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’True Blood’ actor Nelsan Ellis dead at 39

Nelsan Ellis Picture: Instagram
Nelsan Ellis Picture: Instagram

 Nelsan Ellis, an actor best known for his role in the vampire series “True Blood,” has died.

 He was 39 years old.

 The actor died following complications from heart failure, his manager told CNN.

 His portrayal of Lafayette, a gay cook and medium, helped him spring onto the acting scene after his character became a favorite of fans of the HBO drama, which ran from 2008 to 2014.

 “We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis,” the HBO network said in a statement Saturday. “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.” “Nelsan will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO.” As news of his death spread many fans posted a clip from the show where Ellis’s character bursts out of his restaurant kitchen to confront a table of homophobic diners.

 An alumnus of New York’s prestigious Juilliard performing arts conservatory, Ellis’s credits include silver screen appearances in 2009’s “The Soloist” as well as 2011’s Oscar-award winning film “The Help.” “My heart breaks for his kids and his family,” wrote his co-star in that film Octavia Spencer in an Instagram post. “He was sooooo funny. I miss him.” The Illinois native also depicted Martin Luther King Jr in “The Butler,” released in 2013.

 “True Blood” co-star Joe Manganiello took to Twitter to pay tribute to the late actor: “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.”

True Blood on Twitter

Nelsan Ellis, our Lafayette, will be dearly missed by his fans, his True Blood family and all of us at HBO.

MichaelRaymond-James on Twitter

Unbelievably sad news. Nelsan was such a sweet, gentle soul with an enormous talent. He will be missed greatly RIP https://t.co/NDdoaeM6Pj

Joe Manganiello on Twitter

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

Variety on Twitter

TrueBlood creator on the death of #NelsanEllis: "A singular talent whose creativity never ceased to amaze me." https://t.co/6OU2p0ko8C

Anna Paquin on Twitter

It was an utter privilege to work with the phenomenally talented and deeply kind soul .@OfficialNelsan I'm devastated by his untimely death.

WATCH: Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette in 'True Blood'

 

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