Tonight the news broke that Julliard-trained actor Nelsan Ellis passed away on the morning of July 8th 2017. His manager confirmed the news, stating that his death stemmed from complications that ultimately lead to heart failure. He was only 39-years-old, but he accomplished so much and was beloved by so many.
Though he held lead and supporting roles in The Butler, The Help, Secretariat, The Soloist, and The Stanford Prison Experiment, Nelsan Ellis is most known for playing Lafayette Reynolds in 81 episodes of HBO’s vampire-drama series “True Blood” from 2008 to 2014. A flamboyant fry cook, drug dealer and medium, Lafayette and Ellis himself captured the hearts of millions.
Already creator/executive producer Alan Ball and show stars Anna Paquin, Tara Buck, Joe Manganiello, Michael Raymond James, Deborah Ann Woll, Greg Fienberg, Kristin Bauer, Michael McMillian and Janina Gavankar have taken to social media to praise and mourn the late actor.
Ellis also recurred on “Elementary” from 2016 – 2017.
All of us here at HorrorSociety.com send our condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
R.I.P. Nelsan Ellis
Nov 30th 1977 – July 8th 2017
