Nelsan Ellis - Actor Profile

Nelsan Ellis

Acting
Freshness: Jan 13, 2026
13Total Films
8.2 Highest Rated
Born: Nov 30, 1977
Birth Place: Harvey, Illinois, USA

About Nelsan Ellis

Nelsan Ellis (born c. 1978) was an award-winning American film and television actor and playwright, perhaps best known as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's True Blood. He died on July 8, 2017, in Los Angeles, California, from complications with heart failure at the age of 39. Description above from the Wikipedia article Nelsan Ellis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. ​

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Nelsan Ellis reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 13 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Nelsan Ellis's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 69% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Nelsan Ellis remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Help, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Nelsan Ellis Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Nelsan Ellis's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Nelsan Ellis.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2017 True to the Game Tyrik Average Similar →
2017 Little Boxes Mack Average Similar →
2017 Roxanne Roxanne Mr. Lester Average Similar →
2015 The Stanford Prison Experiment Jesse Fletcher Hit Similar →
2014 Get on Up Bobby Byrd Hit Similar →
2013 Gods Behaving Badly Dionysus Flop Similar →
2013 The Butler Martin Luther King Jr. Hit Similar →
2013 The Reluctant Fundamentalist Wainwright Hit Similar →
2011 The Help Henry The Waiter Super Hit Similar →
2010 Secretariat Eddie Sweat Hit Similar →
2009 The Soloist David Carter Hit Similar →
2008 The Express Will Davis, Jr. Hit Similar →
2005 Warm Springs Roy Collier Hit Similar →

Nelsan Ellis - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Nelsan Ellis?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Nelsan Ellis is "The Help" with a rating of 8.2/10.

How many movies has Nelsan Ellis acted in?

Nelsan Ellis has been featured in at least 13 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Nelsan Ellis?

Other notable films include "Secretariat", "The Butler", and "The Express".