NelsanEllis

Nelsan Ellis said Monday on 'The Talk' (weekdays, syndicated on CBS) that people sometimes think he is his 'True Blood' character, Lafayette Reynolds. There are some big differences, including the fact that Lafayette is gay and Ellis is straight. But Ellis shared that there is a little of the Ellis family tree represented in Lafayette.

Sara Gilbert asked if people sometimes mistook Ellis for his character. "They do," he said, smiling. "Gay is just one part of Lafayette. People think that I'm everything that encompasses Lafayette, which is a lot. I'm too boring as Nelsan." His mother, who recently passed away, was apparently not boring at all. She never saw the show, but Ellis said she and Lafayette had a lot in common.

February is Black History Month, and what better way to celebrate than to pay tribute to television's brightest young African-American actors.

Most of you are already fans of critically acclaimed vets like Chandra Wilson ('Grey's Anatomy'), Anthony Anderson ('Law & Order') and Regina King ('Southland'), but there is a new wave of up-and-coming black stars ready to make their mark. Here are 12 of our favorites. Who are yours?