Brad Renfro = Dead
Brad Renfro, former child star who launched his career with New Regency’s “The Client” and went on to star in “Sleepers”, “Bully”, “Apt Pupil” and Dan Water’s brilliant “Happy Campers” is dead at the ripe old age of 25. Brad loved puppies, milkshakes and heroin. Especially heroin.
Dear Moms: Get your children acting lessons. It will guarantee them a happy, successful future.
UPDATE
Although the cause of death has not been determined, Brad Renfro had a history of drug abuse.
Sources tell TMZ, that Renfro had been working valiantly to stay clean, especially since this summer. Renfro had been convicted of several drug offenses, including attempted heroin possession. (here’s the famous shot of him being carried away by cops in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood)
Renfro had been filming a movie with Winona Ryder and Billy Bob Thornton. The movie, based on a Brett Easton Ellis novel is called “The Informers,” just wrapped and is being distributed by Senator International.
DB’s personal note - I knew Brad when he was young and living part of the time in Knoxville, Tennessee – at the time he was a client of Stephen Small and Dina Shapiro at the now defunkt talent agency Writers & Artists Agency. He was a crazy kid. A kid with a good heart and pretty much was a victim of the circumstances that a kid with a lot of talent and no real parents guiding him through life. After viewing Brad’s performances its easy to imagine how he could have been a great star if he was only able to get his life straight.
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One Comment, Comment or Ping
Dina Shapiro
I worked with Brad for several years as his talent agent and considered him a dear friend. Before I ever met him I had seen The Client & Sleepers and was a huge fan of his work. I had no idea that he possessed more talent in his pinky finger than anyone else I have met to this day. He struggled with his demons from childhood and while everyone who met him thought they would be able to help him, it became clear that the pain he endured was sometimes beyond repair. I remember so many times we would sit down and he would teach me about music, about the south, about his struggles as a boy, but mostly we laughed and told jokes for hours on end. I lost touch with Brad a few years back and tried desperately to reach out to him, but his new reps feared I might be a threat…typical industry pieces of shit (particularly ben). I often took out the Frodad CD he recorded with people I had introduced him to (Dan Levin’s crew). I went to Italy with him when he received an award at a film festival. By far the craziest trip of my life, but no matter how hard it was to work for him, I have yet to find anyone who exuded his special kind of talent. I miss him even though it has been years since we were in touch. The last time I saw him was at a Hollywood nightclub and he was sitting with a group of my friends. When he saw me, he jumped over the table (knocking drinks and people) and jumped to hug me. He kept repeating, “If it wasn’t for you, I’d be nothing or I’d be dead by now. You were the only one who ever cared Dina.” Brad, I am sorry I wasn’t able to help you more. The world lost someone so special with your death. Your memory lives on I promise.
Jan 26th, 2008
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