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Emmy-winning actor and Queer icon, Leslie Jordan, has passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 67, following a car accident.

According to TMZ, Jordan was driving in Hollywood when, it is believed, he suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel and crashed his car into the side of a building.

In a statement, Jordan鈥檚 agent David Shaul said, 鈥淭he world is definitely a much-darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan.鈥�

Referring to his social media revival during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shaul added, 鈥淣ot 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.

“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.”

Breakout Role

He is best known for playing Karen Walker鈥檚 nemesis, Beverly Leslie, on the groundbreaking TV series聽Will & Grace, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award.

Jordan also acted in multiple seasons of the TV series American Horror Story.

Jordan鈥檚 breakout role came in 1989 when he was cast as the聽wrongly imprisoned Kyle, in a聽season one episode of the TV series Murphy Brown.听

A representative for Jordan posted on the actor鈥檚 Instagram,聽 鈥淭he love and light that Leslie shared will never go out and we invite you to share your memories and comfort each other during this time. 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.鈥�

 

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Tributes Flow For Leslie Jordan

As news of Jordan鈥檚 passing broke, friends, fans, and colleagues shared memories and offered their condolences on social media.

Will & Grace co-star Sean Hayes, tweeted, 鈥淢y heart is broken. Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with.听 Everyone who ever met him, loved him.听 There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. You will be missed, my dear friend.鈥�

My heart is broken. Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with. Everyone who ever met him, loved him. There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. You will be missed, my dear friend. 馃様鉂わ笍

— Sean Hayes (@SeanHayes)

RuPaul鈥檚 Drag Race star Ginger Minj tweeted, 鈥淚 am so, so sad to hear about Leslie Jordan鈥檚 passing. Such an icon and friend to me in my life, even if we never even met. He was unabashedly southern & queer, two things that don鈥檛 always go hand in hand. His ownership of exactly who he was made it easier for me to do the same.鈥�

I am so, so sad to hear about Leslie Jordan鈥檚 passing. Such an icon and friend to me in my life, even if we never even met. He was unabashedly southern & queer, two things that don鈥檛 always go hand in hand. His ownership of exactly who he was made it easier for me to do the same.

— Ginger Minj (@TheGingerMinj)

Fellow Will & Grace actor Eric McCormack wrote, 鈥�Crushed to learn about the loss of, the funniest & flirtiest southern gent I鈥檝e ever known. The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man.鈥澛�

Crushed to learn about the loss of , the funniest & flirtiest southern gent I鈥檝e ever known. The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man. 馃挃

— Eric McCormack (@EricMcCormack)

Singer Nancy Sinatra tweeted, 鈥淚 was saddened to hear of Leslie Jordan鈥檚 passing. I didn鈥檛 know him personally but I enjoyed his work & his fab quarantine videos. A few years ago he contributed this sweet clip to a video a friend put together for my birthday. Godspeed, Leslie. Thanks for the laughs & the love.鈥�

I was saddened to hear of Leslie Jordan鈥檚 passing. I didn鈥檛 know him personally but I enjoyed his work & his fab quarantine videos. A few years ago he contributed this sweet clip to a video a friend put together for my birthday. Godspeed, Leslie. Thanks for the laughs & the love.

— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra)

Coming Out

Jordan, who had over 5.9 million followers on on Instagram, had last posted a video of him singing hymns with songwriter and producer Danny Myrick on Sunday.

 

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Jodan’s 2008 memoir, My Trip Down the Red Carpet, dealt with growing up gay in the Baptist Church. In a social media post Jodan had spoken about coming out as gay to his mother at the age of 12.

鈥淲hen I was about 12, I told her. I confided in her. She was my best friend. I told her I thought I was gay,鈥� Jordan said adding that he didn’t know about the word ‘gay’,聽but thought he might have said queer. 鈥淚 just knew that the boys at school had been teasing me a little bit.鈥�

 

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His mother’s reaction surprised him.听鈥淚 thought she might pull her bible out, I wasn鈥檛 sure. And she said, 鈥榊ou know son. I think that you probably just need to lead a quiet life, otherwise you鈥檒l be subject to ridicule and I could not bear that.听So, here I am living a quiet life, mama!鈥� Jordan had said with a laugh.