Leslie Jordan

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Leslie Jordan
Jordan in 2007
Born
Leslie Allen Jordan

(1955-04-29) April 29, 1955 (age 69)
Memphis, Tennessee, United States[1]
Occupation(s)Actor, playwright
Years active1986–present
Height4 ft 11 in (1.50 m)[2]

Leslie Allen Jordan (born April 29, 1955) is an American actor and playwright. He is best known for his roles as Lonnie Garr in Hearts Afire, Beverly Leslie in Will & Grace and several different characters in the American Horror Story franchise.

Early life

Leslie Jordan was born in Memphis, Tennessee and later moved to 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 that she was a very private woman and that she still lives in Chattanooga. Jordan's father was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army and he died in a plane crash when Jordan was eleven.[2]

Jordan left Tennessee and arrived in Los Angeles in 1982. During this time he became involved with alcohol and other drugs and was arrested many times. When Jordan was seventeen years old, he started to write in journals every day. He said that writing in his journals helped him with recovering from drug and alcohol abuse.[4]

Jordan became involved in volunteer work. 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.[5]

Career

Jordan has made numerous appearances in both film and television. He is recognizable for his diminutive size and Southern drawl.[2] He appeared as a newspaper editor named Mr. Blackly in the popular movie The Help.[6] He is best known for his television work, including guest appearances on 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 his secondary role on Hearts Afire. 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. He also portrayed the ski patrol director in Ski Patrol.

He is best known for his role as Karen's pretentious, sexually ambiguous rival Beverley Leslie on the series Will & Grace.[7] For that role he received an Emmy Award for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006. Because Jordan won the award for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, he was invited to present the awards for outstanding comedy writing and outstanding comedy directing at the 2006 Emmy Awards with Cloris Leachman a week later.[8]

Jordan starred in the pilot episode of Laugh Out, the world's first interactive, gay-themed comedy show.[7] 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 televised spin-off of the movie airing on Logo where he plays a character that is in a mental hospital.[9] He wrote and starred in the autobiographical play Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel, which was also made into a motion picture. He recently toured the country performing his one-man stage comedy, Like a Dog on Linoleum, to generally favorable reviews.[10][11]

Jordan's first autobiographical stage show was called Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far,[5] with music and lyrics by Joe Patrick Ward.[12][13] 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.[5] 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.[14]

In the fall of 2018, Jordan will star in the FOX network sitcom The Cool Kids, along with Martin Mull, Vicki Lawrence and David Alan Grier.[15]

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

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

Television

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

References

  1. ^ Biography Archived 2014-04-07 at the Wayback Machine at Leslie Jordan's official website
  2. ^ a b c d "Leslie Jordan Biography". TV.com.
  3. ^ Middleton, Josh (12 March 2014). "GIRL TALK: Gossiping With Southern Baptist Sissies Star Leslie Jordan". Philly Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  4. ^ Duerst, Austin (16 October 2012). "Funnyman Leslie Jordan reflects on 'The Help', 'Will & Grace', 'Ski Patrol' and one-man comedy shows". isthmus.com. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Freeman, Chris (2009). "Leslie Jordan: from small screen to big stage". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Emmy-Winner Leslie Jordan Headlines Tuesday Night Live May 15".
  7. ^ a b "Atlanta Entertainment Company to Produce Innovative, Interactive Gay-Themed Comedy Show". prnewswire.com (Press release). Atlanta. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  8. ^ Jordan, Leslie (2008). My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. Simon and Schuster.
  9. ^ Parks, Tim (17 August 2006). "The 'Sordid Lives' of 'Southern Baptist Sissies". The Gay and Lesbian Times. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Nichols, David C. (15 October 2004). "'Dog on Linoleum' finds firm footing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  11. ^ Helbig, Jack (11 August 2005). "Like a Dog on Linoleum". Chicago Reader. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  12. ^ "Theatre Reviews". New York Magazine. 13 June 1994. p. 97 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ "Review/Theater; A Hollywood Soul's Trip From Tennessee". The New York Times. 28 May 1994.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Boedeker, Hal (May 14, 2018). "Fox makes room for veteran performers". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  16. ^ Drake, Sylvie (1 July 1986). "Stage Review : 'Found A Peanut' As Child's Play". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 31, 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leslie_Jordan&oldid=863025514"