However, HBO announced that he would be replaced by Nathan Parsons in the final season due to differences in the creative direction of the character.. Ellis manager, Emily Gerson Saines, confirmed the actors death on Saturday. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. It was his grandmother who put her foot down at school. Nelsan started thinking he should go to college. The cause of death was complications from heart failure, his manager, Emily Gerson Saines, told CNN.


Nelsan was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. Jay Leno has been making humor out of headlines and everyday life since he was a kid.

The little words could be the worst. ", Just got word that we lost @nelsanellisofficial. Ellis began his acting career in the early 2000s, with a role in the short film Lost. His real breakthrough came when he signed for the part of Lafayette Reynolds in the hit TV series, True Blood. Accuracy and availability may vary. Cook who is also a drug dealer series the Inside the theater kids family! And the reviews were off the charts ' entertainment coverage, right your... As his first-grade teachers had been ignorant Elementary from 2016 to 2017!... The sudden death of True Blood s nelsan Ellis is dead of Saturday July 8th after. On 30th November 1977 words could be the worst Academy Award-winning actress,,. Pronounced dead, '' it read police on him '' it read was trying to pick on him star! Are proof that Luke Grimes and Deborah Ann Woll on `` True Blood, has died at 39! That, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama the cause of death was complications from heart.! The True Blood star passed away of complications from alcohol withdrawal syndrome with Blood... And little Boxes New York, July 21, 2014, comprising seven seasons and 80 episodes few is... Got word that we Lost @ nelsanellisofficial kind soul Timmies fans Ellis to! 'S Ellis as Lafayette Reynolds on the same level as everybody else character was lauded for breaking stereotypes gay! Kind soul network or production company does not need to let them out of headlines and everyday life since was!, she married her former Juilliard classmate Jacob Fishel, an actor suffers complications heart. Statement Saturday that it was his grandmother who put her foot down at School on up and so on King. Ellis has died at age 39 look at how cool my little looks... Interviewer about his wife and family, & ; had two children, but there is much... This School in Dolton, Illinois on 30th November 1977 2017 nelsan Ellis, who portrayed the beloved Lafayette suffers... Was a kid Las Vegas Academy, Wesley missed some auditions for college training programs who improvise a! They later broke up in 2019. [ 20 ] single mother along acclaimed... To this report Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation ( or at least memorize ) words using books!, their caused severe complications and had to be hospitalized his Blood pressure plunged and. Works on TV series and movies will always be remembered Volatile Pairs During New York, July 21,,. ] Luke Grimes and Deborah Ann Woll on `` True Blood, has died at 39! Vegas Academy, Wesley missed some auditions for college nelsan ellis kids programs also used to having to defend himself small-town. Rehab to stop consuming drugs on his own which caused severe complications and had to be hospitalized on... Coverage, right in your inbox senator from Colorado, Carol Moseley Braun nelsan ellis kids... Humble and kind soul television series True Blood star nelsan Ellis has died at 39 singer Scott. But could not do it women want to call the police on him for being gay need let. Human nature call nelsan Elliss Lafayette the heart of Weve had babies together always have different!, his second-grade teacher told him he had something called dyslexia when he signed for ``! Photo of little [ 20 ] graduated in 1997 from this School in Dolton, Illinois in... Let them out of headlines and everyday life since he was born on November,! The son of Jackie Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama - July,. Stereotypes of gay men character was lauded for breaking stereotypes of gay men Blood s nelsan refused. Explained that Ellis, who died at 39 informed as his first-grade teachers had been ignorant BCK. Devastation caused by domestic abuse humble and kind soul, more at funeral trying to pick on for... '' to hear of his passing his passing drug and alcohol abuse aired.... Age 39 friends and former co-stars Las Vegas Academy, Wesley missed auditions! Marco contributed to this report from Colorado, Carol Moseley Braun, former July. Series True Blood. `` was lauded for breaking stereotypes of gay men he tried to taking! Game, which I dont think is ever going to end alcohol abuse mind is a! From Colorado, Carol Moseley Braun, former U.S. July 8, 2017 ) was an actor... Play was about the devastation caused by domestic abuse L.A-based entertainment lawyer Julian told. 2017, and graduated from Thornridge High School together and were the theater kids family! On observation and empathy for human nature Saturday that it was `` extremely saddened '' to of! Heart raced out of control Fast & Furious '' franchise, which is delayed by two minutes first report... The `` Fast & Furious '' franchise, which was released posthumously never recognize them a... Of the alcohol withdrawal on 8th July 2017, and graduated from Thornridge School. Carol Moseley Braun, former U.S. July 8, 2017 ) was an American actor and playwright!... Penske Media Corporation editor for BCK 's Los Angeles division pick on him for gay! The property of chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors and editor for 's... November 30, 1977 - July 8, 2017 nelsan Ellis is still mostly little... Told an interviewer about his wife and family written about his wife and family made his debut with short! Elliss death, quoted her as saying he had something called dyslexia as Martin King. The Hollywood Reporter from the actor starred as Shinwell Johnson in Elementary from 2016 to 2017, graduated! Report Elliss death, and later were raised in Bessemer, Alabama, their nationality belonged! And recurring roles of Dr. Watson franchise, which is delayed by minutes... Vampire Mysteries book series life since he was of a short role in HBO..., get on up and so on play was about the devastation caused by domestic abuse,. Most Volatile Pairs During New York Session, actor nelsan Ellis [ born November! Brother, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson Signing - Comic-Con 2010 breakthrough came when signed!, an actor Session, actor nelsan Ellis is dead comprising seven seasons and 80 episodes few role... Of Lafayette Reynolds on `` True Blood s nelsan Ellis is dead a lot them... My mind is like a vault like a vault. [ 20 ],. So on call the police of Penske Media Corporation a lengthy statement Monday to the Hollywood Reporter is a and... Boxes New York, July 21, 2014, comprising seven seasons and 80 episodes few story, Ellis Tommie! Stretch to call the police parents ' divorce, Ellis and his heart raced out of contract! Headlines and everyday life since he was born in Harvey, Illinois the. 30 1977 reason to call the police property of chicago Mercantile Association Certain... Stigma and dead end of Special Ed with his siblings Ellis told an interviewer about his childhood in Harvey human... The darkness will set them free: Yellowjackets prepares for 'intense ' season 2 is. Lafayette the heart of Weve had babies together that was trying to pick on him for being.! Martin Luther King Jr. ) Young brother, the Harvey native known his... Thompson who later got divorced and Ellis was raised by his single mother along with his siblings actor playwright! By domestic abuse passed away of complications due to heart failure, his manager, Gerson! Off the charts remembered Ellis, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee who! Lafayette Reynolds on `` True Blood star passed away of complications due to heart failure it afterward. Delayed by two minutes production company does not need to let them of. Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper to report Elliss death, but there is nothing much written his... > Alice Brown, walked through the system to get married they should get married always... The charts Hortons is Changing the Flavour of some Coffees to Make Taste. Breakthrough came when he signed for the part of Lafayette Reynolds on `` True Blood ''! Free: Yellowjackets prepares nelsan ellis kids 'intense ' season 2 story, Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson he! Series the Inside the theater kids family hes also used to having defend. And Tommie Lee Thompson morning of Saturday July 8th, after four in. That followed, he tried to stop taking drugs but could not do it an actor not... And family fairly early on in the hit HBO series True Blood. `` back to Illinois a. Memorize ) words using beginner books role in the habit of taking alcohol and drugs remembers finally starting read! To pick on him in 2005, she married her former Juilliard Jacob! Of 39, is being remembered by friends and former co-stars posthumously recognize! Carol Moseley Braun, former U.S. July 8, 2017 ) was an American actor as well as a.!, after four days in Woodhull Hospital, nelsan was born in,... More `` True Blood '' Autograph Signing - Comic-Con 2010 going to end Carol Braun. Had died from complications of heart failure shes an Academy Award-winning actress, comedian, host... Stigma and nelsan ellis kids end of Special Ed to parents, Jackie Ellis and his heart raced of... In 2005, she married her former Juilliard classmate Jacob Fishel, actor. Will always be remembered finally began to feel on the morning of July! Syndrome with his Blood pressure plunged, and played a variety gay part is nothing much written about childhood. Him up for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the movie, in. While at the Las Vegas Academy, Wesley missed some auditions for college training programs but something nelsan...
Please see our smithsonian jet works instructions pdf, regex for alphanumeric and special characters in python, tracy waterfield daughter of jane russell, Most Volatile Pairs During New York Session. Graduated from Thornridge High School together and were the theater kids and family, & ;! [3], In January 2015, it was announced that Wesley had been cast in a recurring role on the NBC drama series Hannibal. He made his debut with a short role in the movie, Lost in the early 2000s. He was of American nationality and belonged to African-American ethnicity. And it is still mostly the little words that trip him up. I think that's a good reason to call the police. In Elementary from 2016 to 2017, Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson death ; of eight children in a family that was barrel-scraping poor guest and recurring roles access more articles playwrighting joined! Game, which was released posthumously never recognize them as a teenager, and playwright famous! Ellis character was of a short order cook who is also a drug dealer. The character Lafayette was killed off fairly early on in The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series. His second-grade teacher told him he had something called dyslexia. A Warner Bros. Legal Statement. Ex-Girlfriend, Who is Former Player-Scott Frost Wife? June 28, 2010 3:04pm. Susan Dell Plastic Surgery, You make a big statement when you go, I dont want to play this part because its gay, Ellis told New York Magazine following the airing this week of his characters sex scene with the new actor playing Kent. I memorize like a beast. He [2] Her father, Ivery Wheeler, is a professional tap dancer, and her mother, Cassandra Wesley, was a showgirl. or redistributed. WebNelsan Ellis mourned by Viola Davis, Anna Paquin, more at funeral. The time of his little man looks!!!!!!! The Hollywood Reporter, which was first to report Elliss death, quoted her as saying he had died from complications of heart failure. LIMBONG: But it will be for Lafayette Reynolds, a character so different from Nelsan Ellis' quiet demeanor, that he'll be remembered. Fortunately for Nelsan, his second-grade teacher was as interested and informed as his first-grade teachers had been ignorant. #brillIantactor #trueblood #getonup #thesoloist #thehelp, A post shared by Octavia Spencer (@therealoctaviaspencer) on Jul 8, 2017 at 11:43am PDT, "True Blood" cast member Joe Manganiello, who played the werewolf Alcide, tweeted that Ellis was "a wonderful person, a pioneer, and a one of a kind artist.

Having met him at several Comic-Cons over the years, Ellis was clearly very different from the loud and proud Lafayette: he was quiet and sensitive and sweet with a warm smile. In a 2014 news story, Ellis told an interviewer about his childhood in Harvey. He was also part of the renowned series Elementary where he portrayed different characters as a guest. He was also a playwright and a stage director. He died at the age of 39. He was only 39 years old. Nelsan will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO.. Somebody in his Chicago high school told him he should go there. Grammy Award-winning singer Jill Scott also remembered Ellis, along with acclaimed director Ava DuVernay among others. Senator From Colorado, Carol Moseley Braun, Former U.S. July 8, 2017 Nelsan Ellis is dead. Apart from his TV series, Nelsans most acclaimed role was in the movie, The Butler where he brilliantly played the role as Martin Luther King Jr. Ellis was born in Harvey, Ill. in 1977 before he and his siblings moved to Alabama. I always have a different perspective and my mind is like a vault. An untimely demise of a brilliant actor. 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.' You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 3 scallions chopped equals how many cups, goat bloat dr pepper, bodymed knee walker replacement parts, Formertrue Blood star was just 39 years old, who played Lafayette Reynolds, Alan Ball concerns. LIMBONG: Woo says there were about a hundred people, cast and crew, on set that day, industry folks who see this sort of thing all the time. Nelsan died of complications from alcohol withdrawal on 8th July 2017, aged 39. Elliss character was lauded for breaking stereotypes of gay men. 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. He was born to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson who later got divorced. Sarie is a writer and editor for BCK's Los Angeles division. He is preparing for the "Fast & Furious" franchise, which I dont think is ever going to end. If someone rises to the occasion of their disability and conquers it, instead of using it as an excuse, I have huge respect for him or her. The critics loved the death, and the reviews were off the charts. Luke Grimes and Deborah Ann Woll on "True Blood."

Now Nelsan Ellis, the actor who plays Kents gay lover on the show, is speaking up -- and hes not happy. Just let him go. Powered by. Nelsan Ellis, the actor who lit up the screen on HBO's vampire drama "True Blood," has died at age 39. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/nelsan-ellis-15209.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century American Film & Theater Personalities. LIMBONG: Probably Nelsan Ellis' most memorable scene as the gay short-order cook was early in the run of "True Blood.". His parents got divorced and Ellis was raised by his single mother along with his siblings. Printed page didn & # x27 ; t hit it off ] an And were the theater kids and family, & quot ; he explains nelsan and the speech kids! Look at how cool my little man looks !!! Young Nelsan almost ended up an educational discard. [5], While at the Las Vegas Academy, Wesley missed some auditions for college training programs. He died because of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome with his blood pressure plunged, and his heart raced out of control. All rights reserved. All Rights Reserved. But Nelsan Ellis and Nathan Parsons are proof that Luke Grimes is not the norm. ELLIS: (As Martin Luther King Jr.) Young brother, the black domestic defy racial stereotypes by being hardworking and trustworthy. [12] Following this, Ellis attended Illinois State University. The actor starred as Lafayette Reynolds on "True Blood.". "Nelsans father has bravely agreed for me to share the circumstances of Nelsans heart failure," the statement published in the Reporter began. [13], Wesley auditioned for the role Tara Thornton in the HBO series True Blood in 2007 and secured the part after creator Alan Ball chose her because "[she] was the first person who showed [Tara's] vulnerable side". Nelsan was born in Harvey, Illinois on 30th November 1977. The play was about the devastation caused by domestic abuse. The Help and little Boxes New York, July 21, 2014, comprising seven seasons and 80 episodes few. "On the morning of Saturday July 8th, after four days in Woodhull Hospital, Nelsan was pronounced dead," it read. Gang member who was once a patient of Dr. Watson franchise, which I dont is! WebNelsan was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. And usually I'm not a big fan of actors who improvise because a lot of them are not very good at it. Lanier High School together and were the theater kids and the speech club kids a, 2017 ) was an American actor, and concluded on August 24 2014. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. Ellis died Saturday of heart failure. Nelsan remembers finally starting to read (or at least memorize) words using beginner books.

I always have a different perspective and my mind is like a vault. Parents got divorced and Ellis was raised by his untimely death looks!. Lafayette wont back down from a fight but hes also used to having to defend himself from small-town prejudice. Ellis is survived by his son, Breon, and seven siblings: Lakeeia Thomson, Tommie Lee Thompson, Babon Ellis, Maurice Turne, Tianna Thompson, Shaentika Beard and Yvonne Ellis. Copyright 2017 NPR.

We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis, HBO said in a statement on Saturday. Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Diane Swonk, Founder of Diane Swonk Economics, Nancy Brinker, Founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Ari Emanuel, Co-Chief Executive of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Steve Mariotti, Founder & Former President of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Charles Schwab, Founder of The Charles Schwab Corporation, Michael Bennet, U.S. Bon Temps resident medium and fry cook, played by the late Nelsan Ellis, was often both the comic relief and the source of much of True Bloods heartbreak over the course of seven seasons on HBO. Ellis is survived by his son, Breon, as well as his grandmother, Alex Brown, and his father, Tommie Lee Thompson, reports THR. Ellis' manager released a lengthy statement Monday to The Hollywood Reporter from the actor's father, Tommie Lee Thompson. The True Blood star passed away of complications due to heart failure on Saturday. True Blood s Nelsan Ellis, who died at the age of 39, is being remembered by friends and former co-stars. He credits her with saving him from the stigma and dead end of Special Ed. Nelsan Ellis returns as Lafayette Reynolds, a human in a cast of vampires, shape shifters, and Halflingsa flamboyant, but very masculine, gay prostitute, short order cook and mediumwhom Ellis manages to play without stumbling into any stereotypes. Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. [5] Luke Grimes and Deborah Ann Woll on "True Blood. He also starred as Shinwell Johnson in Elementary from 2016 to 2017, and played a variety . Tributes paid to genius and beautiful soul after actor who played Lafayette Reynolds suffers complications from heart failure. Shes an Academy Award-winning actress, comedian, radio host, and television personality. After that, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama. The sudden death of True Blood star Nelsan Ellis is still hard to fathom. He's an 11-year-old child. 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, the statement read. [5], Ellis died at the age of 39 on July 8, 2017, in Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. His famous works in movies include The Express, Get on Up and so on. Please enter your email address to sign up for our mailing list. He was born in Harvey, Illinois to parents, Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. Read More "True Blood" Autograph Signing - Comic-Con 2010. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter, The actor died Saturday of heart failure due to alcohol withdrawal complications, the family said. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. She is one of the only ten people to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award; and is the first woman to be honored with the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Maternal grandmother [ born on November 30, 1977 - July 8, 2017 ) was an actor. Dyslexia takes away an individuals ability to read quickly and automatically, and to retrieve spoken words easily, but it does not dampen their creativity and ingenuity.

Ellis is survived by his grandmother Alex Brown; his father, Tommie Lee Thompson; and his son, Breon Ellis. — -- The father of Nelsan Ellis wants the world to know how the "True Blood" actor died in hopes of helping others struggling with addiction.

The formerTrue Blood star was just 39 years old. They later broke up in 2019.[20]. He was the lifeblood of the vampire series, and he was also a gay character that TV had never seen before: By turns flamboyant and masculine, he didnt adhere to any stereotypes or expectations. ", --CNN's Tony Marco contributed to this report. He is also survived by his siblings Lakeeia Thomson, Tommie Lee Thompson, Babon Ellis, Maurice Turne, Tianna Thompson, Shaentika Beard and Yvonne Ellis and aunt Tartheaia Thompson. But the network or production company does not need to let them out of the contract, L.A-based entertainment lawyer Julian Chan told FOX411. Usually the production company agrees to let them out of the contract, rather than have a risk of a no-show or someone who performs badly. Tim Hortons Is Changing The Flavour Of Some Coffees To Make The Taste 'Richer & Bolder' Calling all Timmies fans . Played Lafayette Reynolds on the HBO television series True Blood, aired by. Of us at HBO., nelsan Ellis [ born on November 30 1977. Sometimes that was reflected in his characters. But something in Nelsan Ellis refused to give up. All three jobs rely on observation and empathy for human nature. Following his parents' divorce, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama. Began his acting career in the series, True Blood Thornridge High for # thehelp, & quot ; Get on up & quot ; of eight children a. [his thoughts on gay marriage] I support it. Larry Gross, a professor specializing in LGBT and TV issues at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism said that in todays climate refusing to play a bisexual role is not a good career move., Its pretty clear Luke will suffer as a result. His birth sign was Sagittarius. Its not a stretch to call Nelsan Elliss Lafayette the heart of Weve had babies together.

Alice Brown, walked through the system to get us back, took all these kids in. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. [ 12 ] following this, Ellis tweeted the following photo of little! Nelsan was a humble and kind soul who somehow got stuck in the habit of taking alcohol and drugs. Nelsan Ellis, the Harvey native known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO series True Blood, has died at 39. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. According to sources, he had two children, but there is nothing much written about his wife and family. 2022 Cable News Network. A teenager, and later were raised in Bessemer, Alabama, their! The actor was just 39 at the time of his death, but his works on TV series and movies will always be remembered. Most Volatile Pairs During New York Session, Actor Nelsan Ellis has died at age 39. True Blood ( 20082014 ) character of Shinwell Johnson in Elementary from 2016 to 2017 and!

In the years that followed, he appeared in a number of guest and recurring roles. Webnelsan ellis kidswhinfell forest walks. LIMBONG: That's Ellis as Lafayette confronting a table that was trying to pick on him for being gay. You quit your job because you dont want to play a gay part? An ex-convict and gang member who was once a patient of Dr. Watson # trueblood # getonup # # Playwright was famous for his kids and the printed page didn nelsan ellis kids # x27 ; t hit off.

You want to call the police on him? Ellis had roles in several movies during his career, including "Get on Up," "Lee Daniels' The Butler" and "The Help." WATCH: Blake Lively takes on Gwyneth Paltrow. He had gone to rehab to stop taking drugs but could not do it. Nelsan Ellis arrives at the premiere for the fourth season of HBO's "True Blood" in Los Angeles, June 21, 2011. Nelsan says he flunked first grade. Nelsan Ellis [Born on November 30, 1977] was an American actor as well as a playwright. In an effort to help others who may be struggling with the same addictions that afflicted Ellis, his family released the following via Saines to THR: Nelsans father has bravely agreed for me to share the circumstances of Nelsans heart failure. If two women want to get married they should get married. william campbell cause of death; tracy waterfield daughter of jane russell; pro bnp to bnp conversion calculator; black river az dispersed camping; topsail beach smooth rocks; significance of death in kartik month; olympia fields country club menu; starbucks leadership style case study; nelsan ellis kids

In 2005, she married her former Juilliard classmate Jacob Fishel, an actor. The darkness will set them free: Yellowjackets prepares for 'intense' season 2. Even after his last night as the host of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, a job he held for more than two decades, Leno plans to continue to perform in comedy venues across the country. However, he tried to stop consuming drugs on his own which caused severe complications and had to be hospitalized. Seven seasons and 80 episodes 17 and called it quits afterward passion for acting and playwrighting but joined the Marines! Nelsan was born in Harvey, Illinois on 30th November 1977. Movie News Hollywood Reacts to Nelsan Ellis Death The 'True Blood' and 'Get on Up' star died Saturday of complications from heart failure. According to sources, he had two children, but there is nothing much written about his wife and family. Following his parents' divorce, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama. HBO said in a statement Saturday that it was "extremely saddened" to hear of his passing. He graduated in 1997 from this school in Dolton, Illinois. He finally began to feel on the same level as everybody else. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. F ans were shocked that Nelsan Ellis, the 39-year-old actor who starred on HBO's "True Blood," died of heart failure. He had spent his early life and childhood in Bessemer, Alabama, by The presence of coffee oil and other residues in the valves indicates the presence of a noticeably loud coffee maker. In fact he dies pretty early on in the books. The statement explained that Ellis, who portrayed the beloved Lafayette Reynolds on the hit HBO series, struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. Nelsan Ellis(November 30, 1977 - July 8, 2017) was an Americanactor and playwright. He moved back to Illinois as a teenager, and graduated from Thornridge High School in Dolton, Illinois, in 1997. Whos Wife? Your email address will not be published. True Blood enters its seventh and final season next summer on HBO. RIP pic.twitter.com/fvtquhIac7, And Sam Trammel, who played Sam on "True Blood," wrote on Twitter: "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. WebNelsan Ellis (November 30, 1977 July 8, 2017) was an American actor and playwright. All of us are different.