Nelsan Ellis Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Nelsan Ellis

Twitter Nelsan Ellis.

True Blood’s Nelsan Ellis is dead at the age of 39, according to Daily Variety.

The actor was known for his role as the character Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO show. Ellis’ death was announced on July 8, creating shock among fans on social media.

Here’s what you need to know:


1. Nelsan Ellis’ Cause of Death Stemmed From Heart Failure Due to Alcohol Withdrawal

According to Daily Variety, the cause of Ellis’ untimely death has already been announced.

“The actor died after complications from heart failure,” Daily Variety reported.

Ellis’ family says that his death came as a result of Ellis trying to withdraw from alcohol addiction.


2. HBO Confirmed Ellis’ Death & Praised His ‘Groundbreaking’ Performance

HBO released a statement that confirmed Ellis’ death.

“We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis,” HBO said in a statement. “Nelsan was a long-time member of the HBO family whose groundbreaking portrayal of Lafayette will be remembered fondly within the overall legacy of ‘True Blood.’ Nelsan will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO.”


3. Co-Stars Praised Ellis as a ‘Pioneer’

Fellow actors remembered Ellis on Twitter as news of his death spread. “Crushed today by the loss of my friend and castmate Nelsan Ellis. He was a wonderful person, a pioneer, and a one of a kind artist. RIP,” wrote Joe Manganiello on Twitter.

Ellis’ page had tweeted just hours before his death, and his second to last tweet was a post by Manganiello.

Fans also mourned Ellis’ death in the wake of his passing. Wrote one fan, “Thank you Nelsan Ellis for your iconic role as Lafayette Reynolds. He’ll always be one of my favorites. Rest In Peace.”


4. Ellis Was Born in Illinois & Got His Big Break on True Blood

Earning a role on True Blood was the moment that Ellis broke through.

He was born in Illinois “and grew up there and in Alabama. He graduated from Julliard and began his onscreen acting career in the early ’00s,” reported EOnline.

Ellis sometimes wrote about family on social media. In April, Ellis had tweeted a photo of a baby and wrote, “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”

According to IMDB, “Ellis attended Juilliard and, while there, wrote a semi-autobiographical play titled Ugly that was performed at the school and later won the Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award. Ellis won a 2008 Satellite Award from the International Press Academy for best supporting actor in a television series for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in HBO’s True Blood. Ellis won the “Brink of Fame: Actor” award at the 2009 NewNowNext Awards.”


5. Ellis Starred on the Television Show Elementary & Was on All Seven Seasons of True Blood

Ellis played a memorable character on True Blood in part because he played the character on all seven seasons of the show, which ended in 2014.

The character of Lafayette Reynolds was a “beloved short order cook and medium,” reported EOnline, which added that Ellis “most recently starred as reformed criminal Shinwell Johnson on CBS’ Elementary.”

Ellis’ Twitter profile reads, “The Official Page! Award Winning Actor & Newest cast mate of #Elementary. Tune in Sundays 10/9c on CBS.”