UPDATE: Nelsan Ellis of 'True Blood' Dead at 39

Ellis was best known for playing Lafayette Reynolds on the HBO vampire show.

Nelsan Ellis
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Nelsan Ellis

Nelsan Ellis

Nelsan Ellis' family has shared more information on the circumstances of the actor's untimely death this Saturday. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Ellis' manager spoke on behalf of his family and said that the actor died heart failure "due to alcohol withdrawal complications" after struggling with drug and alcohol addiction for years. 

Saines added: 

"After many stints in rehab, Nelsan attempted to withdraw from alcohol on his own. According to his father, during his withdrawal from alcohol he had a blood infection, his kidneys shut down, his liver was swollen, his blood pressure plummeted, and his dear sweet heart raced out of control... Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it during his life. His family, however, believes that in death he would want his life to serve as a cautionary tale in an attempt to help others."

You can read the original story below. 

39-year-old actor Nelsan Ellis, best known for playing Lafayette Reynolds on HBO’s True Blood, died on Saturday in Los Angeles, California from complications from heart failure.

Ellis’s memorable role as the gay short order cook on True Blood quickly made him a fan favorite, but the Illinois actor and Juilliard graduate also had a leading role in the CBS television show Elementary as well as parts in the movies The Help, Get On Up, The Stanford Prison Experiment, Little Boxes, and The Butler.

Reynolds’s manager, Emily Gerson Saines, told the Hollywood Reporterthe actor had passed away, adding that “he was a great talent, and his words and presence will be forever missed.”

“We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis,” HBO said in a statement. ​“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.”

“Nelsan was a singular talent whose creativity never ceased to amaze me. Working with him was a privilege,” Alan Ball, the creator of True Blood, said in a statement.

Ellis’s True Blood cast and crew also expressed their condolences over social media.

.@OfficialNelsan you were pure fucking genius. and all heart. it was an honor to work with you, friend. #truebloodforever pic.twitter.com/0WYmzcVsMT
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
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

Ellis had one son, Breon. He also leaves behind seven siblings.

For those interested in doing something to help the actor’s family, they have requested that donations be made to the Jenesse Center or The Restoration Ministries Church of God and Christ.

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