WATCH: Matt Baume presents: “Remembering Leslie Jordan: A Lifetime of Laughter & Loving Service”

You probably recognize Leslie Jordan for his role on Will & Grace. But long before he became famous for that, he spent years toiling in thankless bit parts, suffering with shame and guilt for being gay, spiraling into drug and alcohol abuse that nearly destroyed him. It wasn’t until one night in a jail cell with Robert Downey Jr that Leslie turned his life around, and embraced his true self for the first time at the age of 42, turning his one-time shame into the secret of his success.

Matt Baume tells the story.