Nelsan Ellis' Family Reveals Circumstances Surrounding His Death

08/31/2017 04:30 pm EDT

Nelsan Ellis, who starred as fan-favorite character Lafayette Reynolds in HBO's True Blood, tragically passed away this weekend. The actor was 39 years old at the time of his death.

The initial report suggested that Ellis' death was caused by heart failure, but many of the details surrounding the tragedy were unknown.

Hollywood Reacts To The Death Of Nelsan Ellis

The Ellis family has now come forward and said that Nelsan struggled with alcohol and drug abuse for years, and hit heart failure was a complication that stemmed from alcohol withdrawal.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Eliis' wanted to share the details surrounding their son's death so that other people in a similar situation could get help. Through Nelsan's manager Emily Gerson Saines, the family released this statement:

Nelsan's father has bravely agreed for me to share the circumstances of Nelsan's heart failure. Nelsan has suffered with drug and alcohol abuse for years. After many stints in rehab, Nelsan attempted to withdraw from alcohol on his own. According to his father, 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.

On the morning of Saturday July 8th, after four days in Woodhull Hospital, Nelsan was pronounced dead. Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. He was a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, and a great friend to those that were lucky enough to know him. Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it during his life. His family, however, believes that in death he would want his life to serve as a cautionary tale in an attempt to help others.

Nelsan Ellis' Tragic Final Instagram Posts

Ellis is survived by his grandmother, Alex Brown; his father, Tommie Lee Thompson; and his son, Breon Ellis. He is also survived by his siblings Lakeeia Thomson, Tommie Lee Thompson, Babon Ellis, Maurice Turne, Tianna Thompson, Shaentika Beard and Yvonne Ellis and aunt Tartheaia Thompson.

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