Actor Brad Renfro dead at 25

[NotaGeek]

So sad! Drugs are bad kids!

LOS ANGELES - Actor Brad Renfro is dead, the Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed to “Access Hollywood.”

According to the coroner’s office, a Brad Barron Renfro, with the same date of birth as the actor, died today. They have no cause of death yet; the investigation is pending.

His body was found in his Los Angeles home early Tuesday, his lawyer Richard Kaplan said.

Renfro was 25 years old.

Renfro got his first big break when he was discovered by director Joel Schumacher, who cast the then 10-year-old in “The Client.” The breakout 1994 role pitted the young actor on screen with Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones.

He quickly graduated to teen movies like 1995’s “Tom and Huck,” opposite Jonathan Taylor Thomas before moving on to indie dramas including 2001’s “Ghost World” opposite Scarlett Johansson, Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi.

The actor recently finished filming “The Informers” with Winona Ryder and Billy Bob Thornton, according to celebrity Web site TMZ.com.


Renfro had been in frequent trouble with the law in recent years, including a December 2005 arrest in a heroin sting roundup on L.A.’s skid row. Renfro was charged with a felony count of attempting to possess heroin and driving while intoxicated, for which he served 10 days in jail in May 2006.

Sources told TMZ that the actor had been working hard to stay clean, especially since this summer.

The Associated Press, Access Hollywood and TMZ.com contributed to this report.

[FlaTinkRAMESAM]

aww that's sad... I love Tom and Huck.

[NJGIRL]

While it's sad someone has died these so called stars are out of control. They are think they are above the law. They do drugs, cheat on their taxes, make millions and still claim bankruptcy, drive drunk, do hit and runs and still reward themselves with the endless award shows and their excess life styles. I am sick of seeing them 24/7 on TV. Sorry to be so mean but come on so many people die each day of causes they have no control over and these pampered stars throw their lives away sometimes putting others at risk. This shouldn't even be in the news

[bshaw96]

While it's sad someone has died these so called stars are out of control. They are think they are above the law. They do drugs, cheat on their taxes, make millions and still claim bankruptcy, drive drunk, do hit and runs and still reward themselves with the endless award shows and their excess life styles. I am sick of seeing them 24/7 on TV. Sorry to be so mean but come on so many people die each day of causes they have no control over and these pampered stars throw their lives away sometimes putting others at risk. This shouldn't even be in the news

I disagree. I don't think it's always a case of thinking they're "above the law". I remember (barely) what it was like to be a preteen/teenager. Pressures are horrible and opportunities to make wrong choices are all around. And that was in the small town I'm from. These Hollywood kids are exposed to so much more than we can ever imagine at a time when they're supposed to be being kids. Their brains just can't handle it. Famous or not, they're still kids. So by the time they are adults, they've gone down so many wrong paths they can't find their way back. I certainly don't condone drunk driving, cheating, etc., but no one deserves to lose their life at such a young age. My heart goes out to his family.

[PirateLover]

I certainly don't condone drunk driving, cheating, etc., but no one deserves to lose their life at such a young age. My heart goes out to his family.

I totally agree. Every time we hear these things it just continues to serve as a warning to everyone else. I think it's newsworthy.

[LibertyTreeGal]

This breaks my heart. I personally knew River Phoenix (he was in 6th grade with my brother while he was in the tv version of seven brides for seven brothers, my baby brother went to school with his baby sister Liberty) and for those of you who have never met Hollywood parents, you simply cannot imagine how these kids are brought up and the mindset that is trained into them at a young age. When River died, it broke my heart, and I am glad that Joaquin seems to be doing so well. I am very saddened that this young man could not find his way.

I cannot and will not judge someone whose childhood was so twisted, you just cannot imagine, you just can't. From what little, eensie bit that I saw of the family that I was around -- I mean, there was like zero stability. They moved wherever River was working, hauled the whole family from here to there and it was the strangest dynamic you could possibly imagine. I don't know. I can't cast stones at this guy, my heart just aches for the waste of life.

I think this stuff should be in the news, maybe parents would think twice before choosing this life for their child -- and yes, the life is chosen by the parents, the child is not the one who chooses, no matter how bad they might want it or how talented they are.

[mrsgaribaldi]

It's sad whenever someone young dies. I feel bad for his family too.

[Lacy]

This is awful sad. I loved Tom & Huck and The Client. From these two movies he was one of my favorites actors as a child. It is a shame that so many of their lives end up in disarray. Maybe Brad's death will force others to think about what they are doing to themselves.

[BriarRose0708]

I was shocked when I saw that headline on Yahoo last night, especially since he had been out of the news for a while. Brad was one of my teen heart throbs in middle school. It's so sad.

[ChipnDaleGal]

This makes me sad. Drugs grabbed ahold of him so young, I don't know that he ever had a chance at a happy life. Poor kid.

[DizneyFreak2002]

This was a shock to me... Honestly, I only heard of him because of the movie Bully, which is one of my favorite independent films.... I didn't realize he was in Deuces Wild.... 25 is too young... But, this is what happens when you poison your body with drugs... This is very sad...

[Goofster]

Sad, but it's not new. Remember Bobby Driscoll (voice of Peter Pan, Treasure Island)? Dead in his 20s from drugs. The kids from Different Strokes? The list goes on. Unfortunately, very rarely do these child stars get the help they need.

[Figgyluv03]

I was shocked when I saw that headline on Yahoo last night, especially since he had been out of the news for a while. Brad was one of my teen heart throbs in middle school. It's so sad.

He too was one of my teen heart throbs. I actually found out about this today when I was looking at some news on Heath Ledger form a local radio station's website. They had a list of 11 actors/celebrities that overdosed. Also, Casey Calvert, from Hawthorne Heights died back in November from a drug overdose. He was only 26.

As much as I love Britney's music and how Britney was 10 years ago, I really think that she'd be the next celeb to go. Sad to say, but she's totally out of control.

[DisneyDudet]

Wow, what is going on with Hollywood!? I'm 24, so this hits me so close! These boys (Brad and Heath) were my heartthrobs when I was younger (Heath was still).

They are dying so early! So very sad.

[NotaGeek]

The toxicology results are in and actor Brad Renfro's death is being ruled an overdose as a result of "acute heroin/morphine intoxication," and the drugs were injected, according to the coroner's office. The death was ruled an accident.

Too sad.