Describing an iconic scene from the series set in the town’s diner, Stephen Moyer (who plays vampire Bill Compton) remembers the hold Ellis had on the other cast members and crew.

“In the scene that was being shot that day, Lafayette, a male cross-dressing short order cook in the show, was expounding on his theory of men’s fear of the female anatomy. Specifically, the vagina,” says Moyer.

“I’m not sure I have ever seen, before or since, people crowd around a monitor at video village with their hands clapped to their mouths from shock, sheer laughter and wonder …. It was completely original, funny, sardonic, risqué and brilliant. That was Nelsan Ellis. All of the above.”

And here are 24 other brilliant Lafayette moments that will make you miss him even more: