Nelsan Ellis of True Blood & Elementary died on Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 39.
His rep confirmed to E! News on Saturday that the actor died after complications with heart failure.
“He was a great talent, and his words and presence will be forever missed,” his manager told The Hollywood Reporter.
Ellis was born in Illinois and grew up there and in Alabama. He began his onscreen acting career in the early ’00s and his big break came in 2008, when he made his debut as Lafayette Reynolds – the beloved short order cook and medium on HBO‘s True Blood. He played the character on all seven seasons of the horror and drama series, which aired from 2008 until 2014. Ellis most recently starred in CBS’ Elementary as reformed criminal, Shinwell Johnson.
“Heartbreaking,” Deborah Ann Woll, who played the vampire Jessica on True Blood, wrote on Twitter Saturday in response to the news of his death.
“We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis,” HBO said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. “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.”
Ellis was also remembered by ex co-star Stephen Moyer. Moyer shared a behind-the-scenes photo of Ellis in character and recalled how the actor filmed a scene with Anna Paquin (Moyer’s wife). Paquin also tweeted in tribute of Ellis, calling him a phenomenally talented and deeply kind soul.
It was an utter privilege to work with the phenomenally talented and deeply kind soul .@OfficialNelsan I'm devastated by his untimely death. pic.twitter.com/If17csduHz
— Anna Paquin (@AnnaPaquin) July 8, 2017
Ellis is survived by his son Breon Ellis, his father Tommie Lee Thompson, seven siblings, his aunt and his grandmother The Hollywood Reporter. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ellis’ family and friends during this trying time.
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