Your email address will not be published. You can catch her outside enjoying nature and classical literature. In the same year, Ellis won the Brink of Fame award for up-and-coming actors at the NewNowNext Awards. Ben Gazzara. 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. Ellis was born in Harvey, Ill. in 1977 before. He portrayed Bobby Byrd, Brown's longtime friend. Nelsan Ellis - Ellis became an instant favorite in the popular series True Blood, playing chef Lafayette Reynolds at Merlotte's. His character was known for his flamboyant outfits and sassy . Publicity Listings Pop culture is pretty fun, too! He was born to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson who later got divorced. Ellis' manager, Emily Gerson. Ellis is also survived by his grandmother, his father, and seven siblings. The most intriguing thing about him is his strength and his stillness. 'Nelsan was ashamed of his. In addition, following his parents divorce, Nelsan and his mother relocated to Alabama. He and the rest of the cast won the Satellite Award for Best Ensemble in 2009. 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. Nelsan Ellis, the actor who starred on HBO's True Blood as the fan favorite Lafayette Reynolds, struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for years. Moved to Bessemer, AL, with his family at age six. We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis, HBO said in a statement. We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. When news of True Blood-star Nelsan Ellis' sudden death hit social media feeds last week, . Last week, True Blood actor Nelsan Ellis died at age 39. Elliss character was lauded for breaking stereotypes of gay men. Nelsan Ellis. Though the character did not survive in the books, Elliss memorable portrayal of Lafayette kept him in the series, according to the Hollywood Reporter. He was best known for playing the flamboyant short order cook, Lafayette, in the TV series, True Blood. Don't miss a beat. Nelsan Ellis passed away suddenly at the age of 39 over the weekend and his family has decided to speak out about the circumstances surrounding his death. Look at how cool my little man looks !!! Michael Kelly. He graduated from Julliard School with a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2004. [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. Ellis struggled with alcoholism and was trying to get rid of his drinking problem in the days before his death. "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 . It was influenced by his real-life event in 2002, when his sister Alices husband shot her. I dont answer that question, Are you gay or not, when it comes down to industry people. In 1997 he graduated from Thornridge High School in Dolton, Illinois. He was offered the role of Carter Howard in the American crime drama television series The Inside. 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. According to his family, he was suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome. He was 39. 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 was born in Harvey, Ill. in 1977 before he and his siblings moved to Alabama. HBO released the following statement after hearing of Ellis passing. His final acting role was in True to the Game, which was released posthumously. Bio, Height, Who is Singer-Dua Lipa Boyfriend? In 2004, he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Juilliard School. He was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade. Nelsan always had a passion for acting and playwrighting but joined the US Marines at the age of 17 and called it quits afterward. Following his parents' divorce, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama. Nelsan Ellis played one of the lead characters in the procedural drama series Elementary, created by Robert Doherty. Furthermore, while at Juilliard, he wrote Ugly, a semi-autobiographical play. He also appeared in the movies The Butler (2013) and Get on Up (2014). He portrayed the character of Shinwell Johnson, an ex-convict and gang member who was once a patient of Dr. Watson. The actor spent four days in Woodhull Hospital before he died. The formerTrue Blood star was just 39 years old. He only lasted until the fifth season of Elementary. Whether you're into . He even appeared in Elementary before his death. [his thoughts on gay marriage] I support it. Your email address will not be published. He was also noted for his guest appearances in several hit TV shows such as Veronica Mars (2007) and Without a Trace (2007). Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles. 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. Nelsan Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois, on November 30, 1977, to Tommie Lee Thompson and Jackie Ellis. 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. The makers were most concerned with his characters homosexuality. Ellis' manager Emily Gerson Saines confirmed May his soul rest in peace. Nelsan Ellis was well-known for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO television series True Blood (20082014). Nelsan was born in Harvey, Illinois on 30th November 1977. Published Aug 1, 2014. 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. He also shared this photo of his son back in December. Ellis was part of the show for the fifth season between 2016 and 2017. In 2005, he starred in the television film Warm Springs. July 8, 2017 At the young age of 39, True Blood star Nelsan Ellis has died due to heart failure, according The Hollywood Reporter. Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois. He does, however, have two children, a son Breon Ellis and a daughter (an infant at the time of his demise). Nelsan Ellis ( 30. marraskuuta 1977 Harvey, Illinois, Yhdysvallat - 8. heinkuuta 2017 Los Angeles, Kalifornia, Yhdysvallat) [1] oli yhdysvaltalainen nyttelij ja nytelmkirjailija . The beautiful thing about this country is that I can be a Christian and feel free to do so. The cause of death was complications from heart failure, his manager, Emily Gerson Saines,. After his parents divorced, he and his siblings became state wards. Ellis was notoriously private when it came to his personal life. All Rights Reserved. He eventually moved back to Chicago at age 15, and joined the Marines briefly at the age of 17. His daughter was still a newborn at the time of his death. He was of American nationality and belonged to African-American ethnicity. 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). Ellis, who also had roles in The Butler, The Help and Veronica Mars, died Saturday after four days at New Yorks Woodhull Hospital, according to his familys statement. Nelsan Ellis was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois. Nelsan also appeared in several feature films, including The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008), The Soloist (2009), and Secretariat (2010). Both films were released following his death. Let gay people get married. Nelsan Ellis was best known for playing the demon-possessed medium Lafayette Reynolds on True Blood. Irishlass240 (corrections by A.R. Nelsan, however, was a loving father who posted a picture of his son, Breon Ellis, having fun on his ATV in April. [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. Deputy Director of News & Analytics, HuffPost. He followed this up with guest roles in Veronica Mars and Without a Trace, both in 2007. Magazines, Digital The former True Blood star was just 39 years old. [28], The following year, Ellis joined the cast of Get on Up, a biographical drama film about the life of singer James Brown. 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. He was born in Harvey, Illinois to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about. If two women want to get married they should get married. Nelsan Ellis was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois. Expand. Nelsan Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois, on November 30, 1977, to Tommie Lee Thompson and Jackie Ellis. November 30 Horoscope. Many made assumptions about his sexuality and personal affairs because of his character on the show. (2010). Back in April, Ellis tweeted the following photo of his little man. It was one of very few that he shared with fans on social media. Among two kids one is a son, Breon Ellis and another a daughter, . The performer passed. He had a net worth of about $3 million at the time of his death. Irishlass240 (corrections by A.R. In the years that followed, he appeared in a number of guest and recurring roles. His notable works in TV Series include Elementary, The Inside and so on. If you want to get married to a man then get married to a man. Ellis also had roles in films like Get on Up, The Help and Little Boxes. Nothing came his way for the next three years until he appeared in a television film Warm Springs as Roy Collier. Look at how cool my little man looks, Nelsan exclaimed. 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 was a Christian. If you watch Lafayette, he doesnt do very much. 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. It was performed at the school and later won the Martin E. Segal Award from the Lincoln Center. 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. I felt like an alien, and I struggled the first couple of years. His birth sign was Sagittarius. Earlier today, E! 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. Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. 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. In a 2010 interview with Vibe, Ellis described how the character was likable. Nelsan Ellis began his journey in the show business in 2002, with a role in a short film named Lost. Ellis' "The Help" costar Octavia Spencer broke the news on Instagram Saturday morning, saying, "Just got word that we lost (Nelsan). He played Margin Luther King, Jr., in Lee Daniels's 2013 film The Butler. Ellis nasceu em Harvey, Illinois, perto de Chicago. 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. In casting Lafayette Reynolds, Alan Ball had concerns because the character's homosexuality would be a dominating trait. Or somebody cannot be a Christian and do whatever that entails. As per his nationality, he is American and belongs to African-American ethnicity. 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. Just before his death, Ellis had finished working in two films, True to the Game and Roxanne Roxanne, which were released posthumously. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Ellis won a Satellite Award in 2008 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his True Blood role. Elementaryactor Nelsan Ellis has died. Nelsan Ellis true to the game. Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois. If you want to get married to a man then get married to a man. He made his debut with a short role in the movie, Lost in the early 2000s. Nelsan Ellis' True Blood family is particularly shaken by news of the actor's death. 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 . Pennington), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Nelsan Ellis' sudden death has left many of his former True Blood co-stars reeling. Nelsan Ellis was born in 1978 in Harvey, IL and moved to Bessemer, AL when he was six with his mother after his parents' divorce. He died due to complications from heart failure, Variety reported. [18] He told The Philadelphia Inquirer: I have more makeup on than any of the females in the cast. Moved from Alabama to New York to attend the prestigious acting program at Juilliard. That battle ultimately cost the 39-year-old his life. He was also part of the renowned series Elementary where he portrayed different characters as a guest. We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. The family of Nelsan Ellis has released a statement offering more information about the actor's sudden death. Nelsan will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO., Nelsan Ellis starred as Lafayette Reynolds on True Blood. But if its a regular person asking me, that just says that maybe Im doing a good job. [his thoughts on gay marriage] I support it. Nelsan was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. Ellis portrayed the role of Eddie Sweat in the American biographical sports drama film Secretariat. So kee pic.twitter.com/ANxt9JsIq9, Nelsan Ellis (@officialnelsan) April 13, 2017. He joined the United States Marines at the age of 17. "You quit your job because you don't want to play a gay part? You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. 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. Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it during his life, the statement reads. [10] He moved back to Illinois at age 15, where he lived with his maternal aunt. Their maternal grandmother raised them all in Bessemer, Alabama. 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. . "Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome caused complications, and he died of heart failure in Woodhull Medical Center. In 2008, Ellis was offered a role which later established his credentials as an actor. Breon is one of two kids that Nelsan shared with his wife. They hope his story can possibly help others dealing with the same addictions. Nelsan Ellis ' appearance in The Butler isn't long, but it's impactful. [37], Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Satellite Award for Best Cast Television Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, NewNowNext Award for Brink of Fame: Actor, "Nelsan Ellis' Family Shares Circumstances Of 'True Blood' Actor's Death Update", "Why Elementary Went With That Shocking Death", "Actor Nelsan Ellis' final role in upcoming film 'True to the Game' (trailer)", "True Blood actor Nelsan Ellis died due to alcohol-withdrawal complications", "Chicagoan Nelsan Ellis starred in True Blood; dies at 39", "Nelsan Ellis Cause of Death: How Did the 'True Blood' ActorDie? I would love if @HBO could air Lafayette's best episodes of #TrueBlood - Nelsan Ellis more than deserves that honor. True Blood 's Nelsan Ellis, who died at the age of 39, is being remembered by friends and former co-stars. Nelsan Ellis has passed away at 39 from complications from heart failure, his manager Emily Gerson Saines has confirmed with The Hollywood Reporter.. "He was a great talent, and his words and . 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 !!! His mother's name was Jackie Ellis and his father's name was Tommie Lee Thompson. There isnt much information about his wife. His parents got divorced and Ellis was raised by his single mother along with his siblings. He also has two children, a son and a newborn daughter. Nelsan Ellis, an actor best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on the HBO series "True Blood," died on Saturday in Los Angeles. Ellis began his acting career in the early 2000s, with a role in the short film Lost. 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