I don’t know about you, but my Facebook feed blew up on Saturday with the news that Nelsan Ellis, arguably the most beloved actor on the HBO series True Blood, passed away at the age of 39, after complications from heart failure. The actor played the memorable role of Lafayette, a short-order cook at Marlotte’s, on the popular vampire series. In the Charlaine Harris books on which the series was based, his character died, but the actor made him such an integral (and entertaining) component of the show, he survived on the show for over 80 episodes.
During his seven seasons on True Blood, Nelsan won two Satellite Awards, an Ewwy (awarded by Entertainment Weekly magazine) for best supporting dramatic actor, and a NewNowNext Award for actor on the brink of fame. Nelsan also appeared in the films Get On Up, The Stanford Prison Experiment, Little Boxes, The Butler, and The Help and most recently appeared on the CBS drama Elementary.
Nelsan’s True Blood family shared their condolences on social media. Kristin Bauer, a/k/a Pam, said of her former co-star, “One of the sweetest most talented men I’ve ever met. A terrible loss for all of us. Rest In Peace Nelsan. You will be missed. I don’t know how else to put words to this terribly sad news.”
Sam Trammell, who played Sam Merlotte, shared, “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the level of humility and kindness that came with the Magnificent Talent that Nelsan Ellis had. Miss u friend.”
I don't know if I've ever seen the level of humility and kindness that came with the Magnificent Talent that Nelsan Ellis had. Miss u friend
— Sam Trammell (@SamTrammell) July 8, 2017
“Crushed today by the loss of my friend and castmate Nelsan Ellis. He was a wonderful person, a pioneer, and a one of a kind artist. RIP,” said Joe Manganiello, who played werewolf Alcide.
Crushed today by the loss of my friend and castmate Nelsan Ellis. He was a wonderful person, a pioneer, and a one of a kind artist. RIP pic.twitter.com/fvtquhIac7
— Joe Manganiello (@JoeManganiello) July 8, 2017
Anna Paquin, who starred at Sookie Stackhouse on the show, tweeted, “It was an utter privilege to work with the phenomenally talented and deeply kind soul .@OfficialNelsan I’m devastated by his untimely death.”
It was an utter privilege to work with the phenomenally talented and deeply kind soul .@OfficialNelsan I'm devastated by his untimely death. pic.twitter.com/If17csduHz
— Anna Paquin (@AnnaPaquin) July 8, 2017
I always loved the scenes with Lafayette. He was definitely the best part of that show and he will be missed. Rest in peace.
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com
This is awful. He was so young and so talented, and I expected to enjoy his work for years to come. Still sad about his character’s death on Elementary, and now he’s really gone. Hope his kids find some peace in the days/months ahead.
I didn’t know he was shinwel till I read your comment. Wow, it’s like 2 different actors didn’t realize how good he was till now. Sad news indeed, so young.
yes, he was outstanding as Shinwell and so different that it took me awhile to figure it out. The hallmark of a great actor.
He also had a beautiful voice.
Wonderful actor. He was my favorite TB character. Brought so much to the show. Bless him.
I loved him on TB. His scenes always made me laugh. RIP
He was incredibly talented watchable, and the fact that his characterization basically saved Lafayette from death is tribute to that. Too sad.
Totally the best character on TB. Loved him, so talented.
This news definitely made me sad (coincidentally I was watching The Help when my bf texted me about it). Lafayette was my favorite character on TB. My heart goes out to his family. RIP Nelsan 💔
I have no idea who he is, but it’s so upsetting when someone dies so young. It looks like his life was going good and there were lots of people that love him. Sorry to hear he’s gone
:,(
I loved Lafayette, his hamburger with AIDS is such a quotable classic. 🙁
Man, and only 39. 🙁
I gasped when I heard the news the other day. What a huge loss. RIP.
Lafayette was the best character on True Blood and he was great recently on Elementary. Such a sad loss for his family and friends . RIP Nelsan.
So awful. He brought so much to the screen and I can only imagine how amazing he was off screen. RIP
Man, I have a very close loved one with heart failure (same age). This scares the daylights out of me…I wonder what actually happened? This is just way to young to pass away. So much love to his family.
I believe they’re saying he died from complications from withdrawing from alcohol. In another article, they have a quote from his father saying that he’d battled addiction issues for many years.
I just read that, that he was battling addiction and going through withdrawal.
Its even more sad. His shame led him to go through withdrawal without medical support and he died because of that stigma.
Withdrawing from alcohol does not cause a blood infection (sepsis) which was the cause of death described. That makes zero sense medically. Father wasn’t clear. Very sad news about his addictions and early death no matter.
Loved him on True Blood and always enjoyed seeing him pop up in other places like Secretariat and Get On Up. So sad. He will be missed.
This gave me the sads. He was one of the only reasons I stayed with TB after it became such a dumpster fire of Alan Ball’s crappy writing due to his boner for Bill Compton.
This is so devastating. He was such a talented guy, and way too young.
If you haven’t seen it, you should see the film Little Boxes. A very low-key comedy with Melanie Lynskey that he was great in.
I always loved his work, he exuded such warmth and I loved the way he spoke about playing Lafayette to LBGT media. Very sad news!
R.I.P. Nelsan Ellis a tremendous talent — and based on the mountain of tributes, a wonderful, kind human being as well. Gone too soon. I loved him in True Blood, he was one of the main reasons to watch; his acting was riveting. And he gave a quietly understated performance in Secretariat, playing the horse’s groom. Nelsan never hit a wrong note.
He was very quiet about his personal life, but apparently he was married or in a committed relationship. Nelsan has an eight year old son by a previous relationship and he and his wife or GF just welcomed a new baby girl in April as he posted on his Twitter account. So sad the kids will grow up without him. And he has seven siblings. His family, friends and fans are all going to miss him. Lots of lovely, heartfelt tributes on his social media. https://twitter.com/search?q=%40OfficialNelsan&src=tyah
I think he only had one kid, a son? The newborn was his niece.
@Sonia: I don’t think the new baby girl is his niece. He posted this message along with her photo on Twitter on April 30: ” Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. This is my”
After that people started congratulating him on his new baby and he didn’t correct them and say it’s my niece.
That’s his niece Lyric,his sister’s baby.On IG he wrote that and then he followed it up with this is Lyric,my sister’s heart.He has several pics of her and her kids on his IG.
wow he was so convincing in TB I thought he was actually gay.
Uh that would have more to do with your biases you apply on gay men rather than Nelsan’s performance. Which was great by the way. But there’s no such thing as a “convincing gay behaviour”.
Yeah we never hear I thought Anthony Hopkins was really a killer,he was so convincing.
Don’t even have words. Loved him on TB.
IKR. The news of his passing brought tears to this “hookah’s” eyes.
R.I.P. Nelsan “Lafayette” Ellis.
This “hookah” can’t believe this either. Absolutely loved him as Lafayette on TB. He carried the show – couldn’t take you’re eyes off him on screen. Very sad news – love and peace to his family and friends.
I was so sad to read of his death! What a great actor, and by all accounts a fantastic human being. He was a such a key contributor to TB. RIP indeed.
Nooooo! And 39? This is sad. La Fayette was the only character I care about in True Blood. What I don’t understand is why Nelsan wasn’t getting all the awards. He was a talented actor. You always remember the roles he was playing.
Lafayette was such a foundation character in TB. He was so talented and it seems from the condolences a good human being too. It is tragic to die so young. Sad.
He stole and elevated every scene he was in. I couldn’t take TB after season 4 but looked for his scenes online. Because they worked without context. He had such a presence. On Elementary as well.
I follow him on Instagram and it’s been sort of creeepy that whoever is in control of his page has been liking pics and following people since he died.When his manager confirmed he had died his IG was liking pics.It gave me chills.
I also knew him from “Secretariat”, where he had a small, but very powerful part. I can’t believe he’s dead. 39 is way, way too soon.
This news was absolutely heart breaking. Nelsan’s portrayal of Lafayette was larger than life-he made the character come to life as a funny, charasmatic, super stylish(!), loving, wonderful boyfriend and friend, all of the things that he apparently was in real life.
He was undoubtedly the best part of True Blood for me and my very favorite scenes were of the whacky (all too rare) conversations between him and his mom or when he was just being a warm, understanding shoulder to cry on for his beloved “Sook” ❤ RIP Nelsan, you will be missed.
nnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :'( not a way to start the week so damn sad i could cry
Shocking. He was so talented!
I saw that yesterday and was so incredibly bummed over it.
I’m tearing up over the lovely tributes to this dear soul. Loved, loved, loved him on TB. Just hearing his voice made me feel better. RIP.
His obituary said he was a Julliard grad. Immediately all his talent made sense. He made it all look so effortless, he was incredible talent.
I liked the requests for donations. One was to a woman’s shelter which I thought was very interesting. He was remarkable person by all accounts I saw. So sad, way too young.
I loved him on TB. He made the show. As other commenters stated he was a great actor because I disn’t recognize him as Shinwell on Elementary. RIP Lafayette 🙁
Still shocked by this news. Gone way too soon.