Star of TRUE BLOOD Nelsan Ellis Dies Age 39

The Hollywood Reporter has announced that screen star Nelsan Ellis passed away at age 39. The cause of death is reported to be complications from heart failure.

Ellis was best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on the HBO series "True Blood." He also appeared in "The Butler" and on the television series "Elementary."

HBO released the following statement on the actor's death:

"We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. 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."

The creator of "True Blood," Alan Ball, commented that "Nelsan was a singular talent whose creativity never ceased to amaze me. Working with him was a privilege."

Ellis is survived by numerous family members including his son Breon Ellis.

To read more, visit The Hollywood Reporter here.

To post a comment, you must register and login.