Ellis is survived by his son, Breon, as well as his grandmother, Alex Brown, and his father, Tommie Lee Thompson, reports THR. Nelsan Ellis was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois. I dont answer that question, Are you gay or not, when it comes down to industry people. "Nelsan passed away after complications. Nelsan Ellis Wife: Was the True Blood Actor Married? Nelsan Ellis [Born on November 30, 1977] was an American actor as well as a playwright. Ellis and his siblings became wards of the state, and later were raised in Bessemer, Alabama, by their maternal grandmother. Nelsan was ashamed of his. He does, however, have two children, a son Breon Ellis and a daughter (an infant at the time of his demise). For corporations that want to focus on education for underserved kids, be sure to support the . True Blood also earned him the Ewwy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Official Sites. Nelsan Ellis passed away on Saturday July 8th, 2017. My heart breaks for his kids and family. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Nelsan Ellis true blood. In the same year, Ellis won the Brink of Fame award for up-and-coming actors at the NewNowNext Awards. 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. Nelsan was born in Harvey, Illinois on 30th November 1977. It's not hurting me. 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. Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, Deborah Ann Woll, Joe Manganiello, Kristin Bauer van Straten, and more shared. In casting Lafayette Reynolds, Alan Ball had concerns because the character's homosexuality would be a dominating trait. According to his family, he was suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Ellis was born in Harvey, Ill. in 1977 before. The cause of death was complications from heart failure, his manager, Emily Gerson Saines,. Many made assumptions about his sexuality and personal affairs because of his character on the show. Served in the United States Marine Corps but quit shortly after enlisting. If you watch Lafayette, he doesnt do very much. 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. My heart breaks for his kids and family." Born in . Nelsan Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois, United States. As per his nationality, he is American and belongs to African-American ethnicity. Let gay people get married. Nelsan Ellis, an actor best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on the HBO series "True Blood," died on Saturday in Los Angeles. There isnt much information about his wife. 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 . Nelsan Ellis (19772017) was an American actor and playwright. Ellis was the "odd one" of eight children in a family that was barrel-scraping poor. Nelsan also appeared in several feature films, including The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008), The Soloist (2009), and Secretariat (2010). He was only 39 years old. He portrayed Bobby Byrd, Brown's longtime friend. He will be missed. I think anybody should--I mean--I have my religious views, but I don't choose to oppress them on anybody. Bio, Height, Who is Singer-Dua Lipa Boyfriend? [22] In 2009, he was nominated for a Scream Award for Best Supporting Actor. Nelsan Ellis(November 30, 1977 - July 8, 2017) was an Americanactor and playwright. Ellis, best known for playing the lovable short-order cook Lafayette on HBO's "True Blood," died due to "complications with heart failure," his manager, Emily Gerson Saines, first confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday. His childhood was marked by extreme poverty. [19] Ellis has said that he based many of Lafayette's mannerisms on his mother and his sister, and that the costuming also helped him to get into character. Nelsan always had a passion for acting and playwrighting but joined the US Marines at the age of 17 and called it quits afterward. He died due to complications from heart failure, Variety reported. died due to complications with heart failure,, actor struggled for years with alcohol and drug abuse. Ellis' manager Emily Gerson Saines confirmed Ellis' "The Help" costar Octavia Spencer broke the news on Instagram Saturday morning, saying, "Just got word that we lost (Nelsan). We basically all went to high school together and were the theater kids and the speech club kids. He joined the United States Marinesat the age of 17. Nelsan was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. 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. We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. The actor, best known for starring on "True Blood" and "Elementary," died at age 39. Michael Kelly. His parents got divorced and Ellis was raised by his single mother along with his siblings. The performer passed. Nelsan stood tall with a height of 5 feet and 10 inches. Hands to the Sky, Catch Them & They're Yours. Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois. His final work appeared in True to the Game and Roxanne Roxanne. 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 !!! He was best known for playing the flamboyant short order cook, Lafayette, in the TV series, True Blood. 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. [9], In Alabama, Ellis attended Jess Lanier High School for a year and transferred to McAdory High School. Expand. [his thoughts on gay marriage] I support it. He was a Christian. 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 studied at Illinois State University before getting his BFA at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City. Ellis is also survived by his grandmother, his father, and seven siblings. His mothers name was Jackie Ellis and his fathers name was Tommie Lee Thompson. He also appeared in Veronica Mars and Without a Trace in guest roles. pic.twitter.com/pBVMZSfzjG, Nelsan Ellis (@officialnelsan) December 14, 2016. After his parents divorced, he and his siblings became state wards. He also has two children, a son and a newborn daughter. Nelsan Ellis ' appearance in The Butler isn't long, but it's impactful. Now celebrities are reacting on Twitter and paying tribute to the late star. Jason LaVeris/Getty Images. Ellis was born in Harvey, Ill. in 1977 before he and his siblings moved to Alabama. Pop culture is pretty fun, too! Ellis was notoriously private when it came to his personal life. Just before his death, Ellis had finished working in two films, True to the Game and Roxanne Roxanne, which were released posthumously. #RIPNelsanEllis. Jul 18, 2017 at 6:03 pm. At age 6, he moved to Bessemer, Alabama with his mother. May his soul rest in peace. He died at the age of 39. He was born in Harvey, Illinois to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. In addition, following his parents divorce, Nelsan and his mother relocated to Alabama. Robert Vaughn. He was best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO series True Blood from 2008 to 2014. The family of Nelsan Ellis has released a statement offering more information about the actor's sudden death. Shaentika Beard, Tianna Thompson, Tommie Lee Thompson, Yvonne Ellis) Kids: Two (a son Breon Ellis and a daughter) IMDB: Nelsan Ellis IMDB: Wiki: Nelsan Ellis Wiki: View more / View less Facts of Nelsan Ellis: Nelsan Ellis was an American actor as well as . 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. Ellis is survived by his son, Breon, as well as his grandmother, Alex Brown, and his father, Tommie Lee Thompson, reports THR. The cause of death is thought to be an ongoing battle with drug and alcohol abuse. 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. 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. He even appeared in Elementary before his death. The actor Nelsan Ellis, best known for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's series True Blood, has died at the age of 39. In the same year, he received the Brink of Fame: Actor award from the NewNowNext Awards. Wrote the play "Ugly" about the devastating effects of domestic abuse after his sister Alice was shot by her husband in 2002. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital He was a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, and a great friend to those. In the years that followed, he appeared in a number of guest and recurring roles. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, up to 25% of people who suffer from . He also appeared in the moviesThe Butler(2013) and Get on Up(2014). We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis, HBO said in a statement. He died because of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome with his blood pressure plunged, and his heart raced out of control. 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. It was a direct result of quitting suddenly after a long period of heavy drinking. But Ellis made it look so easy. Ellis also had roles in films like Get on Up, The Help and Little Boxes. If you want to get married to a man then get married to a man. He had eight siblings: Alice Nellis, Babon Ellis, Lakeeia Thomson, Maurice Turne, Shaentika Beard, Tianna Thompson, Tommie Lee Thompson, and Yvonne Ellis. 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). He was born to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson who later got divorced. So kee pic.twitter.com/ANxt9JsIq9, Nelsan Ellis (@OfficialNelsan) April 13, 2017. If you want to get married to a man then get married to a man. . He was offered the role of Carter Howard in the American crime drama television series The Inside. Required fields are marked *. He moved back to Illinois as a teenager, and graduated from Thornridge High School in Dolton, Illinois, in 1997. My heart breaks for his kids and family," she wrote in an Instagram post. pic.twitter.com/If17csduHz. Nelsan Ellis age. [5], Ellis died at the age of 39 on July 8, 2017, in Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. "I would see letters, but never recognize them as a word," he explains. Many made assumptions about his sexuality and personal affairs because of his character on the show. Your email address will not be published. Nelsan Ellis vuonna 2009. So kee pic.twitter.com/ANxt9JsIq9, Nelsan Ellis (@officialnelsan) April 13, 2017. 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. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. He also appeared in The Butler, an American historical drama film, where he played the role of Martin Luther King, Jr. In 2015, Ellis appeared in the thriller film The Stanford Prison Experiment as Jesse Fletcher. The True Blood star passed away of complications due to heart failure on Saturday. Or somebody cannot be a Christian and do whatever that entails. Ellis portrayed the role of Eddie Sweat in the American biographical sports drama film Secretariat. He was approached by the makers of True Blood, an American dark fantasy horror television series, to play the role of Lafayette Reynolds. 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