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www.ambiente.us OCTOBER | OCTUBRE 2008
LESLIE JORDAN: On the Pink Carpet
By Herb Sosa
When Leslie Jordan stepped off a Greyhound
bus from the hills of Tennessee headed to
Hollywood, he never looked back. That was
1982, and with hundreds of television shows,
films and commercials to his credit, he has
become a familiar face on the entertainment
scene.
Many will remember Leslie for his 2006 Emmy
Award Winning portrayal of Beverley Leslie
Karen’s nemesis on Will and Grace and is
currently on LOGO as Brother Boy in Sordid
Lives, but don’t just assume his life is one
continuous laugh or that he is always ready to
deliver a punch-line at a party… Jordan’s
journey of self-exploration, discovery and
healing has made him more authentic to
himself and his craft, and yes, he smiles and
laughs a lot more now too.
I recently chatted with Leslie while he took
some time off between tours and went back
to Tennessee for some R & R..
Leslie’s book My trip down the Pink Carpet was
extremely funny, candid and honest. Comedy
has always come naturally to him.
“I have always been funny, or used comedy to get me through
things – like bullies picking on this little sissy – as a self- defense
mechanism.”
As an adult he found myself falling back to comedy as a comfort zone, especially in social situations
were he was expected to always be on or a character… How is it to work with this one or what was it
like to… “I used comedy as an escape and often found myself holding court at parties and bars,
before my sobriety.”
Getting Sober
At age 53, Leslie has been sober for over a
decade, but shares it is never easy. “I just can’t
stand when they tell you ‘You’ll be able to go
bars, parties be around alcohol & drugs – no
problem’ well it is just not that easy. It takes
work.” After several visits to jail, an alcohol and
Crystal Meth addiction, Leslie can look back at
it all and laughs. “I could do a bump of Crystal,
or Tina at they call it now, and stay home by
myself and clean the house – it was like giving
Ritalin to a kid – it made me feel skewed and
centered.”
It took most of his early adult life to come to
terms with his addictions. While working on a TV
show (Pacific Blue) for longtime friend Del Shore,
Leslie was arrested several times. “For silly little
things… But it wasn't until the last time I called Del to
bail me out that he said ‘Your gonna end up dead in a ditch’ and left me there and then I realized it
was time to grow up.” At 42 his self proclaimed Journey of Sobriety and Queendom began.
A quote in a play by Del Shore -about being Gay, Southern & Baptist-and walking into a church and
saying “This is where we learned to hate ourselves”, hit home. Leslie had to overcome a lot of self-
loathing and hate along with getting sober. For the first time he had to learn to not hate who he
was, and to change that pattern without drugs or alcohol.
“Drugs are unfortunately a huge issue in our community. When I was growing up I thought I was the
only sissy in the planet. Drugs helped me to escape that. Today there is the Internet, TV – many
community resources for young kids to find themselves – find their tribe… Participate in your own
recovery.”
Recently as part of his nationwide tour to promote My Trip Down the Pink Carpet, Leslie rented a
house in Provincetown and invited his mom and family to stay with him for a few days. Up until this
point he had kept his family life separate from his professional and even personal life, though his mom
and others -raised Baptist and not exposed to much gayness- have been very loving & supportive for
years. “I respected & accepted her life and she respected & accepted mine. My mom was so
thrilled to see how my love people had for me on the streets- this made me very happy for me and
her.”
When discussing Discrimination and the world around us, Leslie sees it as “A lack of enlightenment, of
empathy. A lot of Baptist like the ones I was raised with I don’t really think hate gays, they think they
have love for everyone and everything, they just are ignorant. The great thing is that the next
generation- their kids- are growing up in a different and more accepting world.”
About a Biographical Movie
“I would have to play myself if there was ever a movie about my
life. Can’t think of anyone else who could do it!”
Reoccurring Dreams
1- I am given an acting job, but no one gives me a script or tells me what it’s all about.
2- Forgot to feed my pets…I don’t have any now, but I had a pony once…
3- I am standing there naked, trying desperately to put on my Brother Boy eyelashes!
WORD ASSOCIATION
Tennessee - Home
Theatre - Also Home
TV/Movies – Where to make money
Men - I LOVE men!
Hollywood – Sucks to play the game
Success - Icing on the cake… Gravy
Favorite thing to wear – Cologne
I want to be remembered as – A little white, gay Rosa Parks
Tour Schedule
8/7-8/9 - Provincetown 8 PM Crown & Anchor
9/4-9/5 - Atlanta, GA (14th St Playhouse)
9/6-9/7 - Birmingham, AL (Terrific New Theatre)
9/8 - Nashville, TN (Belcourt Theater)
9/11-9/12 - Rehoboth Beach (Rehoboth Beach Theater)
9/13 - Norfolk, VA TCC Roper Performing Arts Theater
9/29-9/30 - Charlotte, NC (Theatre Charlotte)
10/23 - San Antonio, TX (Cameo Theater)
10/24-10/25 Dallas, TX (TBA)
10/26 - New Orleans, LA ( Special Appearance)
10/27 - Austin, TX (TBA)
10/28-10/29 - Houston, TX (Country Playhouse)
10/30 - Tulsa, OK (John H. Williams Theater at PAC Center)
11/2 - Palm Springs, CA (Annenberg Theater)
11/10-11/11 - Miami Beach, FL (Colony Theatre)
11/13-11/15 - Key West, FL (The Chrystal Room Cabaret)
11/21 - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Amaturo Theater)
11/19-11/20 - Orlando, FL (Footlight Theater, Parliament House)
For more info, visit www.thelesliejordan.com
A special thank you to Leslie Jordan & Lindsley Lowell for making this interview possible-
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
LESLIE JORDAN: On the Pink Carpet
By Herb Sosa
When Leslie Jordan stepped off a Greyhound
bus from the hills of Tennessee headed to
Hollywood, he never looked back. That was
1982, and with hundreds of television shows,
films and commercials to his credit, he has
become a familiar face on the entertainment
scene.
Many will remember Leslie for his 2006 Emmy
Award Winning portrayal of Beverley Leslie
Karen’s nemesis on Will and Grace and is
currently on LOGO as Brother Boy in Sordid
Lives, but don’t just assume his life is one
continuous laugh or that he is always ready to
deliver a punch-line at a party… Jordan’s
journey of self-exploration, discovery and
healing has made him more authentic to
himself and his craft, and yes, he smiles and
laughs a lot more now too.
I recently chatted with Leslie while he took
some time off between tours and went back
to Tennessee for some R & R..
Leslie’s book My trip down the Pink Carpet was
extremely funny, candid and honest. Comedy
has always come naturally to him.
“I have always been funny, or used comedy to get me through
things – like bullies picking on this little sissy – as a self- defense
mechanism.”
As an adult he found myself falling back to comedy as a comfort zone, especially in social situations
were he was expected to always be on or a character… How is it to work with this one or what was it
like to… “I used comedy as an escape and often found myself holding court at parties and bars,
before my sobriety.”
Getting Sober
At age 53, Leslie has been sober for over a
decade, but shares it is never easy. “I just can’t
stand when they tell you ‘You’ll be able to go
bars, parties be around alcohol & drugs – no
problem’ well it is just not that easy. It takes
work.” After several visits to jail, an alcohol and
Crystal Meth addiction, Leslie can look back at
it all and laughs. “I could do a bump of Crystal,
or Tina at they call it now, and stay home by
myself and clean the house – it was like giving
Ritalin to a kid – it made me feel skewed and
centered.”
It took most of his early adult life to come to
terms with his addictions. While working on a TV
show (Pacific Blue) for longtime friend Del Shore,
Leslie was arrested several times. “For silly little
things… But it wasn't until the last time I called Del to
bail me out that he said ‘Your gonna end up dead in a ditch’ and left me there and then I realized it
was time to grow up.” At 42 his self proclaimed Journey of Sobriety and Queendom began.
A quote in a play by Del Shore -about being Gay, Southern & Baptist-and walking into a church and
saying “This is where we learned to hate ourselves”, hit home. Leslie had to overcome a lot of self-
loathing and hate along with getting sober. For the first time he had to learn to not hate who he
was, and to change that pattern without drugs or alcohol.
“Drugs are unfortunately a huge issue in our community. When I was growing up I thought I was the
only sissy in the planet. Drugs helped me to escape that. Today there is the Internet, TV – many
community resources for young kids to find themselves – find their tribe… Participate in your own
recovery.”
Recently as part of his nationwide tour to promote My Trip Down the Pink Carpet, Leslie rented a
house in Provincetown and invited his mom and family to stay with him for a few days. Up until this
point he had kept his family life separate from his professional and even personal life, though his mom
and others -raised Baptist and not exposed to much gayness- have been very loving & supportive for
years. “I respected & accepted her life and she respected & accepted mine. My mom was so
thrilled to see how my love people had for me on the streets- this made me very happy for me and
her.”
When discussing Discrimination and the world around us, Leslie sees it as “A lack of enlightenment, of
empathy. A lot of Baptist like the ones I was raised with I don’t really think hate gays, they think they
have love for everyone and everything, they just are ignorant. The great thing is that the next
generation- their kids- are growing up in a different and more accepting world.”
About a Biographical Movie
“I would have to play myself if there was ever a movie about my
life. Can’t think of anyone else who could do it!”
Reoccurring Dreams
1- I am given an acting job, but no one gives me a script or tells me what it’s all about.
2- Forgot to feed my pets…I don’t have any now, but I had a pony once…
3- I am standing there naked, trying desperately to put on my Brother Boy eyelashes!
WORD ASSOCIATION
Tennessee - Home
Theatre - Also Home
TV/Movies – Where to make money
Men - I LOVE men!
Hollywood – Sucks to play the game
Success - Icing on the cake… Gravy
Favorite thing to wear – Cologne
I want to be remembered as – A little white, gay Rosa Parks
Tour Schedule
8/7-8/9 - Provincetown 8 PM Crown & Anchor
9/4-9/5 - Atlanta, GA (14th St Playhouse)
9/6-9/7 - Birmingham, AL (Terrific New Theatre)
9/8 - Nashville, TN (Belcourt Theater)
9/11-9/12 - Rehoboth Beach (Rehoboth Beach Theater)
9/13 - Norfolk, VA TCC Roper Performing Arts Theater
9/29-9/30 - Charlotte, NC (Theatre Charlotte)
10/23 - San Antonio, TX (Cameo Theater)
10/24-10/25 Dallas, TX (TBA)
10/26 - New Orleans, LA ( Special Appearance)
10/27 - Austin, TX (TBA)
10/28-10/29 - Houston, TX (Country Playhouse)
10/30 - Tulsa, OK (John H. Williams Theater at PAC Center)
11/2 - Palm Springs, CA (Annenberg Theater)
11/10-11/11 - Miami Beach, FL (Colony Theatre)
11/13-11/15 - Key West, FL (The Chrystal Room Cabaret)
11/21 - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Amaturo Theater)
11/19-11/20 - Orlando, FL (Footlight Theater, Parliament House)
For more info, visit www.thelesliejordan.com
A special thank you to Leslie Jordan & Lindsley Lowell for making this interview possible-
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.