Born on November 30, 1977, this American actor and playwright gained widespread acclaim for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO's "True Blood." Raised in Alabama and Illinois, he honed his craft at Juilliard School, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Known for his dynamic performances and charismatic presence, he also appeared in films like "The Help" and "Get on Up." His untimely death in 2017 at age 39 was due to complications from alcohol withdrawal.