Leslie Jordan enjoyed renewed fame during days of the pandemic as his Instagram videos went viral

Beloved comedian and actor Leslie Jordan discovered a new talent in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic as television and movie productions were shut down. 

Jordan would regularly go viral during the spring of 2020 on his Instagram page with his light-hearted take on the world, bringing the world a little joy during what was an extremely difficult time for most people.   

The Will & Grace and American Horror Story star died after suffering a medical emergency and crashing his BMW into the side of a Hollywood building on Monday. He was 67 years old.  

A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told DailyMail.com that they received reports that a car crashed into a wall located at Romaine Street and Cahuenga Blvd about 9.30am.

Just hours after his death was reported, a makeshift memorial featuring flowers and trinkets had begun to appear at the site of the accident. 

One mourner, Joey Wiser, told the Los Angeles Times how Jordan’s videos made him feel in the midst of pandemic: ‘I think it brought a lot of us together in a time when we were not sure what was going on.’

Almost immediately following the car crash in which he lost his life, a memorial sprang up featuring flowers and trinkets that celebrated his life

In many of his videos, Jordan would greet his followers being saying: ‘Well, s***, what are y’all doing?’ According to the LA Times report, he posted twice a day for 80 days in a row.  

In addition to his new career as a social media star, Jordan recently took up a career as a country singer and just teased about the release of a new song a day before he died. 

Thanks to the success of his videos, Jordan saw his Instagram follower count sky rocket from 80,000 to nearly six million in 2020, according to the Daily Beast. 

Arguably his most successful effort saw him record the first time he listened to Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s controversial smash hit WAP. 

He said of the song: ‘Well, that is just shocking! Oh, my god. There’s some whores in this house, oh my lord. I don’t judge, to each his own.’

In other videos, Jordan demanded, with a baton in hand, his ‘Daddy’ twirl him around saying: ‘Daddy! Daddy, watch me twirl! Daddy! Watch me!’ A possible nod to the use of the term ‘Daddy’ in the gay dating scene. One mourner at the site of his memorial, watched the twirl video in front of a Los Angeles Times reporter. 

In another, he spoke about Listerine only being able to kill 99 percent of germs, wondering which was the one the product couldn’t kill.

While in another he watched pornography over breakfast and in another he sang a Lizzo song in Sia’s voice. More regularly would relay anecdotes from his acting career. 

He spoke about his viral successes in a June 2020 interview with the Washington Post saying: ‘I’m not sure what happened. The shutdown, of course, we all had to hunker down and stay at home, and my number started—I would just notice, oh my gosh, I’ve got like 20,000 more.’

The Call Me Kat star continued: ‘Who are these people? I had no idea. It’s all of a sudden becoming popular, and how is this happening?’ 

He even spoke about his success in one of his videos saying: ‘A friend of mine called from California and said: ‘You have gone viral.’ And I said: ‘No, honey , I’m fine. I don’t have Covid.’

Jordan added: ‘I don’t know how I did it because now I scramble for content…. Every day, I’m thinking, “Oh, my God! I need to post. What should I come up with?”‘

The country artists posted a video of himself singing along with songwriter Danny Myrick on Instagram on Sunday and announced he would be releasing a new single

In another of his final videos, Jordan spoke about his coming out story on his TikTok profile. He said: ‘In high school, I would tell people that I had this secret. I’d sit them down and say, ‘Listen, I have a secret.’ And I would tell them, ‘I’m gay.”

He went on: ‘They’d look at me and say, ‘Yeah. What’s the secret? You’re gay and you murdered somebody?’ It’s pretty obvious.’ 

Jordan, who was known for his work on Will & Grace, Call Me Kat, and American Horror Story, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and lived in Los Angeles. He won an on outstanding guest actor Emmy in 2006 for his role as Beverly Leslie in NBC’s hit show ‘Will & Grace’ on which he had a recurring role. 

His co-stars, Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack, were among the first stars to pay tribute to him.  

Sean Hayes wrote on Twitter: ‘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.’ 

Co-star Eric McCormack, who played the leading role of Will Truman, said he was ‘crushed’ by the loss.   

‘The funniest & flirtiest southern gent I’ve ever known. The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his #WillandGrace episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man.’ 

Costars Debra Messing and Megan Mullally have not yet commented on Jordan’s death. 

In Jordan’s final Instagram post on Sunday, he posted a video of himself singing along with songwriter Danny Myrick and announced he would be releasing a new single soon. 

‘Sunday Mornin’ Hymm Singin’ with @dannymyrick,’ Jordan wrote on social media. ‘Danny helped me with a new original song that should be comin’ out real soon. Love. Light. Leslie.’  

Jordan teased the release of a new country song on Instagram yesterday. Fans were quick to pay their condolences online 

Police received a call at 9.30am about a car that had crashed into a wall located at Romaine Street and Cahuenga Blvd

Sean Hayes, Will & Grace costar, also paid tribute on social media 

Eric McCormack, who plays Will Truman on Will & Grace, also remembered Jordan on Twitter

A representative for Jordan announced his death on the actor’s social media page and asked fans to share their favorite memories of the star. 

‘The 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.’ 

‘The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,’ his agent added in a statement to Reuters. ‘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. What he lacked in height he made up in generosity and greatness as son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being.’ 

 Police were seen surrounding the scene this morning

 A tent was set up behind Jordan’s BMW on Monday morning 

Police closed down the road where Jordan crashed his vehicle 

Jordan appeared in a number of hit TV shows, including Ugly Betty, Star Trek: Voyager, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and Reba. He also appeared on this year’s CNN’s New Year’s Eve countdown to ring in 2022 along with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. 

The beloved Will & Grace star blew up on social media in 2020 by posting humorous videos on social media. 

It began when he started posting to the social media platform as he hunkered down in his native Chattanooga, Tennessee, in March 2020 during the pandemic. Jordan’s videos consisted of him asking ‘How ya’ll doin?’ and giving fans an insight to his childhood. 

‘I would just sit here and think of things and think: ‘oh, that’s funny,” Jordan told DailyMail.com. ‘And I would, you know, put it out.’ 

The television star captivated a different audience and is now at 5.8 million followers on Instagram and 2.3 million on TikTok. Jordan never set out to make viral content. It’s his truly genuine off-the-cuff takes or, ‘pillow talk’ as he as dubbed it, that makes the videos a pure joy to watch.

‘People knew me from my characters, but I’m amazed that, people discovered me as me. They loved me. And they came back,’ Jordan said at the time. 

Jordan’s social media fam led him to write a new book, ‘How Y’all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived.’ He released his first book in 2008 – which was a memoir, dubbed ‘My Trip down the Red Carpet.’ 

Celebrities and fans were devastated to learn about the natural comedian’s death.

‘Leslie Jordan put a smile on the faces of so many, especially with his pandemic videos,’ actress Lynda Carter wrote. ‘What a feat to keep us all laughing and connected in such difficult times… It feels so cruel that this could happen to such a beautiful soul.’ 

‘Heartbreaking – RIP Leslie Jordan,’ producer Gibson Johns wrote on Twitter. ‘How incredible that he was able to feel so much love and admiration for his talents during his resurgence over the past several years. He had so much more to give.’ 

‘This is so heartbreaking,’ playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris wrote. ‘Your star shined bright no matter where you were on screen and even moreso off. You were truly one of the spirits that made aging as a queer man feel more exciting than existing in the present. To a lived fully! RIP LESLIE JORDAN.’ 

Loni Love, cohost of The Real talkshow, also chimed in to pay tribute to Jordan. She wrote: ‘The last time I worked with Leslie Jordan… we guest co hosted The Talk… Leslie was so much fun to be around, always a funny story and he inspired me to keep going in an industry that could be ageist… I will miss you my friend.. Mama is waiting on you.’ 

‘I feel like I can’t breathe,’ Ghost Whisper actress Jennifer Hewitt added. ‘My beautiful and sweet friend. What will we do without you? Your entire spread love, sunshine and goodness. I will miss you more than I have words to say. Love you friend. May you make heaven as joyful as you made earth.’ 

Actor George Takei added:’I am stunned at the death of Leslie Jordan, who delighted us with his many roles on television and film. 

‘The cause of death was a car crash after he suffered a medical emergency. Leslie, we are heartbroken at your loss and will miss your mirth and your inimitable spirit.’

Jordan appeared in other television series, such as Ugly Betty, Star Trek: Voyager, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and Reba

He became a breakout Instagram star during the COVID-19 pandemic 

The television star captivated a different audience when he took on Instagram two years ago and is now at 5.8 million followers on Instagram

Celebrities poured their hearts out in remembrance of Jordan on social media

Actor George Takei confirmed the later actor’s death and mourned him on Twitter.

Loni Love, cohost of The Real talkshow, also chimed in to pay tribute to Jordan

Jordan previously chatted with DailyMailTV in March 2021 about becoming an unlikely quarantine-era social media star. 

At the time, the actor chatted with host Thomas Roberts about the next chapter in his career toward country music. 

‘When I got to Hollywood, I never thought, oh, well, I want to pursue a career in music or anything,’ Leslie explained at the time.

Jordan’s county album, dubbed ‘Company’s Comin’,’ released in 2021 and featured some of the biggest names in music – including his friend, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder.

A few of his hits on the album included ‘Where the Soul Never Dies’ with singer Dolly Parton and ‘The One Who Hideth Me’ featuring Vedder. 

He took his musical career a step further late last year and appeared on ‘The Masked Singer’ to perform the song ‘This Little Light of Mine.’ 

Going Country! Leslie Jordan exclusively chatted with DailyMailtTV host Thomas Roberts about the surprising next chapter in his career – and his latest project to raise money for a very important cause

‘When I got to Hollywood, I never thought, oh, well, I want to pursue a career in music or anything,’ Leslie said of his upcoming debut country album Company’s Comin’

Jordan came to Hollywood in 1982. The Cool Kids (above) was one of his hit shows released in 2018 

Jordan was cast as Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace (above). He won an Emmy for his role in the show in 2006 

Jordan is seen above in episode 17 of Will & Grace, dubbed Cowboys and Iranians 

Jordan arrived in Hollywood in 1982 and soon found work in a variety of TV shows including Murphy Brown, Night Court, Midnight Caller, and Hearts Afire.

By the 2000s, he was working steadily in primetime hits such as Ally McBeal, Boston Public and Boston Legal.

In 2001, he was cast as Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace and continued to appear regularly throughout its run until it ended after eight seasons in 2006.

He won the 2006 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for the role and he returned for the sictom’s reboot from 2017 to 2020.

Jordan also appeared in the hit 2011 movie The Help and in several episodes of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series American Horror Story on FX.

He then returned to the big screen for the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat which stars Mayim Bialik and is executive produced by Jim Parsons.