and anxious, just like everyone else—but at least he had the sense to be hilarious about it.
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