Nelsan Ellis (1977–2017)

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Nelsan Ellis was an award-winning American film and television actor and playwright, perhaps best known as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's True Blood (2008). Nelsan was born on November 30, 1977, in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Jackie Ellis and Tommie Lee Thompson. Following his parents' divorce, Ellis and his mother moved to Alabama. He moved back to ... See full bio »

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3 wins & 7 nominations. See more awards »

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Known For

Lee Daniels' The Butler
Lee Daniels' The Butler Martin Luther King Jr.
(2013)
The Stanford Prison Experiment
The Stanford Prison Experiment Jesse Fletcher
(2015)
True Blood
True Blood Lafayette Reynolds
(2008-2014)
Secretariat
Secretariat Eddie Sweat
(2010)
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Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Actor (25 credits)
 2017 True to the Game
Tyrik
 2016-2017 Elementary (TV Series)
Shinwell Johnson
- Moving Targets (2017) ... Shinwell Johnson
- Dead Man's Tale (2017) ... Shinwell Johnson
- The Ballad of Lady Frances (2017) ... Shinwell Johnson
- Rekt in Real Life (2017) ... Shinwell Johnson
- Be My Guest (2017) ... Shinwell Johnson
Show all 11 episodes
 2017 Roxanne Roxanne
Mr. Lester
 2016 Send Me: An Original Web Series (TV Series)
Benjamin
- Interview One (2016) ... Benjamin
 2016 Little Boxes
Mack Burns
 2015 The Stanford Prison Experiment
Jesse Fletcher
 2008-2014 True Blood (TV Series)
Lafayette Reynolds
- Thank You (2014) ... Lafayette Reynolds
- Love Is to Die (2014) ... Lafayette Reynolds
- Almost Home (2014) ... Lafayette Reynolds
- May Be the Last Time (2014) ... Lafayette Reynolds
- Karma (2014) ... Lafayette Reynolds
Show all 81 episodes
 2014 Get on Up
Bobby Byrd
 2013 #Nausea... for Millennials (Short)
Gibson
 2013 Gods Behaving Badly
Dionysus
 2013/I Lee Daniels' The Butler
Martin Luther King Jr.
 2012 Naked Eye (Short)
The Man
 2012 The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Wainwright
 2011 The Help
Henry The Waiter
 2010 Secretariat
Eddie Sweat
 2010 True Blood: Webisodes (TV Series short)
Lafayette Reynolds
- Sookie, Tara & Lafayette (2010) ... Lafayette Reynolds
 2009 Talent (Short)
Titus
 2009 The Soloist
David Carter
 2008 The Express
Will Davis, Jr.
 2007 Without a Trace (TV Series)
Deng Nimieri
- Lost Boy (2007) ... Deng Nimieri
 2007 Veronica Mars (TV Series)
Apollo Bukenya
- I Know What You'll Do Next Summer (2007) ... Apollo Bukenya
 2005-2006 The Inside (TV Series)
Carter Howard
- Skin and Bone (2006) ... Carter Howard
- Gem (2006) ... Carter Howard
- The Perfect Couple (2005) ... Carter Howard
- Point of Origin (2005) ... Carter Howard
- Little Girl Lost (2005) ... Carter Howard (credit only)
Show all 13 episodes
 2005 Trespass (Short)
Donny
 2005 Warm Springs (TV Movie)
Roy Collier
 2002/I Lost (Short)
Hoffa
Show Show Producer (7 credits)
Show Show Writer (2 credits)
Show Show Director (2 credits)
Show Show Additional Crew (1 credit)
Show Show Thanks (1 credit)
Show Show Self (12 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (3 credits)

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Personal Details

Other Works:

(2005, October - November) Appeared in the Charles Fuller play A Soldier's Story at the Second Stage Theatre, off-Broadway, New York, New York.

Publicity Listings:

4 Articles | See more »

Alternate Names:

Nelson Ellis

Height:

5' 9¼" (1.76 m)

Parents:

Ellis, Jackie | Lee Thompson, Tommie
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[his thoughts on gay marriage] I support it. I think anybody should--I mean--I have my religious views, but I don't choose to oppress them on anybody. 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. If you want to get married to a man then get married to a man. If two women want to get married they should ... See more »

Trivia:

Wrote the play "Ugly" about the devastating effects of domestic abuse after his sister Alice was shot by her husband in 2002. He staged the play while a student at Julliard, and received the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' Martin E. Segal Award for his efforts. See more »

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Sagittarius
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