True Blood Actor Nelsan Ellis Dead At 39

The actor famous for his role in the cult vampire TV series "True Blood" has died at the age of 39.

Nelsan Ellis, who played gay "short order cook", Lafatette Reynolds in the HBO hit series, passed away following complications from heart failure.

Ellis was in the show from 2008 until it ended in 2014.

The dark fantasy horror show, which was based around the telepathic Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) in a small town in the USA called Bon Temps, in Louisiana.

Sookie falls for a number of men in the series including vampires and a werewolf.

Ellis' character was a dealer in vampire blood, cook and close friend of Sookie's brother Jason, played by Ryan Kwanten.

The character Lafayette was killed off in the original books by Charlaine Harris but he was so popular, that the series writers kept him in the show.

Ellis leaves behind a son. He served in the US Marines and appeared in movies "The Soloist" and "The Butler".

Anna Paquin tweeted "It was an utter privilege to work with the phenomenally talented and deeply kind soul.

The video below shows Lafayette dealing with red necks in the bar/diner he worked in known as "Merlotte's"

Source: The Sun