'True Blood' Star Nelsan Ellis Dies at the Age of 39

USA Today
Nelsan Ellis, who is best known for his groundbreaking role on HBO’s True Blood, has died. He was just 39 years old.
Ellis' cause of death is related to complications from heart failure, according to his manager.
Ellis worked on True Blood until the show’s final season in 2014. He played the role of gay short order cook, Lafayette Reynolds.
Joe Manganiello, who also starred on True Blood, called Ellis a pioneer on Twitter today.
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
— Joe Manganiello (@JoeManganiello) July 8, 2017
Ellis' movie roles included appearing in The Help, Get On Up, and The Butler.
Octavia Spencer, who also starred in The Help, offered her condolences on Instagram.
A post shared by Octavia Spencer (@therealoctaviaspencer) on
Ellis is survived by his grandmother, his father, and his son, Breon, and seven siblings.