Tue
Jan 15 2008
08:28 pm
Sad news: Brad Renfro found dead
By: R. Neal

Knox native actor Brad Renfro was found dead in his LA home.

He had a troubled youth, but he was a pretty good actor. His performance in The Client was outstanding. From IMDB:

At the time of filming, author John Grisham had casting approval over all film adaptations of his work and specified that "no professional child actors in Hollywood" be cast as Mark Sway. He felt that the film wouldn't work with a well-known child actor (sporting a phony accent) in the role and that by casting an unknown in the part (preferably from the Memphis area where the story is set) the film's credibility wouldn't be compromised. Brad Renfro, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee beat out thousands of actors for the role including Macaulay Culkin.

Condolences to his family and friends.

(By way of the Blab.)
Kyle Bubp's picture

Drugs?

Submitted by Kyle Bubp (not verified) on Wed, 2008/01/16 - 8:15am.

Probably too early to speculate, but I'm going to assume that his death had something to do with drug usage combined with alcohol. Unfortunate.

Bbeanster's picture

Brad lived a couple blocks

Submitted by Bbeanster on Wed, 2008/01/16 - 9:21am.

Brad lived a couple blocks from me, and was a very sweet kid, in spite of all his problems. Last time I saw him was at a CD release party in about 2000 for my brother John's tapes at Manhattans. There was something about him that was hard to put your finger on -- a wistfulness, I guess. He wanted to be a part of something -- a family, a neighborhood...

He had a lot to overcome. Nobody get to pick out a family.

Carole Borges's picture

If you want to see just how sick people can be

Submitted by Carole Borges on Wed, 2008/01/16 - 10:45am.

Read the comments attached to the KNS about this. The reactions posted there literally made me sick.

My heartfelt sadness and condolences to his family and to all those who knew and loved him.

ANGRYWOLF's picture

Yes I read the KNS message board...

Submitted by ANGRYWOLF on Wed, 2008/01/16 - 10:57am.

a definite lack of sympathy from some of the people there......not caring of course that his relatives and friends who live here in Knoxville might read it...
The young man is dead and we should feel sorry for that..as opposed to acting holier than thou and passing judgements...Judge not least ye also be judged..

StaceyDiamond's picture

KNS comments

Submitted by StaceyDiamond on Wed, 2008/01/16 - 3:04pm.

The Sentinel's comment sections invites a kick'em while there down mentality on most any story related to drugs or crime or sports.

Pam Strickland's picture

I don't think I've ever read

Submitted by Pam Strickland on Wed, 2008/01/16 - 3:42pm.

I don't think I've ever read a KNS comment that was thoughtful and reflective. They all seem full of hate combined with a my-way-or-the-highway mentality. Very sad.

I was living out-of-state when Brad Renfro made it in Hollywood. I didn't realize his backstory until a couple of years ago. Obviously a good kid with great talent needed a place to belong. My prayers are with his friends and family as they go through this horrible time.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

StaceyDiamond's picture

Bean event etc

Submitted by StaceyDiamond on Wed, 2008/01/16 - 8:53pm.

I was at the event for the John Bean cd release in 2000, I've enjoyed the cd thoroughly. The only local celeb I remember there was Tim Burchett, didn't know Brad came. What a tragedey for Brad and his family and I seriously fear it might happen to Brittany as well.

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