Leslie Jordan's Cause Of Death Related To Heart Disease

Actor Leslie Jordan passed away suddenly on October 24 when he experienced a medical event that led him to crash into the side of a building in Hollywood, California.

The 67-year-old actor’s death was a shock to many in the industry, especially his costars on the Fox sitcom “Call Me Kat.” On Thursday afternoon, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office released his death certificate, listing his cause of death as “sudden cardiac dysfunction.”

According to documents obtained by The Blast, beloved actor Leslie Allen Jordan died from sudden cardiac dysfunction due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

According to the Medical Examiner investigator's report, he was driving when he veered off the road and struck a vehicle. The vehicle continued and eventually collided with a building. Parademics were called in but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The autopsy showed no signs of life-threatening trauma. Internal examination showed that he suffered from moderate to severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office determined that his death was from natural causes and listed arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease as a secondary factor in his sudden passing.

According to the coroner’s report, there was no evidence of “life-threatening injury.” The medical examiner noted a “2 x 1-3/4 inch red brown abrasion under the chin, scattered red-brown abrasions ranging from 1/16 to ¼ inch in greatest dimension on the right upper chest in the area of a defibrillator pad impression, and a ¼ x 3/616 inch red-yellow abrasion of the medical proximal left forearm.”

The medical examiner also noted “a ¼ x ¼ inch round purple contusion is present on the left dorsal hand at the base of the ring finger.” There was no evidence of fractures in his neck and his chest and abdominal cavities showed no signs of hemorrhage or abnormal fluid.

A toxicology report was performed and tested negative for ethanol, marijuana, common illicit drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA), and commonly abused prescription medications (benzodiazepines, fentanyl, and opiates).

Shortly after his passing, “Call Me Kat,” which stars “The Big Bang Theory” alum and “Jeopardy!” co-host Mayim Bialik, paused production. Leslie Jordan had portrayed the character of Phil since the show’s first season, and, according to Deadline, had completed nine episodes of the series before he passed.

In a statement, the cast and producers mourning his passing, writing, “There aren’t words to convey the loss we are experiencing as a cast and a Call Me Kat family. Leslie Jordan was larger than life,” the statement read. “He was a Southern gentleman; tender, wise, naughty, and hilarious.”

“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.”

“We will be taking time to grieve and to celebrate the many gifts Leslie gave to us and to the entire world and we appreciate privacy at this time,” they continued, while the “Blossom” child star took to Twitter to share her own tribute to the comedy legend.

In a Twitter post, she attached several photos of Jordan, adding, “They broke the mold when they made Leslie Jordan. He was a dear mentor and a beloved friend. I will miss him so much – it’s unimaginable that he’s gone. Rest well, sweet buddy.”

“Will & Grace” star Sean Hayes, who played Jack on the show, was one of the first celebrities to take to social media to mourn his passing.

“My heart is broken,” he tweeted. “Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with. Everyone who ever met him, loved him. There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. You will be missed, my dear friend.”

Eric McCormack, who starred as Will, also tweeted his condolences, writing, “Crushed to learn about the loss of @thelesliejordan, the funniest & flirtiest southern gent I’ve ever known. The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his #WillandGrace episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man.”