What Was Leslie Jordan’s Cause of Death?

2024 will mark two years since Hollywood lost Leslie Jordan, one of its multi-talented actors. With his diminutive frame of 1.50 meters, Jordan could light up any room he walked into with his ever-happy, easy going demeanor. The actor was greatly loved by family, friends, colleagues, and fans.

Sadly, Leslie Jordan passed away on October 24, 2022, at age 67. Before his death, Jordan had worked extensively in film and television, as well as had an illustrious career as a comedian, writer, and singer. In honoring his contribution to the industry, here’s a closer look at Leslie Jordan’s life, career, and cause of death.

Leslie Jordan Was Raised In A Highly Conservative Community

Leslie Jordan’s strong Southern drawl was always a giveaway for his roots. The actor was born Leslie Allen Jordan in Tennessee on April 29, 1955. His parents were Peggy Ann Jordan and Allen Bernard Jordan. His father, who was a Major in the United States Army Reserve, died in an air crash when Jordan was 12. Jordan was raised in a highly conservative, religious home and community. Leslie Jordan was gay and has admitted to having a tough childhood. 

However, he admitted his mother was accepting and supportive despite not fully understanding him. Raised as a Southern Baptist, Jordan struggled with his faith. He once mentioned how he had to get baptized 14 times because he always felt unworthy. In his words, “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.” 

At age 27, Leslie Jordan decided to move West to Los Angeles. With a new freedom from the conservative life he had always known, Jordan spiraled out of control and began abusing drugs and alcohol. It didn’t take long before he began having run-ins with the law and was arrested several times. In one such arrest, Jordan shared in a 2010 episode of The Wendy Williams Show that he had shared a cell with Robert Downey Jr. However, Jordan took responsibility for his life, became sober, and turned his life around.

Leslie Jordan’s Career

Leslie Jordan’s first acting role came in 1986, four years after moving to Los Angeles. He made his debut on television in a single appearance, playing Malone in ABC’s action-adventure series The Fall Guy. His film debut came two years later, in 1988, when he played a customer at a bar in the Richard Pryor-led comedy Moving. Through the following decades, Jordan continued appearing in several popular TV shows. 

These include Bodies of Evidence (1992), Reasonable Doubts (1992–1993), and Hearts Afire (1993–1995). For today’s television audiences, Leslie Jordan is known for roles as Dr. Benjamin Harris in Boston Public (2001-2002), Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace (2001–2006, 2017–2020), and Terry/Jeweller in Reba (2003–2004). Jordan also starred as Bernanrd Ferrion in Boston Legal (2005), Quentin Fleming in American Horror Story: Coven (2013), and Ashley Gilbert in American Horror Story: Roanoke (2016). He had main roles in The Cool Kids (2018–2019) and Call Me Kat (2021–2022), which were his last major roles on television.

Leslie Jordan’s Death & Cause

Leslie Jordan died on October 24, 2022, from a motor accident. That day, Jordan was reportedly going to the Call Me Kat set to film his scenes. The actor was driving around 9:30 AM (PDT) and reportedly crashed into the side of a building on Cahuenga Boulevard and Romaine Street in Hollywood. At the time of his death, eyewitnesses reported he wasn’t driving at high speeds. Initial police reports believed Leslie Jordan suffered a medical emergency and lost consciousness, leading to the car crash.

About three months after his death, an official autopsy report was released in January 2023. The report revealed there were no drugs or alcohol in his system, ruling out any form of intoxication as the cause of death. Leslie Jordan died from sudden cardiac dysfunction due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. As a result of the cardiac dysfunction, Jordan lost consciousness and lost control of his BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé. The crash did not contribute to his death, as the actor presumably had died almost immediately from cardiac dysfunction. After Leslie Jordan, read about the Breaking Bad actor Mark Margolis, who died at 83.

Biography of Leslie Jordan