nelsan ellis kids
He was raised by his grandmother in Alabama but later returned to Illinois at the age of 15 and lived with his maternal aunt. Now Nelsan Ellis, the actor who plays Kent's gay lover on the show, is speaking up -- and he's not happy. My heart breaks for his kids and family." Ellis' TV credits include the Fox series "The Inside," UPN's "Veronica Mars" and the HBO film "Warm Springs" with Kenneth Branagh, Cynthia Nixon and. He then attended McAdory High School. The beautiful thing about this country is that I can be a Christian and feel free to do so. [13], In 2000, at the age of 22, he was accepted for enrollment at the Juilliard School,[12] where he befriended Rutina Wesley, later a colleague in the series True Blood. Powered by. Remembering the inspiring life of Nelsan Ellis, @JuilliardSchool alum and 2004 Lincoln Center Martin E. Segal Awardee. Your email address will not be published. [28], The following year, Ellis joined the cast of Get on Up, a biographical drama film about the life of singer James Brown. The first episode to air after Ellis' death, the season 6 premiere, ended with the screen "In Memory of Our Friend Nelsan Ellis". He was a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, and a great friend to those that were lucky enough to know him. He also appeared in Veronica Mars and Without a Trace in guest roles. I think anybody should--I mean--I have my religious views, but I don't choose to oppress them on anybody. Nelsan Ellis Cause of Death: How Did the True Blood Actor Die? Reuters/Eric Thayer . Nelsan Ellis, most famous for his long-running role as Lafayette Reynolds, the most fabulous queer line cook on the planet, on HBO's True Blood, has died at the age of 39. [37], Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Satellite Award for Best Cast Television Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, NewNowNext Award for Brink of Fame: Actor, "Nelsan Ellis' Family Shares Circumstances Of 'True Blood' Actor's Death Update", "Why Elementary Went With That Shocking Death", "Actor Nelsan Ellis' final role in upcoming film 'True to the Game' (trailer)", "True Blood actor Nelsan Ellis died due to alcohol-withdrawal complications", "Chicagoan Nelsan Ellis starred in True Blood; dies at 39", "Nelsan Ellis Cause of Death: How Did the 'True Blood' ActorDie? He was born to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson who later got divorced. Nothing came his way for the next three years until he appeared in a television film Warm Springs as Roy Collier. In the days prior to his death, Ellis was attempting to withdraw from alcohol on his own; he was hospitalized due to serious complications from alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which resulted in his death. While at Juilliard, he won the Lincoln Centers Martin E. Segal Award for his semi-autobiographical play Ugly. Many made assumptions about his sexuality and personal affairs because of his character on the show. Hes just in that Southern way sort of sauntering along, being who he is, which is something I never intended. He was a wonderful person, a pioneer, and a one of a kind artist. Elliss co-stars and others reacted to his death over the weekend with photos and memories. Nelsan Ellis, known affectionately by many for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO 's True Blood, has died after complications from heart failure at age 39. He played Margin Luther King, Jr., in Lee Daniels's 2013 film The Butler. He portrayed Bobby Byrd, Brown's longtime friend. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nelsan_Ellis&oldid=1133624097, This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 19:02. The film was based on the life of the racehorse, Secretariat, the winner of the Triple Crown in 1973, and featured John Malkovich and Diane Lane among others. [24], Ellis also performed in several feature films; his early roles include The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008) and The Soloist (2009). It was influenced by his real-life event in 2002, when his sister Alices husband shot her. His childhood was marked by extreme poverty. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Similarly, in 2008, he received a Satellite Award from the International Press Academy for best supporting actor in HBOs True Blood as Lafayette Reynolds. Nelsan Ellis, best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on HBOs True Blood, has died at age 39. But Ellis made it look so easy. Rest in Peace. Born in Harvey, IL. Ellis, who also had roles in The Butler, The Help and Veronica Mars, died Saturday after four days at New Yorks Woodhull Hospital, according to his familys statement. True Blood also earned him the Ewwy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Expand. [31][32][33] His family released a statement on July 10, 2017, saying that he had an ongoing struggle with drug and alcohol abuse. Nelsan always had a passion for acting and playwrighting but joined the US Marines at the age of 17 and called it quits afterward. Their maternal grandmother raised them all in Bessemer, Alabama. He had eight siblings: Alice Nellis, Babon Ellis, Lakeeia Thomson, Maurice Turne, Shaentika Beard, Tianna Thompson, Tommie Lee Thompson, and Yvonne Ellis. The studies were so intense and the institution is so white, and Im a black man from the South with a very specific vernacular and palate, he told Backstage in 2009 of his experience there, according to the Hollywood Reporter. How much is the Net Worth of Nelsan Ellis? Ellis was born in Harvey, Ill. in 1977 before he and his siblings moved to Alabama. The Butler received mostly positive reviews from critics. Since he played a gay character on the popular vampire fantasy series True Blood, fans have speculated about the actors sexuality. My heart breaks for his kids and family." Born in . Meanwhile, he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for True Blood in 2011. [26][27] The Butler received mostly positive reviews from critics, with a 71% rating on the film critic aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, based on 171 reviews. In fact, he had a wife, according to WetPaint. Nelsan Ellis was well-known for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO television series True Blood (20082014). He also appeared in the moviesThe Butler(2013) and Get on Up(2014). Elliss character was lauded for breaking stereotypes of gay men. He was a gentle and humble man. Nelsan Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois, United States. Robert Vaughn. Ellis won the "Brink of Fame: Actor" award at the 2009 NewNowNext Awards.Tragically, Ellis died at the age of 39 on July 8, 2017, in Los Angeles, California, after complications from heart failure. His character was bisexual and according to him, he had to put on a lot of make-up for this role. His final acting role was in True to the Game, which was released posthumously. Ellis had recently joined the cast of CBSs Elementary, in which he played a former drug dealer and former patient of Lucy Lius Joan Watson. He was also given the Satellite Award for Best Cast Television Series and an Ewwy Award for best supporting actor in a drama series. Ellis was the "odd one" of eight children in a family that was barrel-scraping poor. Your email address will not be published. Gossipbiography.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. May his soul rest in peace. 'Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. Is Richard Jefferson Married? In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Ellis's family - via his manager Emily Gerson Saines - said they were prompted to share the details of the 39-year-old's death in hopes of helping others. Nelsan Ellis was born in 1978 in Harvey, IL and moved to Bessemer, AL when he was six with his mother after his parents' divorce. Or somebody cannot be a Christian and do whatever that entails. Ellis was notoriously private when it came to his personal life. When news of True Blood-star Nelsan Ellis' sudden death hit social media feeds last week, . I think in this country, anybody can do whatever they want to do as long as it's not hurting anybody else or violating the laws of society. July 8, 2017 At the young age of 39, True Blood star Nelsan Ellis has died due to heart failure, according The Hollywood Reporter. Even I was watching myself and criticizing myself I go, I like that dude, he said. Furthermore, while at Juilliard, he wrote Ugly, a semi-autobiographical play. He had $3 million net worth before death. What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. He was also noted for his guest appearances in several hit TV shows such as Veronica Mars (2007) and Without a Trace (2007). I dont answer that question, Are you gay or not, when it comes down to industry people. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. Ellis is survived by his son, Breon, as well as his grandmother, Alex Brown, and his father, Tommie Lee Thompson, reports THR. The most intriguing thing about him is his strength and his stillness. 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. We basically all went to high school together and were the theater kids and the speech club kids. Ellis is survived by his son, Breon, as well as his grandmother, Alex Brown, and his father, Tommie Lee Thompson, reports THR. Nelsan Ellis: True Blood actor died after 'trying to beat alcohol addiction alone' Popular performer from hit HBO vampire series, 39, passed away on 8 July after suffering kidney failure following . Nelsan was a humble and kind soul who somehow got stuck in the habit of taking alcohol and drugs. Wrote the play "Ugly" about the devastating effects of domestic abuse after his sister Alice was shot by her husband in 2002. In the years that followed, he appeared in a number of guest and recurring roles. Nelsan was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. He had a turbulent childhood; at one point during his teen years . Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. He also has two children, a son and a newborn daughter. He and the rest of the cast won the Satellite Award for Best Ensemble in 2009. True Blood 's Nelsan Ellis, who died at the age of 39, is being remembered by friends and former co-stars. They hope his story can possibly help others dealing with the same addictions. He elevated his Lafayette on HBO's "True Blood" into a character comparable to Belize in Tony Kushner's "Angels in America." [his thoughts on gay marriage] I support it. You make a big . His mothers name was Jackie Ellis and his fathers name was Tommie Lee Thompson. In Alabama but later returned to Illinois at the age of 15 and lived with his maternal aunt this was... True Blood in 2011 at Juilliard, he appeared in a television film Warm Springs as Roy.. At Juilliard, he appeared in a Drama Series for True Blood has., while at Juilliard, he won the NAACP Image Award for Best in! The US Marines at the age of 17 and called it quits afterward of True Blood-star nelsan Ellis the. 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