“Lafayette”

Lafayette Reynolds (Nelsan Ellis) Promo Photo: HBO

In a recent interview with writer David Hiltbrand in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Ellis said that, after three seasons, he has a firm handle on the character. Joking that he wears more make-up than any woman on the show, he said that in transforming himself into Lafayette, “Once they get me in the fake eyelashes and the eye make-up, I listen to some Rihanna and I’m there.”

Lafayette Reynolds

First appearance “Strange Love”

Portrayed by Nelsan Ellis

Occupation
Current

Cook

Road crew (Raynard Parish Public Works Department)

Drug dealer

(Possibly ex-)Prostitute

Family Tara Thornton
(cousin)
Lettie Mae Thornton
(aunt)
Ruby Jean Reynolds
(mother)

Lafayette is a short order cook at Merlotte’s, a drug dealer, a member of Jason’s road crew, and a gay prostitute.

In the first season of the television series, Lafayette’s storyline revolves around the fact that he is a dealer of vampire blood. His main source for this narcotic known by the street name ‘V’ is the vampire, Eddie Gauthier. By the end of season one, Eddie meets a terrible end, and as a result of his V-dealing, Lafayette is taken prisoner by the vampire Eric Northman.

When season two begins, it is revealed that Eric has Lafayette locked in Fangtasia’s dungeon. When Eric brings Lafayette to his office for questioning, Lafayette eventually proves forthcoming and so he believes that he is going to be released. He soon realizes that it is not the case when, to his great dismay, Eric has him returned to the dungeon once the interrogation is over. Lafayette devises a successful escape from the dungeon, but he is unable to leave Fangtasia itself because the door is locked. Ginger, a human employee, shoots Lafayette in the leg for trying to escape and he is taken to Eric’s office where in light of the damage to his leg he suggests that Eric turn him. Eric neither accepts or denies his request; instead he, Pam, and Chow feed on Lafayette and then reimprison him in the dungeon. This is where Sookie finds him. She strikes a deal with Eric, and this is how Lafayette finally makes it back home. As season two draws to a close, Lafayette begins to display symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Season three begins with Lafayette dealing with his posttraumatic stress, Tara’s grief over the loss of Eggs, and the fact that the Fangtasia vampires have coerced him into resuming his duties as a dealer of ‘V’.

Alfre Woodard is set to play Lafayette Reynolds’ mother in Season 3.

Lafayette’s character is the most changed from the novels, and other details have been changed around the fact that he does not die at the end of the first season. In the novels, it is the body of Lafayette, not Miss Jeanette, that is found in the Andy Bellefleur’s car. The character was preserved due to his popularity and to help support Tara’s expanded role in the series.

True Blood – S03xE02 – ”Beautifully Broken” – Tara & Lafayette #26 (Copyright HBO)