Nelsan Ellis’ Family Reveals ‘True Blood’ Star’s Alcohol Withdrawal Contributed To His Death

Two days after Nelsan Ellis’ death, the actor’s father decided to disclose the exact circumstances surrounding the “True Blood” star’s untimely demise.

In a statement released to The Hollywood Reporter, through Ellis’ manager Emily Gerson Saines, the actor’s family revealed that Ellis had “suffered with drug and alcohol abuse for years” prior to his death due to heart failure. After seeking treatment in rehab multiple times, the 39-year-old actor “attempted to withdraw from alcohol on his own,” and that was when his health started to deteriorate. “During his withdrawal from alcohol he had a blood infection, his kidneys shut down, his liver was swollen, his blood pressure plummeted, and his dear sweet heart raced out of control,” reads a portion of the statement.

Ellis’ family also revealed that the late actor was “ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it” when he was still alive. But in an effort to help others who may be struggling with the same addictions that afflicted Ellis, his family ultimately decided to share what contributed to his death.

READ: Nelsan Ellis reveals why Luke Grimes quit “True Blood”

The statement noted that Ellis was pronounced dead on the morning of July 8 after four days in Woodhull Hospital. In the statement, the actor was described as “gentle, generous and kind soul,” as well as a “great friend to those that were lucky enough to know him.”

Ellis was born in Harvey, Illinois on Nov. 30, 1977. He went to Thorn Ridge High School in Dolton and later attended Oxford University and Columbia College in Chicago before graduating from Juilliard School. The actor gained prominence for his portrayal of Lafayette on the HBO series “True Blood. Lafayette was a short order cook at Merlotte’s Bar and Grill in the dark fantasy drama. Although Lafayette was killed off in the books that inspired the series, the character survived the entire seven-season run of the show because Ellis made Lafayette a fun and interesting persona from the very start.

Ellis’ death was met with a massive outpouring from friends, including several of his “True Blood” co-stars. HBO also released a statement addressing his death. “We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis,” the premium cable network said. “Nelsan was a long-time member of the HBO family whose groundbreaking portrayal of Lafayette will be remembered fondly within the overall legacy of ‘True Blood.’ Nelsan will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO.”