Leslie Jordan, the Emmy-winning actor whose wry Southern drawl and versatility made him a comedy and drama standout on TV series including 鈥淲ill & Grace鈥� and 鈥淎merican Horror Story,鈥� has died. He was 67.

鈥淭he world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan. Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times,鈥� a representative for Jordan said in a statement Monday. 鈥淜nowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today.鈥�

The Tennessee native, who won an on outstanding guest actor Emmy in 2005 for 鈥淲ill & Grace,鈥� appeared recently on the Mayim Bialik comedy 鈥淐all me Kat鈥� and co-starred on the sitcom 鈥淭he Cool Kids.鈥�

Jordan鈥檚 other eclectic credits include 鈥淔antasy Island,鈥� 鈥淭he United States vs. Billie Holiday.鈥�

Jordan earned an when he spent time during the pandemic lockdown near family in his hometown. He broke the sameness by posting daily videos of himself on Instagram.

Many of Jordan鈥檚 videos included him asking 鈥淗ow ya鈥檒l doin?鈥� and some included stories about Hollywood or his childhood growing up with identical twin sisters and their 鈥渕ama,鈥� as he called her. Other times he did silly bits like complete an indoor obstacle course.

鈥淪omeone called from California and said, 鈥橭h, honey, you鈥檝e gone viral.鈥� And I said, 鈥橬o, no, I don鈥檛 have Covid. I鈥檓 just in Tennessee,鈥� said Jordan. Celebrities including Michelle Pfeiffer, Jessica Alba and Anderson Cooper, along with brands such as Reebok and Lululemon, would post comments.

Soon he became fixated with the number of views and followers he had, because there wasn鈥檛 much else going on.

鈥淔or a while there, it was like obsessive. And I thought, 鈥橳his is ridiculous. Stop, stop, stop.鈥� You know, it almost became, 鈥橧f it doesn鈥檛 happen on Instagram, it didn鈥檛 happen.鈥� And I thought, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e 65, first of all. You鈥檙e not some teenage girl.鈥欌��

The spotlight led to new opportunities. Earlier this month he released a gospel album called 鈥淐ompany鈥檚 Comin鈥欌�� featuring Dolly Parton, Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Eddie Vedder and Tanya Tucker. He wrote a new book, 鈥淗ow Y鈥檃ll Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived.鈥�

鈥擫ynn Elber And Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press