Brad Renfro was born on July 25, 1982 in Knoxville, Tennessee. His parents, Angela Denise (née Oliver) and Mark Renfro, divorced when he was two. His mother worked as a waitress and his father was a factory worker. Renfro had a troubled childhood and was expelled from several schools. He began using drugs and alcohol at an early age, and was arrested for DUI when he was ten years old.
Renfro’s career began when he was cast in the lead role of The Client (1994), opposite Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones. He received critical acclaim for his performance, and went on to star in films such as Tom and Huck (1995), The Cure (1995), Apt Pupil (1998), and Bully (2001).
In the early 2000s, Renfro’s career began to decline due to his drug addiction. He was arrested several times for drug-related offenses, and his roles in films became increasingly small. In 2006, he appeared in the film Black Snake Moan, which was his last major film role.
Renfro died of an accidental heroin overdose on January 15, 2008. He was 25 years old.
At the time of his death, Renfro had a net worth of $2 million.
General Info
Full Name
Brad Renfro
Died
January 15, 2008, Los Angeles, California, United States
Height
1.73 m
Profession
Actor
Education
Fountain City Elementary School
Nationality
American
Family
Children
Yamato Renfro
Parents
Mark Renfro, Angela Olsen
Siblings
Haley Rose Olsen, Dane Hoffmeister
Accomplishments
Movies
The Client, Apt Pupil, Sleepers, Bully, Ghost World, Tom and Huck, The Cure, The Informers, The Jacket, Deuces Wild, Telling Lies in America, 10th & Wolf, Skipped Parts, Happy Campers, Tart, Hollywood Flies, American Girl, The Mummy an' the Armadillo, Theory of the Leisure Class, The Job, 2 Little, ...
The advice I have for people wanting to get into acting ... I would say, stay the hell away from the party scene. Anything you put in front of your goal, and especially something like that, whether it's too much gambling, too much food, too much (sic) cold beers on the weekend - anything that you put in front of the prize is going to end up getting in the way and hurting you in the end. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not lucky enough to traverse through things like that and come out of things on the other side. A lot of people don't make it. They don't live through it. (2007)
2
I choose films for their artistic value. I don't need a mansion or a Jaguar. When I leave this Earth, I won't take any money with me. All I will leave behind will be my art.
3
[a plea to his fans] If you've never tried drugs, DON'T. And if you have, pray.
4
Everybody thinks I'm, like, a bad boy. I've had my day, but I just sit at home and play the blues mostly.
Facts
#
Fact
1
Two days before his death he had "Fuck All Y'All" tattooed on his back.
2
He was originally cast as Will Rollins in Freddy vs. Jason (2003), but was replaced by Jason Ritter less than a week before filming began.
3
Once roomed with Mark Foster, founding member of the band Foster the People.
Ex-girlfriend Anne Bergstedt established a memorial fund after Renfro's January 15, 2008, death from an overdose.
8
He was discovered by casting director Mali Finn for the leading role in The Client (1994) when he was ten.
9
His grandmother, who had taken care of Brad from an early age, died February 1, 2008, of natural causes. She was 76 years old.
10
Auditioned for the part of Gabriel Martin in The Patriot (2000), which eventually went to Heath Ledger, who died from an overdose of prescription drugs on January 22, 2008, exactly one week after Brad's death.
11
His family revealed a few days after his death that he had a son with an unknown woman. The mother and the child lived in Japan.
12
Had not acted for a year at the time of his arrest for attempting to buy heroin.
13
On December 22, 2005, he was arrested, together with 14 other suspects, during a random drug-sting operation in downtown Los Angeles while allegedly trying to buy heroin.
14
Cousin of Jesse Hasek, singer for the band 10 Years from Knoxville, Tennessee.
15
Raised by his grandmother, he was discovered by casting director Mali Finn, who was conducting a search for a kid to star in The Client (1994). Brad and his grandmother were flown to Hollywood for a screen test. Brad had never flown on a plane or stayed in a hotel before.
16
Won the "Hollywood Reporter's Young Star Award" in 1995.
17
Until he was discovered and cast in The Client (1994), he attended Fountain City Elementary School in Knoxville, Tennesee.
18
Ordered back to jail for remainder of probation by a Florida judge due to his drunk-driving arrest in January. [February 2002]
19
In Knoxville, Tennessee, was arrested and charged with public intoxication and driving without a license. He was stopped after a traffic violation near his house. [January 2002]
20
While on probation in Florida, arrested May 16, 2001, for underage drinking as car was pulled over. Released from jail after $500 bond posted. [May 2001]
21
Sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to pay more than $4,000 for repairs on a yacht that he tried to steal in Fort Lauderdale. [January 2001]
22
Arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a grand-theft charge for allegedly trying to steal a 45-foot yacht. He and a companion failed to untie the boat from the dock, causing damage to both the boat and the dock. [August 2000]
23
He was arrested in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, when police pulled him over and allegedly found cocaine and marijuana in his pants and socks. [June 1998]
24
Knoxville, Tennessee: He struck a plea bargain on cocaine and marijuana charges and agreed to undergo random drug screening. [July 1998]
25
Played in a school production sponsored by DARE, a program in which young people learn about the danger of drugs.
26
The Official Brad Renfro Fan Club 322 Foxboro Dr. Walnut, CA 91789-2032 USA.
