True Blood Star Dead at 39

09 Jul, 2017

Nelsan Ellis of True Blood and Elementaryfame has died at age 39.

His rep confirmed to E! News Saturday the actor passed away 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 graduated from Julliard and began his onscreen acting career in  the early ’00s. His big break came in 2008, when he made his debut as Lafayette Reynolds, the beloved short order cook and medium on all HBO’s True Blood.He played the character on all seven seasons of the horror and drama series, which aired between 2008 and 2014. Ellis most recently starred as reformed criminal Shinwell Johnson on CBS’ Elementary.

“Heartbreaking,” Deborah Ann Woll, who played the vampire Jessica on True Blood, wrote on Twitter Saturday in response to the news of his death.

E Online

Image Variety twitter

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