Leslie Jordan was an actor who appeared on a ton of shows and in a lot of films. TV shows? He guest starred and starred on shows such as THE FALL GUY, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: 1984, FANTASY ISLAND, SUPERNATURAL, BOSTON LEGAL, AMERICAN DAD, REBA, THE NEIGHBORS, RAISING HOPE, UGLY BETTY, JUDGING AMY, ANY DAY NOW, WINGS, LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, ELLEN, DHARMA & GREG, NURSES, STAR TREK: VOYAGER, COACH, CAROLINE IN THE CITY, PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE, PERFECT STRANGERS, NEWHART, MURPHY BROWN, NIGHT COURT, NASH BRIDGES, SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH, MONK, GEORGE LOPEZ, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN, THE COOL KIDS, THE MASKED SINGER, CALL ME KAT, HEARTS AFIRE, BOSTON PUBLIC and, the role that made him a star, he was Karen's best frenemy Beverly Leslie on WILL & GRACE.
He could get laughs where they shouldn't have been. He was very talented and, sadly, he died in October of 2022. The year before, his book HOW Y'ALL DOING? MISADVENTURES AND MISCHIEF FROM A LIFE WELL LIVED was published. KINDLE UNLIMITED subscribers and read it for free at AMAZON.
It's a warm book, like a conversation with him probably would have been.
He writes about meeting Dolly Parton and how, when people would ask him what she was like, he would explain that she's exactly like you think she would be. And that's how Leslie comes off in his book, exactly like you'd think he'd be.
He details what it was like growing up as a gay child born in the 50s in the south. Early on, he wanted a wedding doll for Christmas. His father was convinced he'd forget about it. Then Christmas is hours away and he's excited about Santa bringing that doll. His mother asks his father what they're going to tell him? His father darts out and buys a doll for his son.
He writes about accepting himself and about how Carrie Fisher did him a favor that helped him when his mother was upset because a tabloid had published some photos of him in drag. It was for a character he was playing and what bothered Leslie was that he thought he looked ugly in the photos. But his mother was bothered by the photos himself. Carrie got his mother Debbie Reynolds to call Leslie's mother and she talked to her about acting and various photos of Carrie and stories about Carrie. It made a big difference in how his mother saw his career.
He shares stories about working with Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer on THE HELP. He talks about how Vicki Lawrence was one of his heroes growing up and how it was great to work with her on THE COOL KIDS. He shares about working with Jessica Lange and Lily Tomlin.
It's a warm and funny book and a pleasure to read.