Nelsan Ellis

He achieved critical acclaim for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO television series True Blood (2008–2014), for which he won a Satellite Award from the International Press Academy, among other accolades.He portrayed Eddie Sweat in the Disney sports drama Secretariat (2010), was Martin Luther King Jr. in Lee Daniels's The Butler (2013), and was Bobby Byrd in the 2014 James Brown biopic Get on Up.[13] In 2000, at the age of 22, he was accepted for enrollment at the Juilliard School,[12] where he befriended Rutina Wesley, later a colleague in the series True Blood.In mid-2007, Ellis was cast as Lafayette Reynolds in the pilot for True Blood, as a short-order cook at Merlotte's Bar & Grill, a drug dealer, a member of Jason Stackhouse's road crew, and Tara Thornton's cousin.Once they get me with the fake eyelashes and the eye makeup, I listen to some Rihanna and I'm there.True Blood premiered on September 7, 2008, and concluded on August 24, 2014, comprising seven seasons and 80 episodes.[20][21] In 2008, Ellis received a Satellite Award from the International Press Academy for best supporting actor in a television series for his role as Lafayette Reynolds.[24] Ellis also performed in several feature films; his early roles include The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008) and The Soloist (2009).
Ellis at the International Comic-Con San Diego with Ryan Kwanten , Deborah Ann Woll , Anna Paquin , Rutina Wesley , and Stephen Moyer to promote True Blood in 2011.
Harvey, IllinoisIllinois State UniversityJuilliard SchoolTrue BloodSatellite AwardInternational Press AcademyShinwell JohnsonElementaryEddie SweatDisneySecretariatMartin Luther King Jr.Lee DanielsThe ButlerBobby ByrdJames BrownGet on UpTrue to the GameChicagobroke downwards of the stateBessemer, AlabamadyslexiaMcAdory High SchoolIllinoisThornridge High SchoolDolton, IllinoisUnited States Marine CorpsRutina WesleyBachelor of Fine Artsshort filmtelevision filmWarm SpringsThe InsideVeronica MarsWithout a TraceRyan KwantenDeborah Ann WollAnna PaquinStephen MoyerLafayette ReynoldsJason StackhouseTara ThorntonAlan BallhomosexualityThe Philadelphia InquirerScream AwardNAACP Image AwardThe Soloistfilm criticRotten Tomatoesbiographicaldrama filmWoodhull Medical Centeralcohol withdrawal syndromeJuilliardLincoln CenterNewNowNext AwardsEwwy AwardThe HelpThe Reluctant FundamentalistGods Behaving BadlyThe Stanford Prison ExperimentLittle BoxesRoxanne RoxanneI Know What You'll Do Next SummerSatellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television FilmSatellite Award for Best Cast – Television SeriesScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesNewNowNext Award for Brink of Fame: ActorScream Award for best supporting actorRuPaul's Drag RaceChicago Sun-TimesThe Birmingham NewsThe Juilliard SchoolDaily VarietyTV GuideWayback MachineThe Hollywood ReporterEntertainment WeeklySatellite Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, Limited Series or Television FilmStanley TucciVondie Curtis-HallDavid ClennonDavid SchwimmerVictor GarberLinus RoacheEric RobertsJustin KirkNeal McDonoughJeffrey TamborBill NighyRandy QuaidTony PlanaDavid ZayasJohn LithgowDavid StrathairnPeter DinklageRyan HurstAaron PaulRory KinnearChristian SlaterBen MendelsohnMichael McKeanHugo WeavingJeremy StrongJeff WilbuschEvan PetersJonathan BaileyRobert Downey Jr.Best Supporting Actor – Television Series