Leslie Jordan became well-known on social media during the COVID pandemic lockdown after he started sharing relatable, funny, and heartwarming Instagram posts.
Leslie Jordan passed away on October 24 at the age of 67 after crashing his car into a building. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office has now confirmed that the Call Me Kat actor actually passed due to "sudden cardiac dysfunction," specifically arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It was also determined that Jordan had suffered a medical emergency prior to crashing his car into a building in Hollywood, California. Despite initial suspicions of driving under the influence, authorities found no evidence of drug or alcohol use, as Jordan had been sober for over 20 years at the time of his death, per PEOPLE.
Leslie Jordan #LoveLightLeslie 🤍 pic.twitter.com/lAHbtWYGl4
— Andrew McBride (@andrewmcb) January 10, 2023
At the time, authorities told TMZ they thought Jordan experienced a medical emergency of some kind before the collision. According to the coroner's findings, Leslie was taking heart medicine at the time of his death. His heart was also in extremely poor condition, with one of his arteries being 80% and another 50% obstructed.
Leslie had a scheduled appointment with a heart doctor and had complained of having trouble breathing in the weeks before his death. Hollywood was in disbelief when Leslie passed away, especially his Call Me Kat co-stars, the show he was driving to when he died.
Jordan was most known for playing roles on shows like Call Me Kat, American Horror Story, and Will & Grace. Jordan became well-known on social media during the COVID pandemic lockdown after he started sharing relatable, funny, and heartwarming Instagram posts. In these, he revealed details of his life as a gay man living in the South, sharing anecdotes from his family and personal experience.
It turns out that 67-year old actor and social media sensation Leslie Jordan died of a heart attack. Sadly it led him crash his car nearly 3 months ago. What a fabulous and joyful talent he was! pic.twitter.com/m3dUSuHxU9
— Deborah Roberts (@DebRobertsABC) January 20, 2023
Jordan's followers appreciated him for his charming personality and hilarious storytelling. One of the first times Jordan felt fully seen for who he was, rather than just the roles he became known for, was when he got popular on social media, he told PEOPLE. "People knew me from my characters, but I'm amazed that people discovered me as me. They loved me. And they came back," he said.
Jordan's friends and supporters from all over the world paid tribute to him on social media after hearing of his passing. The Call Me Kat show issued a statement that was penned by Mayim Bialik after it briefly suspended production to allow the ensemble to grieve. "We are shocked and devastated by today's tragic passing of Leslie Jordan," the Big Bang Theory star wrote, adding, "Leslie was far more than an Emmy Award-winning comedic talent with whom we've laughed alongside for all these years. He was the kindest person you could ever imagine who simply lit up a room and brought pure joy and huge smiles to millions of people around the world."
The statement continued, "The truest of Southern Gentlemen, Leslie carried an infectious exuberance, indelible sense of humor and, throughout, gifted us with countless fond memories that will last forever. As we grieve this sad news, we also wish to extend our most profound sympathies to Leslie's family, friends, and fans, whom he held so dear."
References:
https://people.com/tv/leslie-jordan-cause-of-death-confirmed/
Image Source: Getty Images | Handout
