Actor Leslie Jordan, who stars in Louisville-based 'Call Me Kat,' dies in car crash

"Call Me Kat" star Leslie Jordan died Monday morning after his car crashed into the side of a building. Police in Hollywood, California believe the veteran actor suffered some sort of "medical emergency" prior to the crash.

He was 67.

Just one month ago, as "Call Me Kat" was preparing to launch Season 3, Leslie, a 2006 Emmy Award winner told the Courier Journal how much he was looking forward to the new season and continuing to work alongside fellow cast members Mayim Bialik, Cheyenne Jackson, Kyla Pratt, Julian Grant and Swoosie Kurtz.

"Phil [Leslie's character] will experience some romance this season and I am excited for that storyline," Leslie told the Courier Journal. "I haven't had many love interests written for me during my career."

The longtime actor and comedian was most often cast as the happy-go-lucky, friend next-door character on shows such as "Will and Grace," "Hearts Afire" and "American Horror Story."

According to Variety, Jordan was an LGBTQ icon and received GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ Timeless Star award in 2021. He appeared on "RuPaul’s Drag Race" as a guest judge in 2013, and again in 2022 as a guest director. During the AIDS crisis, he was involved with the AIDS Project Los Angeles and Project Angel Food.

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Known for his Southern drawl, the Tennessee native was a perfect addition to the "Call Me Kat" cast. The sitcom is fictitiously set in Louisville. Kentucky is a place, Leslie told the Courier Journal, he knew well.

"I exercised racehorses before I started acting so I have spent time in Lexington," Leslie said. "I am now into saddlebreds so I have been to Shelbyville, which is the 'Saddlebred Capitol of the World' to look at horses. But they are very expensive so I'll have to wait until the fourth or fifth season of the show before I can afford one of those."

Leslie also suggested during his recent interview with the Courier Journal that because the show is set in Louisville, the entire cast of "Call Me Kat" should make a point of attending the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

"We can all wear big beautiful hats," he said "and go to that big [Barnstable Brown Gala] the night before the races. Wouldn't that be fun!"

Reach Features Repoter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.