American Horror Story: Every Character Leslie Jordan Played

Ryan Murphy, creator of the horror anthology American Horror Story, prefers to cast many of the same actors each season. This allows the performers to showcase their skill and range while simultaneously building excitement for fans who can’t wait to see who their favorite recurring actors will be playing next. One character that stands out on American Horror Story is Leslie Jordan, who first appeared in season 3, Coven, and has played two other roles since.

While many productions are currently on hold due to the pandemic, Murphy recently announced the cast for season 10. Alas, Jordan will not be returning for the season, which has been delayed to 2021; that does not mean he hasn’t left his mark on the show. Jordan is a talented comedian; throughout his career as an actor and comedian, he’s portrayed numerous unforgettable characters on the small screen. From the hilarious Beverly Leslie on NBC’s hit show Will & Grace to stand out cameos on a variety of shows.

As many Americans are hunkered down due to the coronavirus pandemic, some have been tuning into Jordan’s Instagram account as a source of escapism during unprecedented times, helping build the actor’s popularity outside of his work on Murphy’s long-running show. In one Instagram story, Jordan even spoke about a time he filmed a scene with the iconic Lady Gaga in season 4 in a hilarious behind-the-scenes snapshot. As most of Jordan’s characters reflect the actor’s sense of humor, his roles err toward comic relief amongst otherwise harrowing frights. Here are all the characters Jordan has portrayed during his time on American Horror Story.

American Horror Story: Coven – Quinten Fleming

Jordan made his American Horror Story debut in one of the most popular seasons of the show: season 3, Coven. He played alongside other show regulars such as Frances Conroy, Sarah Paulson, and Kathy Bates. Jordan’s character, Quentin Fleming, was a member of the infamous witches’ council, one of the three high-ranked officials whom all the witches answer to, including the Supreme. Coven also provided a surprise cameo from music sensation Stevie Nicks since her song, “Seven Wonders”, correlated with a test which witches have to pass in order to ascend to the role of the Supreme. While Jordan was not a main character in season 3, his presence added much-needed comic relief. At times, it was also interesting to see a more serious side of Jordan in some sequences, showing more range from the actor.

American Horror Story Roanoke – Ashley Gilbert / Cricket Marlowe

While Jordan did not return for the following two seasons after Coven, he returned in season 6 as Ashley Gilbert, an actor who plays Cricket Marlowe. Marlowe was a famous medium, utilized in one of the most confusing storylines of the entire anthology, Roanoke. As Roanoke revolves around a docuseries, My Roanoke Nightmare, the character of Cricket Marlowe is majorly part of the re-enactment sequences, though Jordan doubles the role as the actor who is playing Cricket as well; a meta twist, and one of the most criticized aspects of season 6. Jordan’s character arrives in Roanoke after he is summoned to help the couple find their missing child. This time, Jordan got to add a little bit of his personality to the role during a scene where he flirts with a younger male chauffeur. Alas, when Marlowe takes a walk in the woods, Gaga’s Scathach character kills him.

American Horror Story: 1984 – Courtney

Most recently, Jordan played Courtney in the retro season 9, 1984. Courtney, who is the assistant to Camp Redwood’s founder and serial killer, Margaret (Leslie Grossman), helps her clean up all the blood from the murders at the camp. Even though the show creators don’t make it clear how Margaret and Courtney met, the two seem to have worked together for quite some time. Jordan strays from his usual wardrobe, and is oddly seen with a frizzy haircut and rock n’ roll attire, which correlates with the quintessential 1980s fashion style. Unfortunately, Margaret kills Courtney, despite his loyalty to her. However, he returns in the afterlife to torture her for revenge. Despite the fact that Jordan’s roles throughout the show are all somewhat minor, the comedian never fails to leave a lasting impression on American Horror Story fans.

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