Leslie Jordan: File photo: Leslie Jordan's cause of death was revealed on Thursday by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. (Handout/Getty Images)
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Actor-comedian Leslie Jordan suffered “sudden cardiac dysfunction” before his vehicle crashed into the side of a building in October, medical officials said Thursday.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, hardening of the arteries also contributed to the Oct. 24 death of Jordan, 67, who was pronounced dead at the scene in Hollywood, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Jordan was driving a BMW when he crashed into the side of a building at Cahuenga Boulevard and Romaine Street, according to the newspaper. At the time, a law enforcement source told the Times that the condition of the actor’s vehicle suggested that a medical emergency had led to the crash.
Jordan was best known for his characters on “Will & Grace,” “American Horror Story,” “The Cool Kids” and “Call Me Kat,” People reported.
Jordan became an overnight social media sensation during the COVID-19 pandemic due to his uplifting and often silly video posts on Instagram from his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to TMZ, Jordan’s Instagram followers ballooned from about 80,000 to roughly 5.8 million because of his posts.
“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,’” Leslie joked to the Times in 2021.
In early January, “Call Me Kat” aired an episode with a special tribute from country singer Dolly Parton, a longtime friend, People reported.
“I know usually at a memorial, people talk about somebody. Well, I’m going to talk to you,” the 76-year-old Parton said. “Because there is that place on the other side, and I’m certainly going to see you there, little brother. You left a lot of people here with a lot of precious, precious memories. Everybody loved you, but I doubt many of them loved you more than I did.”
Jordan, who stood 4 feet, 11 inches tall, won an Emmy Award in 2006 for his role as Beverley Leslie in “Will & Grace,” People reported. He also competed on “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2014, appearing in 14 episodes, according to IMDb.com.
He was memorialized in Chattanooga on Nov. 20 at an event attended by hundreds of fans and friends, including Mayor Tim Kelly, the Times reported.
Through the years Leslie Jordan (Boston Public) at Fox TV's TCA party at Yamashiro's restaurant in Los Angeles, Ca. 7/18/01. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Leslie Jordan arrives at the premiere of Lost In The Pershing Point Hotel November 27, 2001 in West Hollywood, CA. (Photo by Jason Kirk/Getty Images) (Jason Kirk/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 19: Actor Leslie Jordan with the "Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series" award for his work on "Will & Grace" poses in the press room at the 2006 Creative Arts Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on August 19, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - APRIL 04: Actor Leslie Jordan attends the opening of "Lend Me A Tenor" at the Music Box Theatre on April 4, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) (Will Ragozzino/Getty Images)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 09: Actor Leslie Jordan attends the premiere Of DreamWorks Pictures' 'The Help' held at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Samuel Goldwyn Theater on August 9, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - APRIL 12: Leslie Jordan attends the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 12, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for GLAAD) (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: (L-R) Actors Martin Mull, Leslie Jordan and David Alan Grier attend FOX Hosts "The Cool Kids" Outdoor Screening Event at Roxbury Park on September 24, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images) (Earl Gibson III/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 06: Leslie Jordan attends the Fox Winter TCA at The Fig House on February 06, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Through the years (L-R) In this screengrab, Leslie Jordan and Mayim Bialik speak at the 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards on March 07, 2021. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for the Critics Choice Association) (Getty Images/Getty Images for the Critics Cho)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 27: Leslie Jordan joins Nordstrom to celebrate NYC Pride on June 27, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Nordstrom) (Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Nordstrom)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 27: Leslie Jordan and Lady Bunny join Nordstrom to celebrate NYC Pride on June 27, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Nordstrom) (Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Nordstrom)
Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: Leslie Jordan attends the 2022 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images) (Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
Leslie Jordan FILE PHOTO: Leslie Jordan co-hosts the announcement of nominees for the 94th Annual Academy Awards on February 08, 2022.(Photo by Handout/Getty Images) (Richard Harbaugh/Getty Images)