Nelsan Ellis dead: Hollywood in shock after True Blood actor passes away at 39

True Blood actor Nelsan Ellis died following complications with heart failure. The star was just 39 years old. Ellis was part of the HBO hit series played the role of a buoyant chef called Lafayette.

According to the books, on which the series is based, Ellis's character dies in the first novel. However, the character's fun character and fan base led to Ellis's continuity in the



show.

After the news broke out, HBO released a statement expressing their thoughts over their family member's death. "We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. 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 channel's statement read.