He portrayed Bobby Byrd, Brown's longtime friend. For corporations that want to focus on education for underserved kids, be sure to support the . Since he played a gay character on the popular vampire fantasy series True Blood, fans have speculated about the actors sexuality. He was best known for playing the flamboyant short order cook, Lafayette, in the TV series, True Blood. In 2004, he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Juilliard School. Nelsan was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. While at Juilliard, he won the Lincoln Centers Martin E. Segal Award for his semi-autobiographical play Ugly. As per his nationality, he is American and belongs to African-American ethnicity. [11], He joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17, but quit not long afterward. Now Nelsan Ellis, the actor who plays Kent's gay lover on the show, is speaking up -- and he's not happy. Look at how cool my little man looks, Nelsan exclaimed. She also shares stories on Medium that are meant to encourage thought and discussion. Let gay people get married. He died as a result of complications with heart failure. Nelsan Ellis vuonna 2009. 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. Moved to Dolton, IL, at 14, where he attended Thornridge High School. 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. You make a big . Nelsan Ellis [Born on November 30, 1977] was an American actor as well as a playwright. If you watch Lafayette, he doesnt do very much. Sometimes when I need a miracle I look into my sons eyes, and realize Ive already created one. His final acting role was in True to the Game, which was released posthumously. But if its a regular person asking me, that just says that maybe Im doing a good job. 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. Ellis was part of the show between 2005 and 2006, appearing in twelve episodes. NEW YORK Actor Nelsan Ellis, best known for playing the character of Lafayette Reynolds on "True Blood," has died at the age of 39. He only lasted until the fifth season of Elementary. We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. Once they get me with the fake eyelashes and the eye makeup, I listen to some Rihanna and I'm there. 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. Ellis was part of the show for the fifth season between 2016 and 2017. He will be missed. Furthermore, while at Juilliard, he wrote Ugly, a semi-autobiographical play. HBO released the following statement after hearing of Ellis passing. Nelsan Ellis true to the game. Quelques jours aprs la mort de Nelsan Ellis, inoubliable Lafayette Reynolds dans True Blood, sa famille a rvl les circonstances de son dcs. 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). He and the rest of the cast won the Satellite Award for Best Ensemble in 2009. More TV Actor. The heartbreaking news was announced on Saturday and. He was of American nationality and belonged to African-American ethnicity. If two women want to get married they should get married. Nelsan Ellis was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the USA to the father, Tommie Lee Thompson, and mother, Jackie Ellis. Ellis struggled with alcoholism and was trying to get rid of his drinking problem in the days before his death. Just before his death, Ellis had finished working in two films, True to the Game and Roxanne Roxanne, which were released posthumously. His character was bisexual and according to him, he had to put on a lot of make-up for this role. Nelsan Ellis, best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on HBOs True Blood, has died at age 39. In the days prior to his death, Ellis was attempting to withdraw from alcohol on his own; he was hospitalized due to serious complications from alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which resulted in his death. Following his parents' divorce, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama. Nelsan Ellis, most famous for his long-running role as Lafayette Reynolds, the most fabulous queer line cook on the planet, on HBO's True Blood, has died at the age of 39. He stood at 5 10 tall (1.78m). 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. From 2005 to 2006, he played the recurring role of Carter Howard in the television series The Inside. [14] Ellis earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Juilliard in 2004.[15]. He was just 39 years old. After his parents divorced, he and his siblings became state wards. The film was based on the life of the racehorse, Secretariat, the winner of the Triple Crown in 1973, and featured John Malkovich and Diane Lane among others. Fans and friends of the star offered an outpouring of love and support after news broke of his death over the weekend. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Nelsan Ellis true blood. He was best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO series True Blood from 2008 to 2014. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital It's easy to tell from his father's quote above just how devastating quitting without help can be. Ellis character was of a short order cook who is also a drug dealer. Nelsan Ellis was best known for playing the demon-possessed medium Lafayette Reynolds on True Blood. Nelsan Ellis elementary. "Nelsan has suffered with drug and alcohol abuse for years." 'True Blood' star Nelsan Ellis dead at 39 "After many stints in rehab, Nelsan attempted to withdraw from alcohol on his own," the . Ellis portrayed the role of Eddie Sweat in the American biographical sports drama film Secretariat. Following his parents' divorce, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama. Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about. Ellis, best known for playing the lovable short-order cook Lafayette on HBOs True Blood, died due to complications with heart failure, his manager, Emily Gerson Saines, first confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday. Apart from his TV series, Nelsans most acclaimed role was in the movie, The Butler where he brilliantly played the role as Martin Luther King Jr. My heart breaks for his kids and family. Nelsan Ellis was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois. Over the weekend it was reported that . His daughter was still a newborn at the time of his death. So kee pic.twitter.com/ANxt9JsIq9, Nelsan Ellis (@officialnelsan) April 13, 2017. [31][32][33] His family released a statement on July 10, 2017, saying that he had an ongoing struggle with drug and alcohol abuse. He is preparing for the Fast & Furious franchise, which I dont think is ever going to end., Look at how cool my little man looks !!! Ellis was born in Harvey, Ill. in 1977 before he and his siblings moved to Alabama. He appeared in the 2012 political thriller drama The Reluctant Fundamentalist alongside Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. July 10, 2017. Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about. I dont answer that question, Are you gay or not, when it comes down to industry people. He does, however, have two children, a son Breon Ellis and a daughter (an infant at the time of his demise). NEW YORK Actor Nelsan Ellis, best known for his memorable portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's "True Blood," has died at the age of 39. . He went to Jess Lanier High School and McAdory High School before enrolling at the Thornridge High School in Dolton. Deputy Director of News & Analytics, HuffPost. Your culture and entertainment cheat-sheet. [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. He didn't "meet" a book until he was a first-grader in a small-town Alabama classroom. Ellis died of heart failure caused by alcohol withdrawal on July 8, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York. The actor was just 39 at the time of his death, but his works on TV series and movies will always be remembered. @OfficialNelsan I'm devastated by his untimely death. Nelsan Ellis ( 30. marraskuuta 1977 Harvey, Illinois, Yhdysvallat - 8. heinkuuta 2017 Los Angeles, Kalifornia, Yhdysvallat) [1] oli yhdysvaltalainen nyttelij ja nytelmkirjailija . The True Blood star passed away of complications due to heart failure on Saturday. 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. Elementaryactor Nelsan Ellis has died. His family revealed to Hollywood Reporter on Monday that complications . Is Richard Jefferson Married? The cause of death is thought to be an ongoing battle with drug and alcohol abuse. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. He also appeared in Veronica Mars and Without a Trace in guest roles. He was a gentle and humble man. He won the Martin E. Segal Award for his semi-autobiographical play Ugly. Nelsan Ellis was well-known for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO television series True Blood (20082014). [24], Ellis also performed in several feature films; his early roles include The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008) and The Soloist (2009). Ellis attended Juilliard and, while there, wrote a semi-autobiographical play titled Ugly that was performed at the school and later won the Lincoln Center's Martin E. Segal Award. The actor's . [5], Ellis died at the age of 39 on July 8, 2017, in Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. The play was about the devastation caused by domestic abuse. [Ellis]. Powered by. Aos seis anos, aps o divrcio de seus pais, Ellis e sua me mudaram-se para o Alabama. [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. Nelsan Ellis died of congestive heart failure. He also appeared in the moviesThe Butler(2013) and Get on Up(2014). So kee pic.twitter.com/ANxt9JsIq9, Nelsan Ellis (@OfficialNelsan) April 13, 2017. Nelsan Ellis starred as Lafayette Reynolds on True Blood. It's not hurting me. Nelsan Ellis (November 30, 1977 July 8, 2017) was an American actor and playwright. 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, an American actor, and playwright was famous for his role in the series, True Blood, aired by HBO. According to his family, he was suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome. "You quit your job because you don't want to play a gay part? Look at how cool my little man looks !!! News of Ellis' passing was first. Nelsan Ellis death. Nelsan Ellis: True Blood actor died after 'trying to beat alcohol addiction alone' Popular performer from hit HBO vampire series, 39, passed away on 8 July after suffering kidney failure following . Nelsan Ellis, known affectionately by many for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO 's True Blood, has died after complications from heart failure at age 39. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Nelson died on July 8, 2017 in New York City, USA, at the age of 39. At age 6, he moved to Bessemer, Alabama with his mother. It just happened.. 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. 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 was approached by the makers of True Blood, an American dark fantasy horror television series, to play the role of Lafayette Reynolds. He had $3 million net worth before death. Gossipbiography.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. Were drug and alcohol the real cause of Nelsans demise? He was of American nationality and belonged to African-American ethnicity. His famous works in movies include The Express, Get on Up and so on. He enrolled at Illinois State University soon after leaving the United States Marine Corps. Nelsan Ellis: The Collective was started by myself, Francois Battiste, Veronda Carey, Le'Mil Eiland, Metra Gilliard and Jasond Jones. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, up to 25% of people who suffer from . He was a very proud father, which was clear in his social media posts. Elementary actor Nelsan Ellis has died. [18] He told The Philadelphia Inquirer: I have more makeup on than any of the females in the cast. The pilot was shot in the early summer of 2007 and was officially ordered to series in August. pic.twitter.com/pBVMZSfzjG, Nelsan Ellis (@officialnelsan) December 14, 2016. The Butler received mostly positive reviews from critics. Young Nelsan almost ended up an educational discard. He had a net worth of about $3 million at the time of his death. His parents got divorced and Ellis was raised by his single mother along with his siblings. Many made assumptions about his sexuality and personal affairs because of his character on the show. Ellis died after complications from heart failure on July 8 . Jul 18, 2017 at 6:03 pm. May his soul rest in peace. Ellis won the Satellite Award from the International Press Academy in the best supporting actor category in 2008, and a year later, he won the NewNowNext Award. Actor Nelsan Ellis, who played the inimitable Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's True Blood, died of heart failure on Saturday at only 39 years old. [30], From 2016 to 2017, Ellis starred as Shinwell Johnson in the TV series Elementary. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use Privacy Policy. He is also survived by his siblings Lakeeia Thomson, Tommie Lee. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. Nelsan Ellis made his breakthrough as Lafayette Reynolds in True Blood. Nelsan Ellis (November 30, 1977 July 8, 2017)[1] was an American actor and playwright. Actor Nelsan Ellis arrives at the premiere of HBO's "True Blood" Season 3 at The Cinerama Dome on June 8, 2010 in Hollywood, California. In the years that followed, he appeared in a number of guest and recurring roles. His final acting role was in True to the Game, which was released posthumously. Official Sites. Edi Gathegi. It took him a few episodes to get a proper hold of his character. In casting Lafayette Reynolds, Alan Ball had concerns because the character's homosexuality would be a dominating trait. According to sources, he had two children, but there is nothing much written about his wife and family. #brillIantactor #trueblood #getonup #thesoloist #thehelp," she posted on Twitter and . The news was confirmed by his manager, Emily Gerson Saines. "Look at how cool my little man looks," Nelsan exclaimed. However, he tried to stop consuming drugs on his own which caused severe complications and had to be hospitalized. 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. 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. He was a Christian. Ellis was a naturalized nationality of the United States of America of African ethnicity. His family, however, believes that in death he would want his life to serve as a cautionary tale in an attempt to help others., Nelsan Ellis' family releases a statement in an effort to help others who may be struggling with addiction https://t.co/qpjX1Id17c pic.twitter.com/x3UOpQTNEE. He had gone to rehab to stop taking drugs but could not do it. The critics loved the death, and the reviews were off the charts. Ellis is also survived by his grandmother, his father, and seven siblings. 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. [20][21] In 2008, Ellis received a Satellite Award from the International Press Academy for best supporting actor in a television series for his role as Lafayette Reynolds. Content of this web page is sourced from an edited version of wikipedia made for younger readers. He eventually moved back to Chicago at age 15, and joined the Marines briefly at the age of 17. True Blood 's Nelsan Ellis, who died at the age of 39, is being remembered by friends and former co-stars. 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. Hands to the Sky, Catch Them & They're Yours. Pennington), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Nelsan was born in Harvey, Illinois on 30th November 1977. 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. 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