NELSAN ELLIS – COMPLICATIONS FROM ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME

The actor and playwright Nelsan Ellis rose to fame through his critically acclaimed performance as Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO television series True Blood. Lafayette’s character is said to have been killed early in the Southern Vampire Mystery book series. But True Blood fans loved Ellis so much, the character survived and appeared on television. He managed to get his hand on a Satellite Award from the International Press Academy and other prestigious awards from major award-giving bodies.

Everything seemed to be going in the right direction until he shocked the entire entertainment scene when the news about his passing broke out. His family said in a statement on July 10 that Nelson had been trying to quit smoking a few days before his death, suggesting that he suffered from abstinence syndrome, which led to heart failure. His medical insurance company probably covered counseling from alcohol dependancy. However, he became reluctant since it might tarnish his name.