Trueblood star Nelsan Ellis Dead at 39

One of my favorite US tv series True Blood star Nelsan Ellis has died. He was only 39 years old. 

Known for his breakthrough role as the flamboyant Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's "True Blood", Ellis reportedly died after complications from heart failure on Saturday July 8th .

Ellis also appeared in "The Help," and starred in the TV show, "Elementary."  He also appeared in the moves, "Get On Up" and "The Stanford Prison Experiment"  ... and played Martin Luther King, Jr. in "Lee Daniels' The Butler."

Hollywood and the world mourns the passing of this amazing artist. Here what some of his co-stars had to say; 

Viola Davis who co-starred with Ellis on the critically acclaimed and award winning film The Help tweeted; 

He was like my son. Heartbroken. You took a piece of my heart with you. pic.twitter.com/jrh4vLDtDd

— Viola Davis (@violadavis) July 9, 2017

Black Panther star, and Ellis' co-star on the film Get On Up tweeted; 

Celebrating my brother @OfficialNelsan.  4Eva linked like Bobby Byrd and JB. We love u.  We miss u.  RIP. https://t.co/ksDIiMGBOZ pic.twitter.com/2HnFEKBBjh

— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) July 8, 2017

Nelsan Ellis leaves behind a son. May he rest in peace.