"Apt Pupil" star Brad Renfro dead at 25

[VenicuS]

From TMZ:
"The 25-year-old actor was found dead at his Los Angeles home this morning. The cause of death has not been determined, however, Renfro had a history of drug abuse.

Sources tell us Renfro, who had starring roles in "The Client" and "Apt Pupil" had been working valiantly to stay clean, especially since this summer. Renfro had been convicted (http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1379196620) of several drug offenses, including attempted heroin possession.

Renfro had been filming a movie with Winona Ryder and Billy Bob Thornton. The movie, "The Informers," just wrapped.

Renfro has had a rough time personally since moving from Tennessee to Los Angeles. His parents split, and we're told he did not have real guidance from adults as he tried navigating the treacherous movie industry."

Sucks. Hollywood really does devour the souls of young actors, it seems.

[othervoice1]

That is too bad- I thought his acting high point year was 2001 when he was in what I consider to be two great movies "Bully" and "Ghost World"..R.I.P.

[DrHerbertWest]

Brad Renfro? As in... BRAD FREAKING RENFRO? Rest in peace, man. Way too young.

[Workshed]

Crazy. RIP.

[Grim]

Wow. I knew he had all kinds of issues, but its still shocking. RIP.

[moogong]

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=292933&gt1=7701

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Brad Renfro, whose career began promisingly with a childhood role in "The Client" but rapidly faded as he struggled with drugs and alcohol, was found dead Tuesday in his home. He was 25.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at 9 a.m., said Craig Harvey, chief investigator for the Los Angeles County coroner's office. The cause of death was not immediately determined, Harvey said, but an autopsy could be conducted as early as Wednesday.

Renfro had reportedly been drinking with friends the evening before his death, Harvey said.

Renfro's lawyer, Richard Kaplan, said he did not know whether the death was connected to any problems with addiction.

"He was working hard on his sobriety," Kaplan said. "He was doing well. He was a nice person."

Renfro recently completed a role in "The Informers," a film adaptation of a Bret Easton Ellis novel that stars Winona Ryder, Brandon Routh and Billy Bob Thornton.

"Brad was an exceptionally talented young actor and our time spent with him was thoroughly enjoyable," Marco Weber, president of the film's production house, Senator Entertainment, said in a statement.

The actor served 10 days in jail in May 2006 after pleading no contest to driving while intoxicated and guilty to attempted possession of heroin.

The latter charge stemmed from his arrest in Los Angeles' Skid Row area, when he attempted to buy heroin from an undercover officer in 2005.

For several years he was better known for that drug bust and the resulting criminal case than for acting.

After one court appearance, he talked to reporters about drug rehabilitation, saying he was "tired of paying the consequences" for drinking and drug use and eager to get clean.

"It's definitely been an eye-opener," he said of his rehabilitation program.

Other run-ins with the law included a 1998 charge of cocaine and marijuana possession, for which he avoided jail time in a plea deal. He was also placed on probation in January 2001 and ordered to pay $4,000 for repairs to a 45-foot yacht he and a friend tried to steal in Florida in August 2000.

He was arrested again in May 2001 and charged with underage drinking, violating the terms of his probation, and was ordered into alcohol rehabilitation the following March.

A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Renfro's film career began when he was 12, acting opposite Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones in "The Client." His other credits included "Sleepers," "Deuces Wild," "Apt Pupil" and "The Jacket."

[WesReviews]

Remember guys, he was thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close to playing Jason Ritter's role in Freddy vs. Jason, before "creative differences" caused a last minute casting change.

[rhett]

Sad sad stuff. Jonathan Brandis basically went out the same way, too. I wouldn't blame it all on Hollywood, but unless you have a really supportive and functional family unit it seems awfully easy to get swallowed up in post-fame growing pains as a young adult. Rest in peace.

[Erick H.]

Lord,this is awful.I was afraid the guy was gonna end up badly,he was always getting in trouble with the law,drugs.A real talent,though,sadly lost far too soon.Rest In Peace.

[MorallySound]

Just watch part of Ghost World last week. RIP Brad.

[MrKateB]

OMG...this is so very sad.

[thrashard76]

R.i.p.

[allmessedup]

Such sad news. I wasn't aware of his problems. So young, too. RIP.

[DVD-fanatic-9]

Yeah, I agree with everyone else. He wasn't just the "Apt Pupil star," he was a teen idol in his generation, a huge independent film fixture, and starred in mainstream films as well. He certainly had a mainstream following.

Well... first Jonathan Brandis, now Brad Renfro... Who's next? Edward Furlong?

[Katatonia]

R.i.p.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Had no idea he was that young or troubled. R.I.P.

[satans-sadists]

Awful tragedy and such a young talent. Ghost World is one of my favorite movies. Rest in peace.

[Fistfuck]

Well... first Jonathan Brandis, now Brad Renfro... Who's next? Edward Furlong?

Haley Joel Osmond.

[RickB]

I really loved him in Bully. He was a very talented actor. It's sad.

[aoiookami]

Unfortunate, he really owned some of his roles, but yeah, drugs, drunk driving, heroin...it was only a matter of time really...rip.

[Wayne Manor]

Vampire could have learned from his bad example. Her death should also act as a warning to others who think it is just fine to experiment with drugs.