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Leslie Jordan

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Leslie Jordan
Jordan in 2007
Born
Leslie Allen Jordan

(1955-04-29) April 29, 1955 (age 69)
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States[1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
Years active1986–present
Height4 ft 11 in (1.50 m)[2]

Leslie Allen Jordan (born April 29, 1955) is an American actor and writer. He is best known for his roles as Lonnie Garr in Hearts Afire (1993–1995), Beverly Leslie in Will & Grace (2001–2006, 2017–2020), several characters in the American Horror Story franchise (2011–present), and Sid in The Cool Kids (2018–2019). One of his best-known onstage performances was in Sordid Lives, where he played Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram, a role he took to the big screen in the popular cult film of the same name.

Early life

Leslie Jordan was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[2] In a 2014 interview, Jordan said that he had a difficult time growing up Southern Baptist. "I was baptized 14 times. Every time the preacher would say, 'Come forward, sinners!' I'd say 'Oooh, I was out in the woods with that boy, I better go forward.'"[3]

During an appearance on Today with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, Jordan discussed his personal life and career. He described his mother, Peggy Ann, as being supportive and accepting though never truly understanding him. When asked about his mother, he said she lives in Chattanooga and is a private woman. Jordan's father was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army and died in a plane crash when Jordan was 11 years old.[2]

Jordan moved to Los Angeles in 1982 where he became involved with drugs and alcohol and was arrested several times. When Jordan was 17 years old, he began to journal daily, which helped him recover from drug and alcohol abuse.[4] In 2010, Jordan told talk show host Wendy Williams that he had been sober for thirteen years.[5] In the same appearance Jordan said that before he gave up drinking, he once shared a cell with Robert Downey Jr., and when they both appeared later on Ally McBeal, Downey couldn't quite place where they had met before.[5]

Early in the AIDS crisis, Jordan became involved in AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) as a buddy and as a food delivery person for Project Angel Food.[6]

Career

Jordan is recognized for his diminutive size and Southern drawl.[2] He appeared as newspaper editor Mr. Blackly in the movie The Help.[7] His television career includes guest appearances on Murphy Brown, Will & Grace, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Star Trek: Voyager, Caroline in the City, Pee-Wee's Playhouse, Reba, Boston Public, Boston Legal, Nash Bridges, American Horror Story and Hearts Afire.[8] He guest-starred on the comedy-drama Ugly Betty as celebrity-trasher Quincy Combs. In 2007, Jordan starred as Jesse Joe in the short-lived CW television program Hidden Palms, and portrayed the ski patrol director in Ski Patrol.[9]

On the television series Will & Grace, Jordan played Karen's pretentious, sexually ambiguous rival Beverley Leslie[10] for which he received an Emmy Award for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006. His Emmy Award earned him an invitation to present the awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series at the 2006 Emmy Awards with Cloris Leachman a week later.[11]

Jordan starred in the pilot episode of Laugh Out, the world's first interactive, gay-themed comedy show.[10] On August 18, 2014, Jordan became a housemate in the celebrity edition of the British reality game show Big Brother. He was the second person to leave the Big Brother house (August 29, 2014). In January 2015, Jordan guest starred in the British sitcom Benidorm for two episodes as the character "Buck-A-Roo".

Jordan is an accomplished stage actor and playwright. In one of his best-known performances onstage, he played Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram in Sordid Lives, a role he took to the big screen in the popular cult film of the same name. Jordan reprised the role in the Sordid Lives: The Series, a televized spin-off of the movie airing on Logo where he plays a character that is in a mental hospital.[12] He wrote and starred in the autobiographical play Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel, which was also made into a motion picture. In 2004, he toured the country performing his one-man stage comedy, Like a Dog on Linoleum, to generally favorable reviews.[13][14]

Jordan's first autobiographical stage show was called Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far,[6] with music and lyrics by Joe Patrick Ward.[15][16] The production, in which Jordan was backed by a gospel choir singing satirical songs about racism and homophobia, was produced off-Broadway at the SoHo Playhouse and ran for seven months. Next, he distilled his experiences growing up as an effeminate, tiny boy in the Southern United States and in show business into an autobiographical one-man show, My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. During the opening of My Trip Down the Pink Carpet, Jordan's microphone stopped working, but he kept on with the show like nothing happened, and his show was a success.[6] After touring the nation for several months with the production, the show opened off-Broadway at the Midtown Theater on April 19, 2010. The show is produced by Jordan's friend, actress Lily Tomlin. Jordan announced on The Paul O'Grady Show that he will be bringing his show to London's Apollo Theatre.

On November 1, 2017, Jordan appeared in the new British television drama Living the Dream produced jointly by Sky and Big Talk Productions but branded as a Sky Original Production.[17]

In the fall of 2018, Jordan starred in the Fox network sitcom The Cool Kids, along with Martin Mull, Vicki Lawrence and David Alan Grier.[18]

On April 2, 2020, it was announced Jordan will play the lead role of Phil in the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat, along with Mayim Bialik, Swoosie Kurtz, Kyla Pratt and Cheyenne Jackson.[19]

As of July 29, 2020, Jordan has 5 million Instagram followers. He celebrated his milestone of 1 million followers by making a video wearing sunglasses and a fancy little suit for his followers. His following grew substantially in response to his posts during the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]

Personal life

Jordan is openly gay and lives in Los Angeles, California.[21][22]

Credits

Writer

  • Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel (play)
  • My Trip Down the Pink Carpet (2008)
  • Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far

Stage

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Moving Customer at Bar
1990 Ski Patrol Murray
1992 Hero Court Official
1992 Missing Pieces Krause
1993 Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday Shelby
1995 Black Velvet Pantsuit Ernie
1996 Shoot the Moon
1997 Two Weeks from Sunday 25 minutes
1998 Goodbye Lover Homer
1998 Hamburger Helper Larry Lewis 22 minutes
1999 Eat Your Heart Out Director
2000 John John in the Sky Tot Dixon a.k.a. I'll Wave Back
2000 Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel Storyteller writer (play; screenplay)
2000 Sordid Lives Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram
2001 The Gristle Jake Bennett
2003 Farm Sluts Coroner 17 minutes
2003 Moving Alan Arthur
2004 Home on the Range Additional Voice voice actor
2004 Madhouse Dr. Morton
2005 Sissy Frenchfry Principal Principle 28 minutes
2007 Watch & Learn Martin 12 minutes
2007 Undead or Alive: A Zombedy Padre
2008 Roadside Romeo Additional voices
2009 Eating Out 3: All You Can Eat Harry
2010 Demonic Toys: Personal Demons Prof. Butterfield
2010 Love Ranch Mr. Hainsworth
2010 Leslie Jordan: My Trip Down the Pink Carpet Himself Stand Up
2011 The Help Mr. Blackly
2011 Mangus! Bruce Jackson
2009 Rockabilly Baby writer (play)
2012 Hollywood to Dollywood Himself
2012 Yahoo! News/Funny or Die GOP Presidential Online Internet Cyber Debate Ron Paul
2013 Southern Baptist Sissies Peanut
2014 Lucky Dog Mr. Kaufman
2017 A Very Sordid Wedding Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram
2018 The Last Sharknado: It's About Time Benjamin Franklin Television film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Fall Guy Malone
1986 The Wizard Jimmy
1987 CBS Summer Playhouse Worm
1988 Frankenstein General Hospital Iggy
1988 Night Court Irwin
1989 Midnight Caller Little Bob Johnson
1989 Murphy Brown Kyle
1989 Newhart L. Gardner
1989 The People Next Door Truman Fipps 10 episodes
1989 The Road Raiders Whip uncredited
1990 American Dreamer Short
1990 Babes Clem
1990 Pee-wee's Playhouse Busby
1990 Sugar and Spice Monsieur Jacques
1991 Top of the Heap Emmet Lefebvre 6 episodes
1992 Bodies of Evidence Lemar Samuels 16 episodes
1992 Perfect Strangers Rob Bob Phillips
1992 Reasonable Doubts Asst. Public Defender Clifford Sizemore
Marvin Sizemore		 16 episodes
1993 Getting By Mr. Bergner
1993 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Alan Morris / The Invisible Man
1993 Nurses Mr. Cooley Waits
1993 Reasonable Doubts Asst. Public Defender Clifford Sizemore 16 episodes
1994 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman William Wallace Webster Waldecker / Resplendant Man
1993–1995 Hearts Afire Lonnie Garr 28 episodes
1995 Charlie Grace Darnell Sims
1995 Courthouse Mr. Barnes
1996 Coach Blatt
1996 Star Trek: Voyager Kol Episode: "False Profits"
1996 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Earl Borden
1997 Arli$$ Skip Lloyd
1997 The Pretender Pat
1997 Weird Science Boyd Butayne
1997 Wings Teddy Kolb
1998 Buddy Faro Frankie Delgado
1998 Caroline in the City Dr. Leslie
1998 Dharma & Greg Kenny
1998 Ellen Top Studio Executive
1998 Maximum Bob Cletus Huntley
1998 Pacific Blue Bo Nyby
1999 Martial Law Horatio Hawkins
2000 Any Day Now
2000 FreakyLinks Hotel Clerk
2000 Nash Bridges Walter Marley
2000 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Chuck
2000, 2002 Son of the Beach Jordan 2 episodes
2000 The Strip Gaston
2001 Ally McBeal Dr. Benjamin Harris
2001–2002 Boston Public Dr. Benjamin Harris Recurring role; 5 episodes
2001–2006, 2017–2020 Will & Grace Beverley Leslie 12 episodes
2003 Judging Amy Reginald Hoyt
2003–2004 Reba Terry (The jeweler from the rings) Recurring role; 3 episodes
2003 Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales Rog Monroe
2004 George Lopez Doctor
2004 Monk Town Official
2005–2006 American Dad! Beauregard LaFontaine voice actor; 2 episodes
2005 Boston Legal Bernard Ferrion Recurring role; 6 episodes
2005 Chasing Christmas Past
2007 Ugly Betty Quincy Combs Episode: "Punch Out"
2007 Hidden Palms Jesse Jo Recurring role; 5 episodes
2008 12 Miles of Bad Road Kenny Kingman Recurring role; 6 episodes
2008 Privileged Dale Dart
2008 Sordid Lives: The Series Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram 10 episodes
2008 Under the Pink Carpet Himself 2 episodes
2009 Alligator Point
2009 Glenn Martin, DDS voice actor
2011 Desperate Housewives Felix Bergman
2011 Shake It Up Theodore Van Glorious
2011 Under the Pink Carpet Himself 2 episodes
2012 DTLA Theatre Director
2012 The Game
2012 Raising Hope Reverend Bob
2012 The Secret Life of the American Teenager
2013 American Horror Story: Coven Quentin Fleming Recurring role; 3 episodes
2013 Baby Daddy Edwin the Mall Elf Episode: "Emma's First Christmas"
2013 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself Guest judge on Season 5, Episode 7
2013 Supernatural Yorkie
Mutt		 voice actor; Episode: "Dog Dean Afternoon"
2014 Partners Marion Phillips Episode: "Jurist Prudence"
2014 Celebrity Big Brother UK Himself Series 14, 12 episodes
2015 Benidorm Buck A. Roo Series 7, Episodes 1 & 2
2016 Fear, Inc. Judson
2016 American Horror Story: Roanoke Ashley Gilbert (reenactor of Cricket Marlowe) Recurring role; 3 episodes
2016 K.C. Undercover Cecil B. DeVille
2017–present Living the Dream Aiden
2018–2019 The Cool Kids Sid Main role, 22 episodes
2019 American Horror Story: 1984 Courtney Recurring role; 4 episodes
2020 Call Me Kat Phil Main role

References

  1. ^ Biography Archived April 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine at Leslie Jordan's official website
  2. ^ a b c d "Leslie Jordan Biography". TV.com.
  3. ^ Middleton, Josh (March 12, 2014). "GIRL TALK: Gossiping With Southern Baptist Sissies Star Leslie Jordan". Philly Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  4. ^ Duerst, Austin (October 16, 2012). "Funnyman Leslie Jordan reflects on 'The Help', 'Will & Grace', 'Ski Patrol' and one-man comedy shows". isthmus.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  5. ^ a b ""Leslie Jordan's Famous Prison Mate," The Wendy Williams Show". youtube.com. April 20, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Freeman, Chris (2009). "Leslie Jordan: from small screen to big stage". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ "Emmy-Winner Leslie Jordan Headlines Tuesday Night Live May 15".
  8. ^ "Leslie Jordan reveals how 'The Help' cast rescued a puppy — and who they named it after". EW.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  9. ^ "'Will & Grace' actor's viral videos are a beacon of funny in the darkness". TODAY.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Atlanta Entertainment Company to Produce Innovative, Interactive Gay-Themed Comedy Show". prnewswire.com (Press release). Atlanta. May 2, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  11. ^ Jordan, Leslie (2008). My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. Simon and Schuster.
  12. ^ Parks, Tim (August 17, 2006). "The 'Sordid Lives' of 'Southern Baptist Sissies". The Gay and Lesbian Times. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ Nichols, David C. (October 15, 2004). "'Dog on Linoleum' finds firm footing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  14. ^ Helbig, Jack (August 11, 2005). "Like a Dog on Linoleum". Chicago Reader. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  15. ^ "Theatre Reviews". New York Magazine. June 13, 1994. p. 97 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ "Review/Theater; A Hollywood Soul's Trip From Tennessee". The New York Times. May 28, 1994.
  17. ^ Dowell, Ben (October 19, 2017). "Philip Glenister and Lesley Sharp are Brits abroad in first look at Sky's new Florida comedy Living the Dream". Radio Times. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  18. ^ Boedeker, Hal (May 14, 2018). "Fox makes room for veteran performers". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  19. ^ Petski, Denise (April 2, 2020). "Leslie Jordan Joins 'Call Me Kat' Fox Comedy Series Starring Mayim Bialik". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  20. ^ https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/04/25/leslie-jordan-anderson-cooper-instagram-quarantine-ac360-sot-vpx.cnn
  21. ^ https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/leslie-jordan-perfectly-loopy-quarantine-videos
  22. ^ Butterworth, Benjamin (December 26, 2015). "GT Icons – Will and Grace, Leslie Jordan". Gay Times. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  23. ^ Drake, Sylvie (July 1, 1986). "Stage Review : 'Found A Peanut' As Child's Play". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
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