HBO released the following statement after hearing of Ellis passing. Whos Wife? The pilot was shot in the early summer of 2007 and was officially ordered to series in August. He died due to complications from heart failure, Variety reported. He was best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the HBOseries True Bloodfrom 2008 to 2014. My heart breaks for his kids and family," she wrote in an Instagram post. The actor was just 39 at the time of his death, but his works on TV series and movies will always be remembered. Meanwhile, he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for True Blood in 2011. Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, Deborah Ann Woll, Joe Manganiello, Kristin Bauer van Straten, and more shared. Nothing came his way for the next three years until he appeared in a television film Warm Springs as Roy Collier. There isnt much information about his wife. Nelsan Ellis (November 30, 1977 July 8, 2017)[1] was an American actor and playwright. Nelsan will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO.. 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. Ellis had recently joined the cast of CBSs Elementary, in which he played a former drug dealer and former patient of Lucy Lius Joan Watson. Nelsan, however, was a loving father who posted a picture of his son, Breon Ellis, having fun on his ATV in April. His character was bisexual and according to him, he had to put on a lot of make-up for this role. He then attended McAdory High School. The play was about the devastation caused by domestic abuse. She also shares stories on Medium that are meant to encourage thought and discussion. 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. He was married and had two children: a son Breon Ellis and a daughter who was just an infant at the time of Ellis untimely death. Ellis' manager Emily Gerson Saines confirmed [18] He told The Philadelphia Inquirer: I have more makeup on than any of the females in the cast. ", "Nelsan Ellis on True Blood's Season of the Witches, Lafayette's Mohawk, and Dodging the Marines", "National Tournament Results National Forensic Association", "Actor brings extended life to 'True Blood' character", "Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette) Talks 'True Blood,' Gay Marriage, Tyler Perry", "HBO Renews True Blood for Seventh Season", "2008 13th Annual SATELLITE Awards Nominees", "Secretariat is simply Seabiscuit reconfigured for the Tea Party set", "Nelsan Ellis Joins the James Brown Biopic Get on Up", "True Blood star Nelsan Ellis dies aged 39", "True Blood Star Nelsan Ellis Dies at 39", "Nelsan Ellis' Family Shares Circumstances of 'True Blood' Actor's Death", "Nelsan Ellis struggled with addiction before death", "Nelsan Ellis' Family Shares Details About 'True Blood' Star's Cause of Death", "Nelsan Ellis' Family Shares Circumstances of 'True Blood' Actor's Death???? His daughter was still a newborn at the time of his death. In 2004, he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Juilliard School. Or somebody can be a Christian and still be gay and I support it. Nelsan Ellis, an American actor, andplaywright was famous for his role in the series, True Blood, aired by HBO. The Butler received mostly positive reviews from critics. He is also survived by his siblings Lakeeia Thomson, Tommie Lee. Nelsan Ellis, an actor best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on the HBO series "True Blood," died on Saturday in Los Angeles. (2005, October - November) Appeared in the Charles Fuller play A Soldier's Story at the Second Stage Theatre, off-Broadway, New York, New York. Wrote the play "Ugly" about the devastating effects of domestic abuse after his sister Alice was shot by her husband in 2002. Nelson died on July 8, 2017 in New York City, USA, at the age of 39. He also shared this photo of his son back in December. Nelsan Ellis was born November 30, 1978, which makes his star sign Sagittarius. In short, Ellis was not gay. He played Margin Luther King, Jr., in Lee Daniels's 2013 film The Butler. Bio, Son, Who is Emerald Robinson Husband? We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. But Ellis made it look so easy. The critics loved the death, and the reviews were off the charts. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Moved to Dolton, IL, at 14, where he attended Thornridge High School. He was born in Harvey, Illinois to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. On Monday, Saines shared a statement with THR and later with HuffPost from Ellis family, revealing that the actor struggled for years with alcohol and drug abuse, and suffered multiple health complications during his withdrawal from alcohol. Following his parents' divorce, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama. He died at the age of 39. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Nelsan has always wanted to be an actor. I think in this country, anybody can do whatever they want to do as long as it's not hurting anybody else or violating the laws of society. So kee pic.twitter.com/ANxt9JsIq9, Nelsan Ellis (@officialnelsan) April 13, 2017. Ellis also had roles in films like Get on Up, The Help and Little Boxes. . [1], "'True Blood' Star Nelsan Ellis Dies at 39", http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/true-blood-star-nelsan-ellis-dies-at-39-1019540, https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/w/index.php?title=Nelsan_Ellis&oldid=5100746. July 10, 2017. The news was confirmed by his manager, Emily Gerson Saines. Nelsan Ellis was well-known for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO television series True Blood (20082014). Since he played a gay character on the popular vampire fantasy series True Blood, fans have speculated about the actors sexuality. He had a turbulent childhood; at one point during his teen years . Further, his star sign is Sagittarius. Ellis' manager, Emily Gerson. 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. I think anybody should--I mean--I have my religious views, but I don't choose to oppress them on anybody. His final acting role was in True to the Game, which was released posthumously. Look at how cool my little man looks !!! In 2010, he portrayed Eddie Sweat in the Disney sports drama Secretariat. He went to Jess Lanier High School and McAdory High School before enrolling at the Thornridge High School in Dolton. Ellis won the "Brink of Fame: Actor" award at the 2009 NewNowNext Awards.Tragically, Ellis died at the age of 39 on July 8, 2017, in Los Angeles, California, after complications from heart failure. More TV Actor. His childhood was marked by extreme poverty. He appeared in the 2012 political thriller drama The Reluctant Fundamentalist alongside Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. ORIGINAL STORY: Nelsan Ellis, the actor who played Lafayette on HBO vampire series True Blood for its entire seven-season run, died Saturday at the age of 39. He made his debut with a short role in the movie, Lost in the early 2000s. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Nelsan Ellis: The Collective was started by myself, Francois Battiste, Veronda Carey, Le'Mil Eiland, Metra Gilliard and Jasond Jones. Actor Nelsan Ellis, famous for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on "True Blood", died after complications from heart failure on July 8, 2017. According to his family, he was suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome. He had $3 million net worth before death. Their maternal grandmother raised them all in Bessemer, Alabama. Nelsan Ellis was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois. A few days after his death, Ellis's family released a statement to the Hollywood Reporter confirming the death was linked to alcohol and . He died as a result of complications with heart failure. Nelsan was a married man. Recalled by many as talented and underrated, Ellis became a True Blood fan-favorite for his portrayal of the scene-stealing, gay short order cook at Merlottes Bar in the fictional Louisiana town. Ellis portrayed the role of Eddie Sweat in the American biographical sports drama film Secretariat. Look at how cool my little man looks, Nelsan exclaimed. His parents got divorced and Ellis was raised by his single mother along with his siblings. Ellis, best known for playing the lovable short-order cook Lafayette on HBO's "True Blood," died due to "complications with heart failure," his manager, Emily Gerson Saines, first confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday. His real breakthrough came when he signed for the part of Lafayette Reynolds in the hit TV series, True Blood. Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about. His family released a statement on July 10, saying that Nelsan had been trying to quit alcohol in the days before his death, and suggesting that he suffered from alcohol withdrawal syndrome, leading to his heart failure. Reuters/Eric Thayer . If two women want to get married they should get married. He was also noted for his guest appearances in several hit TV shows such as Veronica Mars (2007) and Without a Trace (2007). Actor Nelsan Ellis has died at age 39. Or somebody cannot be a Christian and do whatever that entails. Nelsan Ellis, Remembered: After Nelsan Ellis's death, his family released a statement explaining: "Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it during his life. Nelsan died of complications from alcohol withdrawal on 8th July 2017, aged 39. Quelques jours aprs la mort de Nelsan Ellis, inoubliable Lafayette Reynolds dans True Blood, sa famille a rvl les circonstances de son dcs. His mothers name was Jackie Ellis and his fathers name was Tommie Lee Thompson. It's easy to tell from his father's quote above just how devastating quitting without help can be. [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. He was of American nationality and belonged to African-American ethnicity. The actor, best known for starring on "True Blood" and "Elementary," died at age 39. At the age of 22, he enrolled at the Juilliard School, where he met Rutina Wesley, who would later work with him on the HBO series True Blood. He is also survived by his siblings Lakeeia Thomson, Tommie Lee. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Nelsan Ellis, the actor who charmed fans as the sassy Lafayette Reynolds in HBO's True Blood, has died, according to his manager 'Nelsan has passed away after complications with heart. He was born to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson who later got divorced. He was of American nationality and belonged to African-American ethnicity. Nelsan Ellis wife. Nelsan Ellis was an award-winning American actor and playwright who was best known for being cast as Carter Howard in The Inside (2005-2006), Lafayette Reynolds in True Blood (2008-2014), and Shinwell Johnson in Elementary (2016-2017). May his soul rest in peace. The beautiful thing about this country is that I can be a Christian and feel free to do so. In past interviews, Ellis had been asked about this speculation and, back in 2010, Vibe caught up with him and he addressed the topic. Nelsan was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. Nelsan Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois, on November 30, 1977, to Tommie Lee Thompson and Jackie Ellis. What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. [31][32][33] His family released a statement on July 10, 2017, saying that he had an ongoing struggle with drug and alcohol abuse. Your culture and entertainment cheat-sheet. Ellis' "The Help" costar Octavia Spencer broke the news on Instagram Saturday morning, saying, "Just got word that we lost (Nelsan). Nelsan Ellis began his journey in the show business in 2002, with a role in a short film named Lost. You can catch her outside enjoying nature and classical literature. He was 39. We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis, HBO said in a statement. [Ellis]. Nelsan Ellis was married to a woman despite constant rumors that he was gay. 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 died of congestive heart failure. "Nelsan passed away after complications. The family of Nelsan Ellis has released a statement offering more information about the actors sudden death. I would love if @HBO could air Lafayette's best episodes of #TrueBlood - Nelsan Ellis more than deserves that honor. 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. Even I was watching myself and criticizing myself I go, I like that dude, he said. Ellis was a proud papa to his one son, Breon Ellis. #RIPNelsanEllis. Nelsan Ellis (30 de novembro de 1977 - 8 de julho de 2017 [1]) foi um ator e dramaturgo americano, mais conhecido por interpretar Lafayette Reynolds na srie da HBO True Blood. He died on July 8, 2017, in Los Angeles due to heart failure. All Rights Reserved. He said "you don't want to bring in someone who's going to play that in a phony way". Initially his character was killed at the beginning of the second chapter; however, the popularity of the character forced the makers to revive him and he went on to become a regular in the show. Nelsan Ellis, the actor who lit up the screen on HBO's vampire drama "True Blood," has died at age 39. 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. 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. The show premiered on September 7, 2008, and ended on August 24, 2014. | He will be missed. Nelsan and the printed page didn't hit it off. Powered by. News reported that Ellis, who played Lafayette Reynolds on the HBO drama, died at age 39 . Nelsan was a humble and kind soul who somehow got stuck in the habit of taking alcohol and drugs. It was performed at the school and later won the Martin E. Segal Award from the Lincoln Center. He had eight siblings: Alice Nellis, Babon Ellis, Lakeeia Thomson, Maurice Turne, Shaentika Beard, Tianna Thompson, Tommie Lee Thompson, and Yvonne Ellis. In fact, he had a wife, according to WetPaint. Ellis was part of the show for the fifth season between 2016 and 2017. My heart breaks for his kids and family." Born in . He was approached by the makers of True Blood, an American dark fantasy horror television series, to play the role of Lafayette Reynolds. While at Juilliard, he won the Lincoln Centers Martin E. Segal Award for his semi-autobiographical play Ugly. He graduated in 1997 from this school in Dolton, Illinois. We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. Nelsan Ellis(November 30, 1977 - July 8, 2017) was an Americanactor and playwright. The cause of death is thought to be an ongoing battle with drug and alcohol abuse. He enrolled at Illinois State University soon after leaving the United States Marine Corps. The most intriguing thing about him is his strength and his stillness. How much is the Net Worth of Nelsan Ellis? 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 . The celebrity dad also had a daughter. 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. He portrayed Eddie Sweat in the Disney sports drama Secretariat (2010), was Martin Luther King Jr. in Lee Daniels' The Butler (2013), and was Bobby Byrd in the 2014 James Brown biopic Get on Up. Edi Gathegi. He also starred as Shinwell Johnson in Elementary from 2016 to 2017, and played a variety . Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about. Many made assumptions about his sexuality and personal affairs because of his character on the show. Now Nelsan Ellis, the actor who plays Kent's gay lover on the show, is speaking up -- and he's not happy. Nelsan Ellis kids. News of Ellis' passing was first. The actor's . [10] He moved back to Illinois at age 15, where he lived with his maternal aunt. He staged the play while a student at Julliard, and received the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' Martin E. Segal Award for his efforts. Nelsan Ellis made his breakthrough as Lafayette Reynolds in True Blood. In The Butler, Ellis plays Martin Luther King Jr. | Elliss character was lauded for breaking stereotypes of gay men. He also appeared in The Butler, an American historical drama film, where he played the role of Martin Luther King, Jr. In 2015, Ellis appeared in the thriller film The Stanford Prison Experiment as Jesse Fletcher. [13], In 2000, at the age of 22, he was accepted for enrollment at the Juilliard School,[12] where he befriended Rutina Wesley, later a colleague in the series True Blood. Had two young children with his wife at the time of his death--a son Breon Ellis and newborn daughter. In mid-2007, Ellis was cast as Lafayette Reynolds in the pilot for True Blood, as a short-order cook at Merlotte's Bar & Grill, a drug dealer, a member of Jason Stackhouse's road crew, and Tara Thornton's cousin. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Ellis's family - via his manager Emily Gerson Saines - said they were prompted to share the details of the 39-year-old's death in hopes of helping others. Ellis was a naturalized nationality of the United States of America of African ethnicity. [9], In Alabama, Ellis attended Jess Lanier High School for a year and transferred to McAdory High School. Jason LaVeris/Getty Images. [4], In addition to his television work, Ellis appeared in several feature films throughout his career. The True Blood star passed away of complications due to heart failure on Saturday. True Blood premiered on September 7, 2008, and concluded on August 24, 2014, comprising seven seasons and 80 episodes. Nelsan Ellis' True Blood family is particularly shaken by news of the actor's death. Whether you're into . Ellis won a Satellite Award in 2008 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his True Blood role. He was just 39 years old. Following his parents' divorce, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama. Your email address will not be published. Rest in Peace. "Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. [22] In 2009, he was nominated for a Scream Award for Best Supporting Actor. His final work appeared in True to the Game and Roxanne Roxanne. It is his words that remind the audience how important Cecil, and other workers like him are, to our history. Nelsan Ellis true to the game. His famous works in movies include The Express, Get on Up and so on. Breon is one of two kids that Nelsan shared with his wife. Your email address will not be published. Ellis attended Jess Lanier High School for a year. Ellis struggled with alcoholism and was trying to get rid of his drinking problem in the days before his death. "You quit your job because you don't want to play a gay part? It was influenced by his real-life event in 2002, when his sister Alices husband shot her. Nelsan Ellis was an award-winning American film and television actor and playwright, perhaps best known as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's. Nelsan Ellis was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the USA to the father, Tommie Lee Thompson, and mother, Jackie Ellis. Nelsan will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO., Nelsan Ellis starred as Lafayette Reynolds on True Blood. L'acteur est mort en tentant de se . He will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO. He was raised by his grandmother in Alabama but later returned to Illinois at the age of 15 and lived with his maternal aunt. The HBO show "True Blood" had a lot of memorable . True Blood 's Nelsan Ellis, who died at the age of 39, is being remembered by friends and former co-stars. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Nelsan Ellis attends the premiere of "Get on Up" in New York, July 21, 2014. Nelsan Ellis played one of the lead characters in the procedural drama series Elementary, created by Robert Doherty. Ellis and his siblings became wards of the state, and later were raised in Bessemer, Alabama, by their maternal grandmother. Many made assumptions about his sexuality and personal affairs because of his character on the show. From 2005 to 2006, he played the recurring role of Carter Howard in the television series The Inside. He was 39. From 2016 to 2017, Ellis starred as Shinwell Johnson in the TV series Elementary. [23] In 2011, he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in True Blood. 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. Nelsan Ellis vuonna 2009. [2] He also starred as Shinwell Johnson in Elementary from 2016 to 2017,[3] and played a variety of guest roles in other television series, including Veronica Mars and Without a Trace. November 30 Horoscope. You make a big . He died of heart failure in Woodhull Medical Center, New York, on July 8, 2017; he was just 39 years old at the time of his death. Nelsan Ellis was best known for playing the demon-possessed medium Lafayette Reynolds on True Blood. He staged the play while a student at Julliard, and received the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' Martin E. Segal Award for his efforts. Nelsan Ellis is dead. 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 was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. Or somebody cannot be a Christian and do whatever that entails. Ellis is survived by his son, Breon, as well as his grandmother, Alex Brown, and his father, Tommie Lee Thompson, reports THR. I felt like an alien, and I struggled the first couple of years. He was a gentle and humble soul. Earlier today, E! Your email address will not be published. Nelsan was a long-time member of the HBO family whose groundbreaking portrayal of Lafayette will be remembered fondly with the overall legacy of True Blood. Nelsan Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois, United States. It's not hurting me. True Blood also earned him the Ewwy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. His birth sign was Sagittarius. Deputy Director of News & Analytics, HuffPost. Nelsan has passed away after complications with heart failure, the actors manager, Emily Gerson Saines, told The Hollywood Reporter. 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). Over the weekend it was reported that . [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. I think anybody should--I mean--I have my religious views, but I don't choose to oppress them on anybody. In the same year, he received the Brink of Fame: Actor award from the NewNowNext Awards. Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about. He only lasted until the fifth season of Elementary. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nelsan_Ellis&oldid=1133624097, This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 19:02. Nelsan was born in Harvey, Illinois on 30th November 1977. An untimely demise of a brilliant actor. Don't miss a beat. The former True Blood star was just 39 years old. Nelsan Ellis (November 30, 1977 - July 8, 2017) was an American actor and playwright.He achieved critical acclaim for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO television series True Blood (2008-2014), for which he won a Satellite Award from the International Press Academy, among other accolades. Nelsan Ellis, an American actor, and playwright was famous for his role in the series, True Blood, aired by HBO. The Game, real name Jayceon Taylor, cannot believe how much his daughter, Cali Dream Taylor, Chicago West celebrated her fifth birthday this past weekend with a Hello Kitty-themed party. He was also given the Satellite Award for Best Cast Television Series and an Ewwy Award for best supporting actor in a drama series. @OfficialNelsan I'm devastated by his untimely death. Ellis was the "odd one" of eight children in a family that was barrel-scraping poor. NEW YORK Actor Nelsan Ellis, best known for playing the character of Lafayette Reynolds on "True Blood," has died at the age of 39. Born in Harvey, IL. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, up to 25% of people who suffer from . 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. He is preparing for the "Fast & Furious" franchise, which I dont think is ever going to end. He portrayed the character of Shinwell Johnson, an ex-convict and gang member who was once a patient of Dr. Watson. , generous and kind soul who somehow got stuck in the same year, was... Began his journey in the early summer of 2007 and was trying to rid... Breakthrough came when he signed for the part of the show business in.. 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