"The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan," the star's representative, David Shaul, said in a statement to ABC News. He left Ryerson University in 1985 to accept a position with the Stratford Shakespeare . Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Rip Torn played Lionel Banks in all three "Will & Grace" episodes. [21] Will & Grace quickly developed a loyal audience, with the show and McCormack receiving strong reviews. "You want heat?" he said. : Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived.". The series also earned critical praise (and Emmys) for its writing and nuanced portrayal of gay and straight characters, which was cited by none other than President Joe Biden as doing more to educate the public onLGBTQ issues than any other series. 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Mars gave memorably funny performances in TV and features for decades, many of which showcased his talents for accents and comic voices: he was the deranged Franz Liebkind in Mel Brooks' original "Producers" and the one-armed Inspector Kemp in "Young Frankenstein," and played Francis's inept German boss on "Malcolm in the Middle." His spokesperson confirms to Yahoo Entertainment. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Debra Messing, who plays Grace, Harry Connick Jr., who plays Leo, Eric McCormack, who plays Will, and Sean Hayes, who plays Jack, have been successful in films and on TV. : Artificial Insemination." Pollack was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including wins for Best Director and Best Picture for "Out of Africa" (with Redford) and nominations for "Tootsie," "Michael Clayton," and "The Reader." He soon settled into steady work in both mediums, and appeared to specialize in playing older professional types: judges on "My Name is Earl" and "Coach," doctors ("ER"), priests ("Everybody Loves Raymond"), and more than his share of grandparents ("The Drew Carey Show") and characters who simply bore the name "Old Man" ("Malcolm in the Middle," "Southland," "That '70s Show," etc.). [31] In August 2002, as part of the Hollywood Bowl's summer concert series, he reprised the role of Harold Hill for a one-night only appearance in which he and other actors recreated the songs from the production. Mars, who also worked with directors ranging from George Roy Hill ("Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid") and Woody Allen ("Radio Days") to Peter Bogdanovich ("What's Up, Doc? Talking to the Los Angeles Times to promote the album, Jordan reflected on his journey in Hollywood. and "Weeds." Film critic Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote that McCormack and Weigel "both make a strong impression". "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. Before graduating, Valdez interned at his hometown paper, the San Diego Union-Tribune, with its Watchdog investigations team. Will & Grace 7.3 TV Series Beverley Leslie 2001-2020 17 eps Sordid Lives 6.7 Earl 'Brother Boy' Ingram 2000 Credits Edit Actor132 Writer3 Producer1 Soundtrack3 Additional Crew1 Self82 Thanks3 Archive Footage9 IMDbPro Expand below Actor Upcoming 1 Strangers in a Strange Land Gentleman Post-production Previous 131 Call Me Kat Phil TV Series Will & Grace co-star Sean Hayes also chimed in, saying: Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with., Everyone who ever met him, loved him, Hayes tweeted. He was killed in a car crash in Hollywood.. Again, Part 2" involved Jack meeting Peter Bovington (Victor Garber), an actor who played the "Cocoa Devil," a costumed mascot on a TV commercial from the 1970s. Leslie Jordan, the actor, comedian and musician known for his roles in "Will & Grace" and "American Horror Story" and for his uplifting pandemic Instagram videos, died after a car crash. Paul, with a shotgun and his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, with a rifle on June 7, 2021. Cutell remained active on TV well into the new millennium, most notably on "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" and "Grey's Anatomy." She first captured audiences' attention as a devoted Beatles fan in Robert Zemeckis' "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and reunited with the director for "Back to the Future" (as Marty McFly's sister, Lisa), "Back to the Future Part III," and "Used Cars." She later earned two Emmy Awards as Outstanding Guest Actress for her turn as nosy neighbor Karen McCluskey on "Desperate Housewives." He was an actor, known for Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) and Kindergarten Cop (1990). Let's just say McCormack does the best he can with what he's given, and leave it at that. But when you have 4.7 million followers, I mean, you cant just sit silent. In August, the actor who died Monday said he had recently bought his first piece of property. He attempted to parlay his filmmaking success into writing and directing projects of his own, though the results, like "Haunted Honeymoon," with his second wife, actress Gilda Radner, were mixed. Will & Grace Actors You Might Not Know Passed Away - Looper.com Ferrer became a go-to performer for intense types on both sides of the law, a persona he parlayed in projects ranging from the original "Twin Peaks" series and Steven Soderberg's "Traffic" to Jonathan Demme's remake of "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Iron Man 3." Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. One of the keys to the series' long network runit originally aired from 1998 to 2006 and returned for three more seasons in 2017was its long list of supporting cast members and guest stars. Actor Leslie Jordan known for roles in Will & Grace and American Horror On September 30, 2009, he guest-starred on the police procedural drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in the second episode of its 11th season playing an owner of a dating website. Ive had a really blessed career. "I don't really even know what that means!". I couldnt pronounce it. 'Will & Grace' actor, comedian Leslie Jordan dead at 67 Gene Wilder won an Emmy for playing Mr. Stein in 2003, which marked a rare appearance for the popular comic actor-writer-director. Leslie Jordan, an actor, writer and singer best known for his roles in "Will & Grace," "American Horror Story" and "Hearts Afire," has died. Playing Mrs. Friedman in "Star-Spangled Banter" was Anne Meara, who partnered with her husband, actor Jerry Stiller, as a successful comedy duo during the 1960s and 1970s. His manner of death was classified as natural, the Los Angeles County medical examiner said. He also appeared in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" and numerous other films. [53] In an interview with USA Weekend, McCormack revealed he was not afraid of being typecast. Will and Grace Lose Their "Homojo . [41] Brantley went on to say that McCormack's interpretation of the character is "certainly a more slickly sustained performance" than the one delivered by David Schwimmer in 2005. Eric James McCormack (born April 18, 1963[2]) is a Canadian actor known for his roles as Will Truman in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, Grant MacLaren in Netflix's Travelers and Dr. Daniel Pierce in the TNT crime drama Perception. I didnt realize [he had blown up] until last night when everybody started calling me telling me youve gone viral," Jordan told NBCs "TODAY" show in March 2020. [12] There, he enrolled in theatre classes and performed in high school productions of Godspell and Pippin. Before joining The Times as a member of the 2021-22 Los Angeles Times Fellowship class, he worked for the Southern California News Group, where he covered breaking news and wrote award-winning feature stories on topics such as mass shootings, labor and human trafficking, and movements for racial justice. Wilder had been one of the most popular comedy stars of the 1970s and 1980s thanks to collaborations with Mel Brooks in "The Producers," "Young Frankenstein" (which he co-wrote), and "Blazing Saddles," as well as solo efforts like "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and team-ups with Richard Pryor in "Silver Streak" and "Stir Crazy." For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. I came from Tennessee to L.A., and I had a little bit of money and I had my degree in theater. The Tennessee native was a recognisable face in primetime sitcoms, including three seasons of Hearts Afire, Will and Grace and American Horror Story. [61] The film was critically and financially unsuccessful.[62][63]. After decades in showbiz, the 65-year-old found fame on social media and has a new TV show and a second book on the way. In 2020, he narrated a portion of the 8th Canadian Screen Awards. [85], McCormack has been married to Janet Leigh Holden, whom he met on the set of Lonesome Dove,[12] since August 1997. His appearances included "Men in Black," Disney's "Hercules," "The Insider," and "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story." "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.". You were loved, sweet man, McCormack tweeted. Jordan received the award for Timeless Star, which honors an actor or performer whose exemplary career has been marked by character, wisdom and wit, from GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics in 2021. McCormack later gained worldwide recognition for playing Will Truman in Will & Grace, which premiered in September 1998. The beloved actor died on October 24, 2022, at 67. "[20] The show debuted on September 21, 1998, and was watched by almost 8.6million American viewers. Also in 2009, McCormack was cast in the science-fiction movie Alien Trespass. He amassed 5.8 million followers, including many celebrities, who tuned in to hear his sassy stories relayed in his Southern accent. LOS ANGELES Leslie Jordan, who won an Emmy playing the conniving Beverley Leslie on "Will & Grace" and became a social media sensation during the pandemic, died Monday after he crashed his car into a tree in Hollywood, his agent said. In recent years, Jordan has appeared on multiple seasons of "American Horror Story" -- playing characters in the "Coven," "Roanoke" and "1984" installments -- as well as taking on roles on the TV series "The Cool Kids" and "Call Me Kat.". In October 2010, it was reported that McCormack would star in a new TNT television drama, Perception, playing a crime-solving neuroscientist named Dr. Daniel Pierce, who works with the federal government to solve cases using his knowledge and imaginative view of the world. He died at the age of 91 on November 2, 2021; Prestia died at the age of 64 on October 6, 2011. The latter includes her relationship with Jack, whom she invites to Hanukah dinner instead of Grace. [92][93] He serves as an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and was given the MMRF Spirit of Hope Award in October 2006. Its not like I sit and think, Whats the next big challenge? It has just always happened for me. Perry's roles may not have been particularly substantial, but he worked for more than two decades on screen and landed roles on major series like "The West Wing," "Scrubs," "The O.C." Greeting his followers with his iconic sign-on, Well, s, what are yall doin? and posting twice a day for 80 days, Jordan would quip about day-to-day life during the pandemic. Sydney Pollack, who played George, began his career as an actor and made his film debut in 1962's "War Hunt" opposite longtime friend and collaborator Robert Redford. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. [14] He left Ryerson in 1985, several months before graduating, to accept a position with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, where he spent five seasons performing. Jordan appeared to be as surprised as anyone that a big chunk of America was following him. Jordan, 67, experienced sudden heart failure due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the Los Angeles County medical examiner said. However, it was on "Will & Grace," playing the role of Beverley Leslie during the original run and on the revival when he truly made his comedic mark on the small screen. Eric was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. [33] In 2004, he had a recurring role as Ray Summers on Showtime's comedy drama Dead Like Me. Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital. Born April 29, 1955, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the diminutive Jordan (he was 4-foot-11) carved out a thriving career on the small screen playing small but often scene-stealing roles on shows from "Murphy Brown" and "Boston Public" to "Star Trek: Voyage," "American Horror Story" and "Hearts Afire.". [72] In October 2010, McCormack received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. His acting career, which included episodes of "The Twilight Zone" and "Have GunWill Travel," coincided with his directorial debut, which began in 1961 and soon encompassed episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and an episode of "Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theater," which earned him his first Emmy He followed his debut feature, 1965's "The Slender Thread," with a string of hit movies in the 1970s, many featuring Redford like "Jeremiah Johnson," "The Way We Were," "Three Days of the Condor," and "The Electric Horseman.". [47] In the miniseries, he played Jack Nash, a television reporter who battles an addiction to cocaine. Though born in 1931, Perry's screen resume didn't begin until the early 1980s, when he appeared in low-budget horror films like "Blood Song" and on episodic series like "Cheers." 5 min read Leslie Jordan, the comedic actor from Will & Grace, Murphy Brown and Call Me Kat, has died at age 67. Her change of heart is spurred by Mrs. Friedman, a tenant in their building who exerts nuclear-strength guilt on Grace. [86] They have a son. [23] For this performance, he earned four Emmy Award nominations (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005), one of which resulted in a win (2001), for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. [36], Will & Grace's eighth and (at the time) final season ended with the series finale on May 18, 2006. [25], Also in 1998, McCormack appeared in Stephen Herek's comedy film Holy Man. Character actor Miguel Ferrer got a terrific showcase for his comic talents in Season 1's "Saving Grace," which cast him as an arrogant publicist who considered Grace as a decorator for his house. He gave colorful reactions to new music, such as Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallions single, WAP. He created dance montages to pop music from his backyard to his living room. In addition, he starred as Dr. Daniel Pierce for three seasons of the TNT crime drama Perception, and provided the voice of "Lucky" on The Hub's Pound Puppies. 'Will & Grace' actor Leslie Jordan has died at 67 after his car crashed into a building Rebecca Cohen and Libby Torres Leslie Jordan co-hosts the announcement of nominees for the 94th Annual Academy Awards on February 08, 2022. Leslie Jordan Dead at 67 The beloved character actor was most famous for his scene-stealing roles in shows including Will & Grace, Call Me Kat and American Horror Story By Lanford Beard and. When I got off the bus in 1982, I had $1,200. Following the series conclusion of Will & Grace in 2006, McCormack starred as the leading role in the New York production of Some Girl(s). Following Radner's death from ovarian cancer in 1989, Wilder focused on his interests in painting, writing, and philanthropy, though he returned to acting for several short-lived series and a pair of successful TV-movie mysteries. 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.. She was also an exuberant comic presence in Steven Spielberg's "1941" and "Bachelor Party" with Tom Hanks, with whom she also co-starred in the short-lived but well-loved sitcom "Bosom Buddies.". Actor Kathyrn Joosten played Felicia, the female half of the couple (Kenneth Tigar of "The Man in the High Castle" played her husband, John) in "Ice Cream Balls." Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It changed me in that the concept of any other options disappeared. It feels so cruel that this could happen to such a beautiful soul, Carter wrote. For Will, this included his father, George, who appeared in four episodes of the series, beginning with Season 2's "Oh Dad, Poor Dad, He's Kept Me in the Closet and I'm So Sad." Several people visited the site to take photos and somberly stare at the makeshift memorial. Leslie Jordan, the actor best known for his work on TV shows including Will & Grace, American Horror Story and Call Me Kat, died Monday at 67. For Season 4's two-parter "Moveable Feast," the writers for "Will & Grace" conceived a novel premise for their third Thanksgiving episode: Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen agree to spend just one hour at each of their relatives' homes before returning to their own apartment for the holiday dinner. After working in theater and as a street performer at Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida, Joosten headed to Los Angeles, where she landed roles on series like "ER" and "Frasier." A dazzling parade of stars appeared on the program, including Matt Damon, Demi Lovato, Cher, EltonJohn, Jennifer Lopez, Alec Baldwin, MichaelDouglas, and Madonna. Actor and comedian Leslie Jordan has reportedly died following a car crash Monday morning, according to the LA Times. Both grew up watching Jordan on Will & Grace and were among the millions who tuned into his amusing pandemic dispatches. Gone about thirty years too soon. During the coronavirus pandemic, Jordan's fan base grew as he delivered daily Instagram videos that offered comedic reflections on life during a lockdown. Jordan, who had been sober for two decades, said he coped by turning to alcohol and drugs. From 2009 to 2010 he starred as Dr. Max Kershaw, the psychiatrist turned boyfriend of Julia Louis-Dreyfus' title character in The New Adventures of Old Christine. Sources told TMZ the comedian had been feeling unwell and had even scheduled an appointment to see a cardiologist. His first signature actin which he pretended to cry while begging the audience for laughsled to a star-making appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and steady work as an opening act for major performers like Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas. Jordan also published a book called How Yall Doing? The cause of death of Will and Grace star Leslie Jordan has been revealed. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, she recovered and returned to work on shows like "8 Simple Rules" and "Home Improvement" while also founding theweSPARK Cancer Support Center, which aided cancer patients and their families. He left Ryerson University in 1985 to accept a position with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where he spent five years performing in numerous stage productions. According to IMDb, he appeared in 17 episodes, 14 during the show's original run and three more in the 2017 to 2020 revival. He earned six Emmy nominations and one win for his performance, and would gain two more Emmy nods for a 1994 guest shot on "Chicago Hope" and as TV exec Don Geiss on "30 Rock.". Atherosclerosis is the thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a build-up of plaque. [87] McCormack maintains residences in Los Angeles and Vancouver. A veteran of both television and the Los Angeles theater scene for more than six decades, Morrison's first taste of small-screen stardom came as Sister Sixto on the 1967-1970 sitcom "The Flying Nun" with Sally Field. In Season 6's "A Gay/December Romance," Will and Jack attended an opening at an art gallery, where both met and connected with older men. Bean's last screen appearance came in a 2020 episode of "Grace and Frankie"; the 91-year-old actor was struck and killed by a motorist in Venice, California on February 7, 2020. ', "Actor marvels at Crockefeller's 'twists and turns', "Eric McCormack honoured at Banff World Television Festival", "Humility takes a back seat on Canada's Walk of Fame", "Eric McCormack goes back to TV in new TNT series 'Perception', "TNT Announces Premiere Dates for 'The Closer', 'Falling Skies', 'Leverage', 'Rizzoli & Isles' 'Franklin & Bash'+ Four Brand New Series", "Eric McCormack to star in new TNT pilot", "Eric McCormack Joins Starry Company of Broadway's The Best Man", "Emmy-Award Winning Actor Eric McCormack Presented With MMRF Spirit of Hope Award at the 10th Annual Friends For Life Fall Gala", "Thousands attend Fresno rally supporting gay marriage", "Why should Fresno care about what 'Will and Grace' star Eric McCormack thinks about same sex marriage? The star, known for his roles in Will and Grace and American Horror Story, was killed in a car crash in Los . This was a total crush for us., After Jordan got his big break in 1989 when he was cast in the first season of Murphy Brown, his 30-year career was marked by scene-stealing roles in TV shows such as Bodies of Evidence and Hearts Afire.. Cutell was a staple of episodic TV, including the "Seinfeld" episode "The Fusilli Jerry," in which Kramer discovers that Cutell's character, a proctologist named Dr. Cooperman, is the rightful owner of a very inappropriate vanity license plate. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Actor Tom Sizemore dies; Murdaugh trial ends in life sentence 2021; Prestia died at the age of 64 on October . Banks is smitten with Karen and woos her with vigor, despite knowing that she's married. The beloved actor died on October 24, 2022, at 67. In a statement Monday, GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis called him "a loyal friend to so many LGBTQ organizations.". Actor Leslie Jordan dies in car accident; co-starred on 'Will and Grace' Leslie Jordan, a veteran actor and comedian whose credits include "Will & Grace" and "Call Me Kat," died Monday morning after driving his car into a building. The Tennessee native, who won an on outstanding guest actor Emmy in 2005 for "Will & Grace," appeared recently on the Mayim Bialik comedy "Call Me Kat" and co-starred on the sitcom "The . In a June 2020 interview with the New York Times, Jordan said his queer identity allowed him to find solidarity during the uprisings following the murder of George Floyd. Leslie Jordan, a comedian and actor best known for his roles in "Will & Grace" and "American Horror Story," has died. Im just along for the ride.. In 1999, she earned her breakout role as Mrs. Landingham, the feisty assistant to President Josiah Bartlett on "The West Wing.". Valdez was raised in San Diego and attended La Sierra University in Riverside, where he edited the campus newspaper. Though best remembered for her TV work, which included "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," "Good Morning Miami," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," and "The Fugitive," Pleshette also earned a Golden Globe nomination for Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" and appeared in features like "Support Your Local Gunfighter" and "Nevada Smith" with Steve McQueen. [75] Perception premiered on July 9, 2012. Some mourners also celebrated Jordan, who was openly gay, as an LGBTQ icon who expanded the possibilities of queer identity on and off the screen. Rooted in his church upbringing, those videos inspired him to make an album of country gospel, 2021s Companys Comin, which featured guests such as Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile. His manner of death was classified as natural. received mixed reaction, but McCormack's performance was favored by critics, with Variety's Brian Lowry concluding, "the real kitsch factor resides in Eric McCormack's performance as the suave charmer, which adds an element of high camp to the proceedings. Will became what he describes as a "lady of leisure" for Hal Linden's Alan Mills, while Jack agreed to a date with a cranky elderly gentleman named Bertram. He was 67. The actor won an outstanding guest actor Emmy award in 2005 for his role in Will and Grace.
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