Many of us came to love the diminutive star Leslie Jordan thanks to his showstopping performance as Karen Walker’s flamboyant nemesis Beverly Leslie on the hit TV sitcom Will & Grace. Others became fans of Jordan as he rose to Instagram fame during the Covid-19 pandemic, offering viewers words of wisdom, moments of inspiration, and tiny doses of his signature cheeky humor and hijinks. Sadly, Jordan passed away suddenly in 2022 at the age of 67. But his legacy lives on through re-watches of his great performances.
One thing that is most noticeable in Jordan – aside from his warmth and sense of fun – is his small stature. How tall was Leslie Jordan? Read on to learn this key fact as well as other tidbits about Jordan’s life and career.
How tall was Leslie Jordan?
If you watched Will & Grace, you’d be hard pressed not to remember Karen Walker’s constant insults to Beverly Leslie, played by Leslie Jordan, about his height – or lack thereof. Jordan was happy to play up his small stature in this and other roles, gently poking fun at himself and lending an air of sweet vulnerability to his characters that made him more relatable, even when playing someone as vicious and pretentious as Beverly Leslie.
But how tall with Leslie Jordan, really? Leslie Jordan stood at about 4’11”, making him exceptionally small for an adult human male…and even smaller than most average adult women. He was not afraid to talk about it, and openly told journalists his exact height.
Other Short Celebrities
How did Leslie Jordan’s height stack up to other short celebrities? Tom Cruise – known for being not very tall despite his action hero status – stands at 5’7”, so he towered over Jordan by comparison. Jordan was, however, an inch taller than fellow comedy star Danny Devito, who is only 4’10”.
Other famous stars who are or were exactly 4’11” include icon Judy Garland, The Golden Girls’ matriarch Estelle Getty, musical theater star Kristin Chenoweth, gymnast Shawn Johnson, R&B singer Anita Baker, TV personality Bindi Irwin, and The Big Bang Theory’s Melissa Rauch.
How much does Leslie Jordan weigh?
It is estimated that Leslie Jordan weighed about 150 pounds. Several outlets reported his weight as 68 kilograms, which converts to roughly 150 pounds. He was a very petite man, height-wise, thought of average and proportional build. Not skinny but certainly not overweight either.
How old was Leslie Jordan?
Leslie Jordan sadly passed away at the age of 67 on October 24, 2022 in Los Angeles. He was in a car crash; he suffered a sudden cardiac dysfunction while driving that caused him to crash the vehicle. His cause of death was ruled as being “natural.” Fans the world over were devastated.
More than 2,000 mourners attended his public memorial, in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was titled Love. Light. Leslie. And, true to Leslie’s generous spirit, benefited from an organization that provides medical care to people living with HIV, called Cempa Community Care. Tickets were $20 so it was affordable to most of the general public who loved him.
Jordan loved gospel music his entire life, so the event featured several inspirational performances by well-known gospel singers. He had noted that his “religion is kindness,” and he professed a humanistic sort of spirituality throughout his entire life. It was one of many things fans loved about him.
Leslie Jordan’s Acting Career
Leslie Jordan rose to worldwide fame in his role as the tiny, closeted, bitter nemesis of Karen Walker on Will & Grace. He recurred on the show from 2001 to 2005. He would often enter a scene by saying “Well, well, well, Karen Walker…” followed by a barbed insult. Another recurring joke was his constant reference to his wife when his character was obviously gay.
But Will & Grace was not his first role. Jordan starred in commercials and made guest appearances on TV series including Designing Women, Murphy Brown, and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. He had already played a recurring role on Hearts Afire and starred in the film Sordid Lives before his big Will & Grace break. He also appeared in several plays.
After Will & Grace, his career took off. He played several characters on Ryan Murphy’s dark and popularAmerican Horror Story anthology series. He was also in The Help, the series The Cool Kids, and was starring in the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat when he suddenly passed away.
Leslie Jordan’s Personal Life
Leslie Jordan was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 29, 1955. His father was in the military and died in a plane crash when Jordan was 12. He was extremely close to his mother, who passed away in 2022. While she didn’t always understand his career or his lifestyle, she was always extremely supportive.
Jordan was raised in a Southern Baptist community, which was difficult for him because he was openly gay. He often felt like a “sinner” and struggled with his religion and spirituality. However, he remained committed to his roots as a good Southern boy and fell in love with the music at church. He was always out, and a vocal activist during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s.
Leslie Jordan was open about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, which started when he moved to LA in 1982. He was arrested several times and once shared a cell with Robert Downey Jr! (They later appeared together on Ally McBeal.) He got sober in 1997.
Leslie Jordan’s Instagram, Memoir, and Music Album
Leslie Jordan experienced a career resurgence during the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to his popular, heartfelt Instagram posts. His videos showcased his sweet, funny personality and inspirational words of wisdom for living a happy, loving life. His following quickly grew to 5.8 million followers! Audiences felt like they were “sheltering in place” right along with him.
Jordan was able to capitalize on that following by releasing a memoir called How Y’all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived. The title refers to the phrase often started his pandemic-era videos with.
A lifelong gospel music lover, Jordan released his own gospel music album called “Company’s Comin’” in 2001 during his pandemic-era career renaissance.
Conclusion
Even though Leslie Jordan passed away far too soon, his legacy of talent and kindness will live on for many years to come.
