Leslie Jordan biography of an openly gay life in Hollywood – 3 stars ***

By Gabrielle Pantera

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 6/25/08 – “I’ve decided almost all gay men my age have what I call ‘Marilyn Monroe syndrome’, says Leslie Jordan. “We love to fall apart. We love to take pills and cry and carry on. We love self-recreated drama.”

Leslie Jordan has a lot of drama in his newly released book.

“I would never be the kind of actor who could disappear into the roles he or she played,” says Jordan “And quite frankly, I have never been asked to play a character I felt was more interesting than me in real life.”

Jordan also has a new play  by the same name as his book. “My new show is all about being an openly gay actor from 1982 when I stepped off the bus, until 2006 when I won an Emmy,’ says Jordan. “I have worked with George Clooney, Billy Bob Thornton, Dean Cain, Luke Perry, a whole list of beautiful Hollywood leading men and have had angst-ridden, unrequited crushes on all of them. It makes for some really funny stories!”
Jordan says writing the book was difficult. “I worked harder on this book than anything I have accomplished in my life, Other than 10 years of sobriety. Because, honey, that’s a loooong time between cocktails! I’m very proud of ‘My Trip Down the Pink Carpet’!”

Jordan writes about his childhood, teen years and Hollywood. There’s plenty of humor and also some angst. He gets through it and comes out the other side stronger. He see’s the funny side to what his life is. More people need to see the funny side to their lives.

Constantly moving, Jordan does jump around so his story isn’t in chronological order. But, you defiantly feel as thought you really know him, and he’s that way in real life. Jordan talks about the dark side of his life and how he overcame his demons. He intersperses it with other stories to keep it lighter.

I think there may have been racier text, but the editors cut it. And I wish there’d been more about working on set at ‘Will and Grace’ and ‘Ally McBeal’. Maybe he’s is saving something for anther book?  Jordan is best known for his role as Beverly Leslie on ‘Will and Grace’. He won Best Guest Actor Emmy in a Comedy Series in 2006.

A fast read that makes you want to know more about Leslie Jordan. Jordan is currently performing his one man show by the same. Look for it.

‘My Trip Down The Pink Carpet’
Hardback 272 pages, $21.95
Publisher:Simon Spotlight Entertainment
Release date: June 3, 2008
Language: English
ISBN- 978141695559