By Mark Gray
2:06pm PDT, Oct 29, 2022
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Beloved comedian and effortlessly entertaining actor Leslie Jordan tragically passed away on Monday, Oct. 24, after reportedly suffering a medical emergency while driving. TMZ reported that the "Will & Grace" star crashed his vehicle into a building in Los Angeles and passed away. Leslie, 67, appeared in a slew of TV show and movies throughout his career and gained a trove of new fans during the pandemic with his quirky videos. Following his stunning death, many in entertainment — including his past co-stars — publicly mourned on social media.
Click through to see how the great Leslie Jordan is being remembered….
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"my heart is breaking. i really can't believe it. leslie jordan was, hands down, one of the greats. people use that expression a lot, and i'm not sure it's always applicable. there aren't that many people who are truly great at anything. but leslie was flawlessly funny, a virtuoso of comedy. his timing, his delivery, all apparently effortless. you can't get any better than that.
and what a friendly, fun-loving, dear person. i was just with him last month. the prestigious national book festival was showcasing leslie and his best-selling book in washington d.c., and he'd asked me to come interview him for his event. i'd done my prep, but it was all completely unnecessary, of course, as i just had to barely unleash him and he went off on a series of absolutely hilarious stories that had the very large audience in hysterics for a solid hour.
off-stage, he was so relaxed and happy, there with his best friend mike. he truly seemed so happy. how brilliant it was that millions of people were able to discover the real leslie and his love of life and unparalleled story-telling abilities on instagram. he had so much to share, and it meant so much to him that finally he'd found a vehicle through which to share it. he was absolutely unique. one of a kind. thank you to all of his fans! he really loved you all and was so genuinely appreciative of you.
i'm so so glad that i got to spend some time with leslie that day before and after the event, just us, catching up. i felt such a deep affection for him that day; he was so warm and present and darling. as we were leaving, i got a couple more big hugs and told him i loved him, as usual. so glad! what a gift!
and so. love you, leslie. miss you already. and one thing i know for sure… there will never ever be another you." –Megan Mullally
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"Well I am as hurt and shocked as if I have lost a family member. Leslie and I had a special bond, I think the world felt they had a special bond with him. I know people always say, 'Oh, they will be missed' but in this case that could not be more true. He will be missed by everyone who knew him personally and by everyone who was entertained by him. Rest in peace lil' brother." –Dolly Parton
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"How can this be? Oh dear dear Leslie, the whole world has dimmed. The joy & delight you have brought into my life has been a beautiful gift. I wish I had the words…. Fly with the angels, friend. And sing, sing, sing." –Debra Messing
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"They broke the mold when they made Leslie Jordan. He was a dear mentor and a beloved friend. I will miss him so much – it's unimaginable that he's gone. Rest well, sweet buddy" –Mayim Bialik
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"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." –Sean Hayes
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"Crushed to learn about the loss of @thelesliejordan, 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." –Eric McCormack
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"What a joyous, effervescent light he was. A true luminary. I feel lucky to have gotten to spend a little time with him. Always left beaming. Rest in rhinestones, Leslie." –Kacey Musgraves
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"I was fortunate enough to interview Leslie during the pandemic [and] it was my first time getting to really meet him. I grew up on a lot of Leslie's comedies, the sitcoms, he made great TikTok videos. Leslie made me happy. Leslie made millions of people happy, and at the end of the day, that is the biggest legacy that one can leave. So God bless you, Leslie, and thank you." –Wayne Brady via Entertainment Tonight
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"If Leslie touched your life in any way, from near or far, you were never the same. Leslie was both a man of the earth and an absolute angel. He was funny as hell and had a depth of emotion that made everyone around him feel loved. I am shocked and sad beyond words to learn of his death, but I am equally filled with immense gratitude at having crossed his path on his journey. Rest in peace, you good, good man." –Jim Parsons
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"Leslie I can't believe! Just broken hearted. You were the Love and Light my friend. Love you so much and will miss you so much. Rest in Heaven" –Nicole Scherzinger
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"There are not enough wonderful things to possibly say about Leslie Jordan in just a tweet. I am so saddened by this -his social media particularly during Covid brought millions of people such joy as did his legacy career in entertainment. He was also just a kind, sweet lovely man" –Meghan McCain
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"We lost a great one today. @thelesliejordan was a wonderful friend to me. Leslie and I met on American Horror Story and made each other laugh. We talked on the phone recently about doing another show together as twin brothers. He truly was my brother. Love you Leslie. I will miss you dearly…" –Dylan McDermott
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"Every Christmas he'd put me on speaker phone to chat with his mom and the twins. My heart breaks for Cricket. She lost her whole family this year. Let's keep her lifted in prayer." –Octavia Spencer
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"This is too sad for us today. Oh Leslie! I love you so much. So much. You are stardust and all the love we are all crying into world. My own spirit lifts when I think of you. And always will. I can imagine millions of others are thanking the heavens you existed here. And gave your true self , but I want your hug again. Your strong hold. You showed me what a great man can be. I love you. I hug your loved ones . Talk to you at cocktail hour soon." –Selma Blair
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"Oh no!!! Leslie!! I have nothing but the fondest memories of you while filming The Help. I'd never been in the presence of anyone who loved life and people as much as you. Your heart was as big as your humor. You lived. You took up space. You were present. Rest well!" –Viola Davis
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"Who wants to live in a world without Leslie Jordan" What a sweet, funny, life-affirming wonderful ray of sunshine that Leslie Jordan was. To know him was to love him and even to follow him on Instagram was to love him. I was so grateful as to have him on 'Watch What Happens Live' and on New Year's Eve with Anderson [Cooper.] I was just thinking we should get him back on this year. He's just a wonderful, sweet, wonderful person." –Andy Cohen
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"omg… dear leslie jordan. what a loss! he was the kindest soul. we lost a great deal of joy, today. #riplesliejordan #lisliejordan" –LeAnne Rimes
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"I feel like I can't breathe. My beautiful and sweet friend. What will we all do without you? Your entire being 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. –Jennifer Love Hewitt
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"Everyone's heartbroken what a loss. What a beautiful beautiful man he was never to be forgotten" –Andie MacDowell
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"Thank you Leslie. For everything you gave to this world. So many laughs, so much inspiration.. You touched my heart and so many other FOREVER!! I love you" –Demi Lovato
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"Leslie Jordan put a smile on the faces of so many, especially with his pandemic videos. 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." –Lynda Carter
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"You beautiful man you. Noooo! My heart hurts by this shocking news. You were the brightest light that I feel blessed to have known for just a little bit. Thank you for shining your light for the world to see in its truest form. Rest In Peace you special man you." –Aaron Paul
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"Thanks for all the laughs—especially in the dark times!" –Cindy Crawford
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"No,No,No. This news is just horrendous. Leslie Jordan. You sunshine through our days. None more so than your selfless warmth and humour through world lockdown. So blessed I got to tell you in person what you'd meant to me. I'm so,so saddened by this news." –Hannah Waddingham
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"This is such a loss" –Sarah Michelle Gellar
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"I just heard about Leslie Jordan. This is unbelievably tragic. He was such a light. Sending love to his family and friends." –Ellen DeGeneres
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"Heaven gained an Angel. God bless. Rest well angel" –Taraji P Henson
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"There's just no way to understand this right now. We will see him again." –Brandi Carlile
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"All of us at Abbott Elementary are sending love to @CallMeKatFOX. We share a stage with this wonderful production and one of my greatest joys was meeting Leslie in the hallway for the first time a few weeks ago. We know this loss is immense. He was pure joy. Heartbreaking." —Quinta Brunson
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"I'm devastated. I loved Leslie and he was truly a force of nature and a beautiful light. He starred in my music videos & we were planning to work together on many projects. But beyond work, he was someone I absolutely loved and admired. The loss is beyond my comprehension." –Margaret Cho
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"Rest In Peace @thelesliejordan I enjoyed every day we worked together. You always made my smile and laugh. You are loved and will be missed!" –Robin Thicke
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"So incredibly sad. He was such a bright light and will be missed by all" –Kyle Richards
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"24.10.2022 I have long admired Leslie Jordan for his humor, his ability to be totally himself and his kindness. I know he touched many people with his art and grace and I know he is making the angels laugh. You were, and are, loved. Rest In Peace dear Leslie." –Johnny Weir
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"I just can't thank you enough for all of the joy & laughter & LOVE you have to all of us. To the world. You were always the kindest person in the room no matter where you were!! I know you are dancing & singing & smiling & laughing with us still. I will miss everything about you. Love you bunches. " –Angie Harmon
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"I would say the world is a dimmer place without you, but you wouldn't like that! Your light and goodness and humor will definitely live on and on. " –Ree Drummond
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"We are heartbroken. Thank you Leslie for bringing so much joy to so many people over the years. " –Kimberly Williams-Paisley
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"Leslie Jordan. What an angel. Gone much too soon. RIP." –Billy Eichner
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"I'm heartbroken to hear the news that Leslie Jordan has died. I loved him. He was kind and sensitive and caring and of course funny as hell. He was a true original. The world will be a lot sadder without Leslie in it" –Katie Couric
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"A gem of a human." –Ruby Rose
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"My whole heart hurts. What a luminous force you were. I love you and will miss you tremendously" –Jaimie Alexander
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"I am gutted by this news. @thelesliejordan was a walking ball of love. I don't know how to process this. He was always so full of joy and LIFE. I just… #RIPLeslieJordan" –Yvette Nicole Brown
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"I'm so sad to read the news of Leslie Jordan's passing. He was such a pleasure to work with on my first TV series, Reasonable Doubts. He was at the top of his game and had so much to look forward to. He exuded JOY and LAUGHTER. RIP dear Leslie #LeslieJordan" –Marlee Matlin
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"You had no choice but to adore Leslie Jordan, he left you no other options. He was magical. I can't believe he's gone." –Kristen Johnston
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"Just devastated at this news. I worked with Leslie as an actor back in the 80s when he and I were in Ski Patrol together and he was just the best. A true sweetheart and such a funny person. The world is a much sadder place without him in it. RIP Leslie." –Paul Feig
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"Love You Leslie. You were the purest form of funny there ever was. RIP, sir" –Eric Stonestreet
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"Soar high my friend." –Lance Bass
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"Completely heartbroken. Leslie Jordan was a kind spirit and provided us with so many laughs. Rest peacefully, friend." –Jackee Harry
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"Leslie Jordan was as talented and genuine as they come. What a ray of sunshine. This is just terrible." –Kevin McHale
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"The last time I worked with Leslie Jordan… we guest co hosted The Talk.. Leslie was so much fun to be around, always had 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." –Loni Love
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"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." –George Takei
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"Oh my Leslie!!!! You will always be a light!!!!" –Michelle Williams
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"Leslie Jordan. Truly one of a kind, he'll be missed dearly!" –Carmen Electra
