Actor Nelsan Ellis dies of "True Blood" series; I was 39 years old

NEW YORK - Actor Nelsan Ellis, best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the "True Blood" series, is dead. He was 39 years old.
Her representative Emily Gerson Saines confirmed the death in an email on Saturday. The Hollywood Reporter, the first to report Ellis's death, said the death was due to complications of heart failure, the official said.

The Illinois-born actor, who studied at famed Julliard School, played the role of Lafayette in the HBO drama from 2008 through 2014, and most recently participated in CBS's "Elementary" detective series. He was also a screenwriter and director.

Ellis played Martin Luther King Jr. in Lee Daniels' film "The Butler." Other appearances on the big screen include his roles in "The Help" and James Brown's biopic "Get On Up."