Brad Renfro, who shot to fame at age 11 with his debut film role, was found dead by his girlfriend at his Los Angeles apartment on January 15, 2008. He was 25. The autopsy ruled his death an accident caused by acute heroin/morphine intoxication.
A Star Born at 11
Renfro burst onto the scene in Joel Schumacher's legal thriller The Client (1994), starring alongside Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones. Director Joel Schumacher chose him from 6,000 young actors. He told People: "I think Brad had lived a great deal by the time he was 10 and had experienced many, many emotions. When any actor brings that emotional experience to their gifts, there is an honesty coming from understanding."
Susan Sarandon told People in 1996: "I learned a lot working with him. Brad is full of surprises." Renfro won The Hollywood Reporter's 'Young Star' award and was nominated for People Magazine's 'Top 30 Under 30' list, telling the publication: "I'm really lucky — to love what I do and get paid for it. I'd do it for free if it's good."
Early Life and Rise
Hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee, Renfro was raised by his paternal grandmother, Joanne Renfro, from age five. His parents were divorced, he had no relationship with his father, and his mother was a heroin addict. By age 10, he was drinking, smoking, and experimenting with drugs. He told veteran journalist Bobbie Wygant it was "nothing serious, you know. It's stupid. You know, drugs are really stupid."
He was expelled from school for troublemaking on the same day a retired police officer gave a talk about drug dangers. That officer, Dennis Bowman, later suggested Renfro to casting director Mali Finn, who was searching for a tough, rebellious kid for The Client. After meeting him, she called the crew and said "I found him."
Between 1994 and 1998, Renfro starred in his biggest films, including The Cure, Telling Lies in America, and Apt Pupil. He also played the younger version of Brad Pitt's character in Sleepers (1996). His last major movie was the 2008 crime thriller The Informers, with Billy Bob Thornton and Winona Ryder.
Legal Troubles and Death
In 1998, after filming Apt Pupil, the 15-year-old was arrested for possession of marijuana and cocaine. He told People: "I'm glad I got arrested, because it taught me a lot. I've had several months of being sober — I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm glad it happened when I was 16, not 36." He added: "If you've never done it, don't. If you have done it, pray. Then get some good sober time. Once you have that, you'll have a natural high."
In August 2000, he was arrested and sentenced to two years probation for allegedly being high and trying to steal a 45-foot luxury yacht in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 2005, he was arrested in Los Angeles for trying to buy heroin from a plainclothes policeman. He pleaded guilty and went to rehab.
On the morning of his death, his girlfriend called 911, saying: "I'm not sure. I mean, I think he might have taken a couple of pills last night. He had an audition at 1 o'clock this afternoon. I've been trying to wake him up to get ready and he just won't move." It was later reported that Renfro had allegedly told friends he was born addicted to heroin and had used the drug since age 12. He had a son, Yamato, born in Japan in 2003, whose name was included in the obituary of Renfro's mother, Angela, who died in 2012.
