I haven’t seen The Client since its release in 1994, but I can still remember Brad Renfro’s debut performance in the John Grisham blockbuster. He was unlike most young Hollywood actors, from his genuine Nashville accent to the eyes that took in everything around them a little too deeply especially for a kid; and that’s because he wasn’t a Hollywood actor. He had natural talent and one almost sensed that he was already drawing from life experience, instead of expensive acting lessons.
I’m sure we all caught glimpses of Renfro’s troubles in the papers or online over the years. It seemed like he was on permanent vacation from acting, with plenty of resources around that allowed him to live hard. I remember one instance involving a boat theft that was just unbelievable. It might sound crass, but I admired the guy’s rebelliousness a little when I read about it. It wasn’t for publicity. And its important to remember that Renfro never stopped acting. He delivered a solid performance in Bryan Singer’s 1998 follow-up to the The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil, but the performance that really sticks with me is the one in Larry Clark’s Floridian tragedy Bully from 2001. There are those rare characters in movies that have the entire world caving in around them no matter what they do, and with Bully I wasn’t sure how much of Renfro’s character was on the page. Renfro was the actor that other actors praised in special features on DVDs, saying things like “he can have it all if he can just level out.” He had just completed a role in the film adaptation of American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis’ The Informers, the sort of heavy material he gravitated to. He never “leveled out,” but neither did his performances.
Brad Renfro is dead at 25. The cause of death is unknown at this time. If anyone has anything to add, by all means, but try to do so tastefully.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Brad Renfro dead at 25, what a sad, tragic waste of talent. Sometimes Hollywood resembles a parent that is to focused on it’s own triumph’s rather than concentrating on protecting it’s own offspring. As someone that is beyond the magic wall’s of Hollywood praying for the chance to show his greatness, I can only greive for such a sad story.
My question is who is gonna apologize for another sensless death due to drugs and alcohol that obviously was developed thru to much money and freedom at such a young age. Disgusting. Shame on Hollywood, shame on his parents friends and people that cashed a cheque in Brad Renfro’s name.
I’m so glad my break hasn’t came yet, I will be 30 in one year and if I ever get the chance to excercise my incredible talent I won’t be so unfortunate to get drowned in my own takent.
R.I.P Brad Renfro, I didn’t know you but you are another tragic example of Hollywood’s greed and irresponsibility for it’s own. I hope you and River are discussing your next screenplay for the big guy.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
but the performance that really sticks with me is the one in Larry Clark’s Floridian tragedy Bully in 2001. There are some characters in movies that have the entire world caving in around them no matter what they do and you’re never quite sure how much of that was on the page. Renfro was the actor that other actors would praise in DVDs’ special features, saying that he could have it all if he could level out. He was set to appear in the film adaptation of American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis’ The Informers, the sort of heavy material he gravitated to.
Brad Renfro is dead at 25. The cause of death is unknown at this time. If anyone has anything to add, by all means, but try to do so tastefully.
FTW. This is why this is the best website for any person that is involved or pray’s to be involved in the most incredible industry in the world.
Good on you /Film, true class again.
January 16th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Woah, Brody - lame much? suck up much? “my incredible talent” ? - sounds like you already have the blind egomania that leads some people down a tragic path no matter what profession they choose.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:52 am
@ hunter: ‘bully’ is the first film that came to mind for me as well. He was always one of the darker (in a good way) standout young talents, and I always kept an ear out to hear what work he was doing when surfing IMDB. Ive been looking forward to the informers, and am terribly sad to realize that this is the last art Renfro will be able to share with the world. I think you’ve written a really nice piece about him, and was maybe hoping in the days to come, if you could do small spotlights on each of his films? (I dont know if thats feaseable, if not no worries). I really respect the fact that you reminded people to be respectful in their comments, it was nesessary as we all know how these boards can get. All our thoughts with his family, first class post man…
January 16th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Brad Renfro was my very first pre-pubescent “that’s the man I’m going to marry” crush.
I saw him first in Tom and Huck (ha) when my parents sent me away to movie camp one summer and I’ve had a soft spot for him ever since.
He also played a small part in The Jacket a couple years ago which I found surprisingly entertaining.
RIP
January 16th, 2008 at 11:05 am
RIP.
The Client was boss.
January 16th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
@orange,
Thanks for the suggestion, but Peter’s at Sundance, so I’m bizzier than usual holding down the /Fort. You gents feel free to discuss his filmography here though, if ya want.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
That is sad. I’m sorry to hear that. I thought he did a great job in The Client. I guess only the good die young?
RIP
January 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
A sad day.
I was stunned a few minutes ago when I learned that Brad had died.
His film “The Client” is one of my favorite films of all time.
Like everyone, I have read of Brad’s troubles over the years.
I have hoped he would get thru it all somehow.
I really thought the “yacht” borrowing thing in Ft Lauderdale was funny at the time.
A forgivable thing that only young boys would do. It was just what Brad would do “in real life”. Which was exactly what it was…..
I guess that is what always attracted my attention when he was in a scene. Brad wasn’t acting. He really was that person…..
So much talent. Such a nice kid. Lost. so sad. so very very sad.
I don’t blame Brad, as he was “lost” so to speak, in that I don’t believe he ever really “found himself.”
After “The Client”, Brad never really fit in back home, and he never really fit-in in Hollywood either.
He was stuck somewhere in between.
In all his films, he played young boys and men that were also “lost”.
In other words. He played himself.
If there is someone to blame, it is the people that were closest to him.
The ones that drank with him, instead of arguing with him to stop.
The ones that “used” the drugs with him, not just the people that sold the drugs to him.
They won’t know for several days what killed Brad.
Personally, I think he died of loneliness.
As I continue on with my life, I will remember Brad Renfro as he was in the client, with a bright future ahead, and him standing there with his sly smile saying “I’LL CALL YOU.” and then running to the plane.
Brad Renfro isn’t really dead. He just ran to the plane that goes to Heaven.
He won’t have to call me. I’ll see him there some day.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:00 am
I met Brad in the fall of 2006. My ex-girlfriend Mel knew him from the LA party scene and talked about him often. Then, one chilly Friday evening Mel and I were walking down Sunset Blvd near my apartment in Hollywood when we bumped into Brad walking in the opposite direction. He looked older and healthy. We spoke for about 10 minutes, he spoke in a very quiet voice and was very polite. We exchanged numbers then went on our ways. I never did call him and then eventually lost my phone.
Above all, I could see the vunerability and humility in his eyes. A real human being. I will miss him and so will the rest of the world. Rest In Peace Brad…
Jeff
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:12 am
I just read that Brad has a SON.
I didn;t know, and now I feel much better.
Brad has left someone behind.
He isn’t altogether lost after all.
I read this about his son:
……………………………………
January 22, 2008
According to a witness, Brad Renfro had a closed casket at his funeral. His family did not want any photos of him taken.
One of his survivors was his four year old son listed as ‘Y. Renfro’. Supposedly the ‘Y’ is the child’s actual real first initial and is a Japanese name, ‘Yamato’. The child’s mother is named ‘Reiko’. Could she be an actress? Maybe. Imdb.com does list a ‘Reiko’.
Brad will be interred at Red House Cemetary in Blaine, TN.
Posted by inthestars at January 22, 2008 02:38 AM
……………………………………………
It is my hope that young “Y” Renfro will grow up, become an actor like his Father, and then successfully pick up where his Father left off.
I look forward to buying a ticket to that Film.
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:36 am
dont care much for brad now since he went and had a kid. oh well.