US actor Nelsan Ellis, best known for playing the character of Lafayette Reynolds on True Blood, has died at the age of 39.
Ellis’ manager Emily Gerson Saines confirmed the actor’s death in an email on Saturday. The Hollywood Reporter, which was first to report Ellis’ death, quoted her as saying the actor died from complications of heart failure.
The Illinois-born actor, who studied at Juilliard, played the role of Lafayette on the HBO drama from 2008 to 2014, and more recently appeared in the CBS detective series Elementary. He was also a playwright and a director.
"I have more makeup on than any of the females in the (True Blood) cast," Ellis once famously noted to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Once they get me with the fake eyelashes and the eye makeup, I listen to some Rihanna and I'm there."
After 80 episodes over the span of seven seasons, Ellis walked away with a handful of sought after awards: Two Satellite Awards, an Ewwy for best supporting dramatic actor, and a NewNowNext Award for actor on the brink of fame.
Following the success of True Blood, Ellis moved from TV to film, landing key roles in movies like Get On Up, The Stanford Prison Experiment, Little Boxes, The Butler, and The Help.
Most recently, the actor could be seen in a lead role on CBS' Elementary, including the just-wrapped fifth season.
Ellis leaves behind his son, Breon, as well as seven siblings.
Top Comments
This is so sad! He was so fantastic in True Blood, Lafayette was by far my favourite character in the show.