Start watching true blood on hbo with sparks fly out. Making his debut on the series premiere episode, strange love, in the series first season, nelsan plays the role. Actor nelsan ellis, who played lafayette reynolds on hbos true blood, has died. His manager, emily gerson saines, confirmed the news of his passing in a statement to the. Nelsan ellis, the actor who starred on hbos true blood as the fan favorite lafayette reynolds, struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for years. Heart failure is a silent killer in thr black communities if the us. True blood star nelsan ellis dead at 39 following heart. Hollywood and gospel stars were in abundance, as ellis cousin, vashawn mitchell, largely put the program together and also sang a rousing rendition of his hit nobody greater. Nelsan ellis lafayette talks true blood, gay marriage. True blood star nelsan ellis family opens funeral to. The actor nelsan ellis, best known for his portrayal of lafayette reynolds on hbos series true blood, has died at the age of 39 ellis manager, emily gerson saines, confirmed the actors. Nelsan ellis movies and tv shows after graduating, ellis most famous and successful role was as lafayette reynolds, a cook and vampire blood dealer on true blood. Nelsan ellis was the only actor in the seven years of true blood whom alan allowed to improvise. True blood star nelsan ellis family to open his funeral to the public.
Recalled by many as talented and underrated, ellis became a true blood fanfavorite for his portrayal of the scenestealing. Nelsan has passed away after complications with heart. True blood star nelsan ellis died saturday due to complications from heart failure. Viola davis and true blood stars attend actor nelsan ellis funeral after his shocking death this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The family of the late actor, nelsan ellis, will be opening up his funeral to the public for those who want to pay their respects. Nelsan ellis, who has died of complications from heart failure at age 39, is being remembered by his true blood costars as a magnificent talent and one of a kind artist. I imagine thats what true bloods lafayette reynolds would say about the untimely.
The true blood family has taken to twitter and instagram to mourn the death of nelsan ellis. Nelsan ellis turning into lafayette at sdcc 20 youtube. Lafayette reynolds played by nelsan ellis on true blood hbo. Nelsan ellis attends little boxes premiere during the 2016 tribeca film. True blood actor nelsan ellis dead at 39 refinery29. For fans and colleagues, the news came suddenly on saturday, july 8th, with confirmation to thr from ellis manager emily gerson saines. On the hbo hit, ellis played the flamboyant, scenestealing short. Nelsan ellis november 30, 1977 july 8, 2017 was an awardwinning american film and television actor and playwright who played the role of lafayette reynolds on the hbo original series true blood. Nelsan ellis lafayette talks true blood, gay marriage, tyler perry p art of true bloods appeal is that the cast portrays their characters so well that its hard to believe they arent real.
True blood actor nelsan ellis died from heart failure after trying to withdraw from alcohol on his own, his agent has said. 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. Nelsan ellis 19772017 nelsan ellis was an awardwinning american film and television actor and playwright, perhaps best known as lafayette reynolds on hbos true blood 2008. Stephen moyer, anna paquin, deborah ann woll, joe manganiello, kristin bauer van straten, and more shared. Nelsan ellis celebrity profile check out the latest nelsan ellis photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Nelsan ellis was laid to rest yesterday in a lovely ceremony at a church of god in christ in the chicago south suburb of harvey.
The news was confirmed by his manager, emily gerson saines. True bloods nelsan ellis, dead at 39, was a unique and. Nelsan ellis struggled with addiction before death cnn. The twoway tributes have poured forth for the actor, whose manager said he died from heart failure. Following the success of true blood, ellis moved from tv to film, landing key roles in movies like get on up, the stanford prison experiment.
His manager, emily gerson saines, confirmed the news of his passing in a statement. Ellis appeared on the big screen in 2009 in the soloist alongside robert downey jr. Nelsan ellis was an awardwinning american film and television actor and playwright, perhaps best known as lafayette reynolds on hbos true blood 2008. True blood actor nelsan ellis died due to alcohol withdrawal. Nelsan ellis chicago funeral was a true blood reunion. His role in the book died early on, but in the tv show, he lasted through the whole series possibly because of. Nelsan ellis, who played lafayette on the hbo series true blood, has died at the age of 39 of complications of heart failure. From commanding the attention as a fan favorite on hbos true blood to becoming family to us as a primary. Nelsan ellis true blood family is particularly shaken by news of the actors death. In mid2007, ellis was cast as lafayette reynolds in the pilot for true blood. Actor nelsan ellis final role in upcoming film true to. 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. Mini bio 1 nelsan ellis was an awardwinning american film and television actor and playwright, perhaps best known as lafayette reynolds on hbos true blood 2008. Nelsan ellis, known for playing lafayette reynolds on hbos true blood, died on saturday of heart failure related to alcohol withdrawal.
He spent several years as a stage actor before achieving breakout success on. Nelsan ellis, who played lafayette reynolds on true blood, is. Ellis, who died saturday, starred on the hbo drama for all seven seasons as shortorder cook lafayette. Hollywood reacts to nelsan ellis death hollywood reporter. The true blood actor who died saturday was attempting to withdraw from alcohol. The late show with stephen colbert recommended for you. Oscar winner viola davis and several true blood costars showed out in force to celebrate the life of nelsan ellis in his hometown of harvey, ill. Nelsan was born on november 30, 1977, in harvey, illinois, the son of jackie ellis and tommie lee thompson. True blood cast reactions to nelsan ellis death popsugar. Costar stephen moyer penned a moving tribute that shows why ellis made the series sing. Nelsan ellis was a classically trained actor that impacted the world with his talent.
When luke grimes started on hbos true blood last season his character james kent was wooing a female vampire. True blood star nelsan ellis has died at the age of 39 following complications related to a heart failure. True blood s creator, alan ball, also released a statement after hearing of ellis s passing, one that echoed many of the sentiments shared by the cast. While the true blood family is mourning the loss of one of its own, nelsan ellis, the actors family is grieving as well. Related story true blood costars remember one of a kind nelsan ellis we were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of nelsan ellis, hbo said in a statement this afternoon. Nelsan ellis family shares circumstances of true blood actors death.
Nelsan ellis family is opening up his funeral to the public. According to the ellis family, the celebration of the late true blood actors life will happen in harvey, illinois, a suburb of chicago. Nelsan ellis, the actor who portrayed lafayette on all seven seasons of the hbo horrordrama series true blood, has died at the age of 39. Sink your teeth into true blood, starting with this episode. While the sentiment went over well with some fans, others were a little more hesitant on the show returning, especially in light of actor nelsan ellis death in 2017, who played lafayette reynolds a short order cook. Making his debut on the series premiere episode, strange love.
We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of nelsan ellis, hbo said in. While the sentiment went over well with some fans, others were a little more hesitant on the show returning, especially in light of actor nelsan ellis death in 2017, who played lafayette reynolds a short order cook, medium, and major character on the hbo original series. True blood stars, more celebrities react to nelsan ellis death. Limited funds and access to healthcare coupled with access to unhealthy food, little to no culture of healthy eating, food deserts, high smoking rates, means that many blacks end ups with health problems by the time they near 40. The cast of true blood, from left, rutina wesley,stephen moyer, anna paquin, sam trammell and nelsan ellis are seen at the hbo golden globes afterparty on sunday, jan. In addition to his television work, ellis appeared in several feature films. Nelsan ellis of hbos true blood has died following complications from a heart disease at age 39. That battle ultimately cost the 39yearold his life. The cause of death was complications from heart failure, his manager, emily gerson saines, told cnn. Ellis appeared in numerous films and tv shows, including the. He died due to complications from heart failure, variety reported. Nelsan ellis, who played sassy shortorder cook lafayette reynolds on hbos true blood, has died at 39 of complications from heart failure. Viola davis and true blood stars attend actor nelsan ellis.
Ellis, 39, suffered with addiction to drink and drugs for years and tried to beat the disease alone after many stints in. The true blood actor who died saturday was attempting to withdraw from alcohol, according to his family. In a statement to the hollywood reporter, ellis manager emily. Ever born in harvey, illinois, in 1978, actor nelsan ellis trained at the juilliard school in new york city. Nelsan ellis, most famous for the role of lafayette on hbos true blood, has passed away at age 39 due to complications stemming from heart failure. News, the family is choosing to celebrate the life of the late true blood star by holding a public viewing on july 21 from 6 p. As part of the process, theyre sharing heartbreaking details about his.
The actor, known for playing lafayette reynolds in the hbo vampire series, has been calle. Nelsan ellis november 30, 1977 july 8, 2017 was an american actor and playwright. Why nelsan ellis made true blood worth watching vanity fair. Nelsan ellis, best known for his role as lafayette reynolds on hbos true blood, has died at age 39. Following the success of true blood, ellis moved from tv to film, landing key roles in movies like get on up, the stanford prison experiment, little boxes, the butler, and the help. Nelsan ellis, the actor who lit up the screen on hbos vampire drama true blood, has died at age 39. True blood actor nelsan ellis died of heart failure at. Ellis was best known for playing fanfavorite character lafayette reynolds on hbos true blood. True blood fans weigh in after actor sam trammell dishes.
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