Leslie Jordan, the little actor who was bigger than life, passed away today at the age of 67. According to KABC, he crashed his car into a building in Hollywood this morning after a suspected medical incident.
“The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,” read a statement issued by the actor’s representative David Shaul to George Pennacchio. “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 had a long career that started in 1986. But it took 15 years for people to realize how brilliant he was. That is when he landed the role of Beverly Leslie, Karen Walker’s archnemesis, on Will & Grace, and he finally got the stardom he deserved.
I would discover him four years later on Boston Legal as a man who went around killing people by hitting them over the head with a frying pan. He met his demise that way when Betty White did that to him.
I will never forget that scene or his many, many, many other show-stealing scenes on American Horror Story, The Cool Kids, and Call Me Kat, to name a few.
Since his death was so sudden, we don’t know what the future will be for Fox’s show Call Me Kat. But I think they will opt to end the series due to his passing.
UPDATE: According to Variety, Call Me Kat will be taking a production pause to deal with Jordan’s death. I would not be surprised if the series did not come back or they will do one last episode to say goodbye to Jordan as a tribute.
So today, let’s watch Jordan doing what he did best, making us laugh. This way, our laughter will lift him up to heaven.
There is one thing I want to say about his passing. During the pandemic, I saw him post a video dancing to Blanco Brown’s The Git Up. I mentioned Brown in the comments, and I like to think I had a part in this, and the two became friends. Last week, they shot something together with Locash.
Today, one of the last things that Jordan did was like an Instagram post by Brown. Just think, one minute, you are scrolling through Instagram, and the next minute you are gone. When it is your time, it is your time.
