When people try to think of an actor that almost always made them happy, Leslie Jordan is no doubt someone that comes to mind. His humor and personality lit up any room he walked into and made everyone's day better. He appeared in films like The Help and The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Jordan also appeared on television in shows like Will & Grace and American Horror Story."He was a Southern gentleman; tender, wise, naughty and hilarious," wrote his Call Me Kat co-star Mayim Bialik on Instagram. "We got to know and love him at the height of his happiness and joy and it is inconceivable to imagine a world without our Leslie: the man who would spit on his contact lenses before putting them in his eyes, the man who had a story about every man in Hollywood and some of the women as well, the man who lived to make people laugh."

His Will & Grace co-star Megan Mullally wrote on Instagram, "Leslie Jordan was, hands down, one of the greats. People use that expression a lot, and I’m not sure it’s always applicable. There aren’t that many people who are truly great at anything. But Leslie was flawlessly funny, a virtuoso of comedy."

When Jordan passed away in a car accident at the age of 67, people were heartbroken. This was a man who brought us joy and laughter for many decades. He cheered everyone up during the quarantine in 2020 with his hilarious social media posts. In the wake of Jordan's passing, it would be remiss if we didn't look back at some of his most memorable roles.

8 Will & Grace

Leslie Jordan played Beverly Leslie on the hit sitcom. Leslie was Karen Walker's nemesis who shared a friendly rapport with her at the same time. Their dynamic was the stuff of comedic genius and Jordan always brought a laugh to the show. His character was one of the most beloved parts of the entire series. Jordan appeared in 17 episodes throughout the show's 20-year run. Jordan won an Emmy for his performance in 2006 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

Related: Leslie Jordan Reveals He Was Pranked By George Clooney

7 Pee-wee's Playhouse

Jordan appeared in an episode of the popular children's television series Pee-wee's Playhouse in 1990. Jordan played the role of Busby, a mysterious figure who keeps stealing Pee-wee's possessions. Throughout the episode, Pee-wee wonders why his stuff keeps going missing, only to discover Busby's identity. Busby tells Pee-wee that he's new to the neighborhood and wants to be just like him so he can make friends. Reubens recently paid tribute to Jordan on Twitter, where he revealed he wanted Jordan to appear in the show after seeing him on Murphy Brown.

6 Call Me Kat

In the sitcom Call Me Kat, Jordan played the character of Phil, a friend and employee of Kat, played by Mayim Bialik. Phil was an older gay man who was freshly single and worked at Kat's café. He brought big laughs to the audience every episode as only Jordan was able to do. He was working on the show's third season when he died. The show's production has since been halted. The episode "Call Me Uncle Dad" aired on October 27 as planned and included a tribute to Jordan.

5 The Cool Kids

Sitcoms seemed to be a great place for Jordan's brand of comedy. He was always able to bring an attitude and timing that worked perfectly in a sitcom format. When he appeared on the show The Cool Kids, Jordan played the role of Sidney Delacroix. Delacroix was one of the three older residents of a retirement community. When a younger woman (played by Vicki Lawrence) arrives to the community, the other residents are forced to adjust to her presence. Unfortunately, this particular sitcom only ran for one season in 2018.

Related: Here's How Much The 'Will & Grace' Cast Was Paid Per Episode

4 Hearts Afire

Hearts Afire was a television series which focused on the dynamic between the aide of a conservative politician and a liberal reporter. Jordan's character in this series was Lonnie Garr. Garr was an odd yet endearing character who was mostly worried about being sued by his nextdoor neighbor over a hole he (allegedly) dug in his yard. Jordan appeared on the show from 1992 to 1995. The role was yet another example of Jordan's brilliant acting and comedic talent.

3 American Horror Story

Another series Jordan appeared in several times over the years was American Horror Story. In the third season, American Horror Story: Coven, Jordan played Witches' Councilor Quentin Fleming. In the sixth season, American Horror Story: Roanoke, he played Ashley Gilbert. In the ninth season, American Horror Story: 1984, he played Courtney. Throughout his many appearances in the Ryan Murphy series, Jordan once again showed a different side to his acting abilities.

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2 Murphy Brown

Jordan made a guest appearance on the popular television series Murphy Brown in its first season. It was one of Jordan's earliest television appearances. He played the role of Kyle, an innocent man who was freed thanks to Murphy. However, it soon becomes obvious to everyone that Kyle has a problem adjusting to the outside world. Seeking to help him out, Miles ends up offering Kyle a job as Murphy's secretary. This episode showed early signs of Jordan's power and unique talent.

1 The United States v. Billie Holiday

When Billie Holiday released the song "Strange Fruit," she received intense backlash from the government. A film about this particular controversy was made and released in 2021. In The United States v. Billie Holiday, Jordan plays Reginald Lord Devine, a journalist who interviews Holiday about the song "Strange Fruit." Jordan acted alongside Andra Day in the film. It would ultimately become Jordan's final film appearance.