My heart breaks for his kids and family." Ellis' TV credits include the Fox series "The Inside," UPN's "Veronica Mars" and the HBO film "Warm Springs" with Kenneth Branagh, Cynthia Nixon and. In past interviews, Ellis had been asked about this speculation and, back in 2010, Vibe caught up with him and he addressed the topic. The actor's family released a statement about his struggle with drugs and alcohol in an effort to help others. I would love if @HBO could air Lafayette's best episodes of #TrueBlood - Nelsan Ellis more than deserves that honor. He was born to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson who later got divorced. In 1997 he graduated from Thornridge High School in Dolton, Illinois. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Nelsan was a longtime member of the HBO family whose groundbreaking portrayal of Lafayette will be remembered fondly within the overall legacy of True Blood. The formerTrue Blood star was just 39 years old. Nothing came his way for the next three years until he appeared in a television film Warm Springs as Roy Collier. Nelsan Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois, United States. Nelsan Ellis, best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on HBOs True Blood, has died at age 39. Hes not quick on his toes unless he gets heated. He was also part of the renowned series Elementary where he portrayed different characters as a guest. When news of True Blood-star Nelsan Ellis' sudden death hit social media feeds last week, . Ellis won the Satellite Award from the International Press Academy in the best supporting actor category in 2008, and a year later, he won the NewNowNext Award. At age 6, he moved to Bessemer, Alabama with his mother. It was a direct result of quitting suddenly after a long period of heavy drinking. Ellis and his siblings became wards of the state, and later were raised in Bessemer, Alabama, by their maternal grandmother. He was born in Harvey, Illinois to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. [4], In addition to his television work, Ellis appeared in several feature films throughout his career. In the years that followed, he appeared in a number of guest and recurring roles. Hal Linden. In The Butler, Ellis plays Martin Luther King Jr. He and the rest of the cast won the Satellite Award for Best Ensemble in 2009. I think anybody should--I mean--I have my religious views, but I don't choose to oppress them on anybody. Ellis is survived by his son, Breon, as well as his grandmother, Alex Brown, and his father, Tommie Lee Thompson, reports THR. He was a great talent. Ellis died after complications from heart failure on July 8 . We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. Nelsan Ellis, known affectionately by many for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO 's True Blood, has died after complications from heart failure at age 39. He also appeared in the moviesThe Butler(2013) and Get on Up(2014). In 2005, he starred in the television film Warm Springs. In 2010, he portrayed Eddie Sweat in the Disney sports drama Secretariat. Ellis died of heart failure caused by alcohol withdrawal on July 8, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York. He was of American nationality and belonged to African-American ethnicity. Let gay people get married. The studies were so intense and the institution is so white, and Im a black man from the South with a very specific vernacular and palate, he told Backstage in 2009 of his experience there, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Nelsan Ellis talks Get On Up, researching James Brown and Bobby Byrd's relationship, singing, dancing, playing piano, the end of True Blood and more. Despite coming from a broken family, Ellis excelled in school. News reported that Ellis, who played Lafayette Reynolds on the HBO drama, died at age 39 . Nelsan Ellis' sudden death has left many of his former True Blood co-stars reeling. According to sources, he had two children, but there is nothing much written about his wife and family. Michael Kelly. Nelsan Ellis was best known for playing the demon-possessed medium Lafayette Reynolds on True Blood. [18] Nelsan Ellis said that it took him a few episodes to find the character. Nelsan Ellis was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois. He was a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, and a great friend to those that were lucky enough to know him. Making his debut on the series' premiere episode, "Strange Love", in the series' first season, Nelsan plays the role of a medium and cook working at Merlotte's Bar and Grill in the small town of . You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. He played Margin Luther King, Jr., in Lee Daniels's 2013 film The Butler. @OfficialNelsan I'm devastated by his untimely death. You can catch her outside enjoying nature and classical literature. Elliss co-stars and others reacted to his death over the weekend with photos and memories. If two women want to get married they should get married. Many made assumptions about his sexuality and personal affairs because of his character on the show. Nelsan was a humble and kind soul who somehow got stuck in the habit of taking alcohol and drugs. He stood at 5 10 tall (1.78m). . Nelsan Ellis was an award-winning American film and television actor and playwright, perhaps best known as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's. Nelsan Ellis passed away on Saturday July 8th, 2017. He was a very proud father, which was clear in his social media posts. The former True Blood star was just 39 years old. And his words and presence will be forever missed, Saines said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ben Gazzara. Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois. He achieved critical acclaim for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO television series True Blood (20082014), for which he won a Satellite Award from the International Press Academy, among other accolades. Nelsan Ellis was an award-winning American film and television actor and playwright, perhaps best known as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's True Blood (2008). Nelsan Ellis - Ellis became an instant favorite in the popular series True Blood, playing chef Lafayette Reynolds at Merlotte's. His character was known for his flamboyant outfits and sassy . Nelsan Ellis was an award-winning American film and television actor and playwright, perhaps best known as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's True Blood (2008). If two women want to get married they should get married. He appeared in the 2012 political thriller drama The Reluctant Fundamentalist alongside Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Magazines, Digital The celebrity dad also had a daughter. [19] Ellis has said that he based many of Lafayette's mannerisms on his mother and his sister, and that the costuming also helped him to get into character. In 2008, Ellis was offered a role which later established his credentials as an actor. [10] He moved back to Illinois at age 15, where he lived with his maternal aunt. Nelsan, however, was a loving father who posted a picture of his son, Breon Ellis, having fun on his ATV in April. He was of American nationality and belonged to African-American ethnicity. Ellis' manager, Emily Gerson Saines, confirmed the actor's. [7][8] When Ellis and his siblings were young, their mother, a single parent after her divorce, broke down after the death of her brother. "My heart breaks for his kids and family," the . Nelsan was a married man. Both films were released following his death. He had a net worth of about $3 million at the time of his death. Nelsan Ellis, the actor who lit up the screen on HBO's vampire drama "True Blood," has died at age 39. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome caused complications, and he died of heart failure in Woodhull Medical Center. Powered by. He was a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, and a great friend to those. Required fields are marked *. In short, Ellis was not gay. The critics loved the death, and the reviews were off the charts. It took him a few episodes to get a proper hold of his character. If you want to get married to a man then get married to a man. "Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. Gene Siskel. Ellis was born in Harvey, Ill. in 1977 before. What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. He had $3 million net worth before death. Nelsan Ellis true to the game. NEW YORK Actor Nelsan Ellis, best known for his memorable portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's "True Blood," has died at the age of 39. . pic.twitter.com/If17csduHz. The family of Nelsan Ellis has released a statement offering more information about the actors sudden death. He was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade. [his thoughts on gay marriage] I support it. Ellis' "The Help" costar Octavia Spencer broke the news on Instagram Saturday morning, saying, "Just got word that we lost (Nelsan). Nelsan died of complications from alcohol withdrawal on 8th July 2017, aged 39. Nelsan Ellis Cause of Death: How Did the True Blood Actor Die? Remembering Chicago actor Nelsan Ellis, who died July 8. He was 39. Nelsan was ashamed of his. Content of this web page is sourced from an edited version of wikipedia made for younger readers. pic.twitter.com/uvlCIrnWQQ. I felt like an alien, and I struggled the first couple of years. Nelsan was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. [26][27] The Butler received mostly positive reviews from critics, with a 71% rating on the film critic aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, based on 171 reviews. Nelsan Ellis, known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's "True Blood," has died at age 39, reports Variety The actor died after complications from heart failure. He enrolled at Illinois State University soon after leaving the United States Marine Corps. He had gone to rehab to stop taking drugs but could not do it. He studied at Illinois State University before getting his BFA at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City. He also has two children, a son and a newborn daughter. Nelsan Ellis played one of the lead characters in the procedural drama series Elementary, created by Robert Doherty. [22] In 2009, he was nominated for a Scream Award for Best Supporting Actor. Further, his star sign is Sagittarius. 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