‘True Blood’ Star Stephen Moyer Talks Cast’s Reaction to Nelsan Ellis’ Death

Earlier this month, Hollywood was rocked by the sudden death of True Blood star Nelsan Ellis, and now his former co-star Stephen Moyer is opening up about the cast’s reactions to Ellis’ death.

Up Next: ‘True Blood’ Star Nelsan Ellis’ Family Opens Funeral to the Public

In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Moyer spoke about his wife, and True Blood co-star Anna Paquin is attending Ellis’ funeral.

Moyer said, “Anna is at the funeral at this exact second in Chicago, with a bunch of our gang. Yeah, it’s a really rough time.”

Additionally, Moyer spoke about how he’d recently spoken to their other former co-star from the show, Deborah Ann Woll, and that the two discussed Ellis. “I saw her last night actually, and yeah, we talked about him. It’s tough,” he said.

Shortly after news broke of Ellis’ passing away from complications with heart failure, many of his True Blood co-stars reacted openly to his death.

Paquin, lovingly wrote, “It was an utter privilege to work with the phenomenally talented and deeply kind soul [Nelsan Ellis]. I’m devastated by his untimely death.”

Moyer himself also initially commented, tweeting out, “Nelsan Ellis was truly remarkable. A brilliant, charismatic, intelligent, soulful, wonderful dude. this is just completely tragic.”

One of the stars who spent quite a bit of screen time with Ellis on the show was Sam Trammell. His character, Sam Merlotte, owned the diner where Ellis’ character, Lafayette, worked.

Trammell tweeted out, “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the level of humility and kindness that came with the Magnificent Talent that Nelsan Ellis had. Miss u friend.”

More: ‘True Blood’ Star Pays Touching Tribute to Co-Star Nelsan Ellis

Before starring in Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix, Deborah Ann Woll played the young vampire Jessica Hamby on True Blood. She sent out a short message, simply writing, “Heartbreaking.”

Anna Camp is probably most well known for her role in the Pitch Perfect series, but before that she appeared in True Blood, playing religious zealot Sarah Newlin.

Camp poured her heart out about her fallen co-star, saying, “My heart is broken today over the loss of [Nelsan Ellis] I was in complete awe of your talent and so honored to have known your kindness.”

Ellis’ manager Emily Gerson Saines first shared the sad news of his death, saying, “Nelsan has passed away after complications with heart failure. He was a great talent, and his words and presence will be forever missed.”