Will Jordan (born William Rauch, July 27, 1927 – September 6, 2018) was an American character actor and stand-up comedian best known for his resemblance to, and impressions of, television host and newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan.
Early life
Born in the Bronx, Rauch grew up in Flushing, Queens. His father was a pharmacist and his mother owned a hat store.
Jordan appeared as Sullivan in the Broadway production of the musical Bye Bye Birdie in 1960–1961 (a role he would reprise in the revival from October 15, 2009, through January 24, 2010).
Most of Jordan's film and television performances since the 1970s have been as Sullivan in films that feature characters appearing on Sullivan's famous variety series. These include:
- I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), The Beatles
- The Buddy Holly Story (1978), Buddy Holly and The Crickets
- The Doors (1991), The Doors
In 1983, Jordan appeared as Sullivan in the 1960s-TV-style video for "Tell Her About It", the Billy Joel hit single.
Other work
Jordan's other impressions included Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx and Jack Benny. He imitated Peter Lorre and James Mason as one of the actors in "Psycho Drama" on Rupert Holmes's 1974 debut album Widescreen.
Jordan performed on the 1970 P.D.Q. Bach recording The Stoned Guest in the role of Milton Host, a send-up of Metropolitan Opera radio announcer Milton Cross.
He also participated in a recording project, called "The Sicknicks", with Sandy Baron. The pair produced a comedy single, "The Presidential Press Conference", which was a minor hit in 1961.
Personal life and death
Jordan had a son, Lonnie Saunders.
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| rowspan="3" | 1961
| Cool Cat Blues
| The Cat, Smiling Ed Solvent, Bodyguard, Sloppy Louie, Louie's Henchmen, I.O.U. Network President
| Animated voice role; uncredited
|-
| Forget-Me-Nuts
| Narrator, Roscoe, Professor Rhinestine
| Animated voice role; uncredited
|-
| 1977
| A Doonesbury Special
| Sportscaster
| Animated voice role
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1978
| I Wanna Hold Your Hand
| Ed Sullivan
| Feature film debut
|-
| The Buddy Holly Story
| Ed Sullivan
|
|-
| 1983
| Billy Joel - Tell Her About It
| Ed Sullivan
| Music video
|-
| 1984
| Broadway Danny Rose
| Himself
|
|-
| 1991
| The Doors
| Ed Sullivan
|
|-
| 1992
| Mr. Saturday Night
| Ed Sullivan
|
|-
| 2003
| Down with Love
| Ed Sullivan
| Final appearance
|-
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