Nelsan Ellis, best known for his "True Blood" role as Lafayette Reynolds, died due to complications with heart failure on Saturday. He was 39. The unfortunate news was confirmed by his manager, Emily Gerson Saines, who remembered him as a "great talent" who will be missed forever. His passing was a shocker, not only to his legion of fans but also to his co-workers in the entertainment industry.

Remembering Nelsan as Lafayette

HBO credited Ellis for his portrayal of the "True Blood" character. The late actor was a member of the main cast and was among the few actors who appeared in all seven seasons.

“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," the network said as per EW.

Ellis has brought to life the role of a "Merlotte's" cook and a drug dealer who was a member of Jason Stackhouse's (Ryan Kwanten) road crew. Anna Pacquin, who played as Sookie Stackhouse, said she is "devastated" to hear the passing of the "phenomenally talented and deeply kind soul" like her co-star. The actress even shared a photo of Ellis as Lafayette.

Stephen Moyer, also known as Bill Compton in "True Blood," paid tribute to his co-actor in a lengthy Facebook post where he recalled the early stages of filming the HBO series with Ellis.

He even remembered how the late actor impressed the set with his brilliance and originality in acting. "In actuality, Nelsan was quiet, smart, thoughtful, warm and kind. A published playwright himself," he said.

Alan Ball, on the other hand, lauded Ellis for his creativity which he said "never ceased to amaze" him. The "True Blood" creator also said it was a "privilege" to have worked with such a talented artist.

In an interview, the late actor admitted he went through four auditions until he got the role of Lafayette Reynolds.

His "True Blood" character has earned him several awards including the best-supporting actor awards from Satellite, Ewwy, and Scream.

Gone too soon

Aside the HBO series, Ellis has also starred in films "The Soloist," "The Butler," "Get On Up" and more.

He also appeared in "Elementary" where he played Shinwell Johnson. The CBS series said the late actor was a "gifted artist" who will be remembered for his accomplishments and contributions to the entertainment industry. The program also extended their condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Ellis.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED