The Life of Brad Renfro
By Jamie • Mar 1st, 2008 • Category: Features
It has been more than a month since the passing of Brad Renfro and we’re all still reeling the loss. It is hard to believe that the actor, whom we have watched on Tom and Huck during sleepovers, cried our eyes out at The Cure or when our jaws dropped and eyes widened watching his powerful performance in Bully, his life has been tragically cut short.
Fourteen years ago, we first saw a fresh-faced 12-year-old Brad gracing the movie screens around the world for the first time in The Client. A natural talent, he held on his own alongside veteran co-stars Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon. Since then, he’s been in films that every actor should be envious about, writing and playing music and writing and directed short films. He showed us what he could do and that’s how he will be remembered by.
He was born on July 25, 1982 in Knoxville, Tennessee to Mark and Angela Renfro. But once his parents divorced when he was five, he was raised by his grandmother Joanne who accompanied him on movie sets. “Rough times,” He said to Details Magazine in 2001 about growing up. “But I can’t blame anyone for it. My mom did the best possible thing for her kid.”
Brad had no aspirations to become an actor. He started playing the guitar at a young age and dreamt of becoming a musician. “I’ve been playing guitar since I was six years old. I didn’t take lessons. I learned from Jimmy Page! Listening to records. I was the kid who sat and played eight hours in my bedroom.”
However, an opportunity that fell out of the sky led him to acting. Brad participated in a D.A.R.E play in elementary school where he played a drug dealer. “I played this hardcore, uptown crack dealer. I was only like 10 years old. Hilarious. I looked like a baby trying to sell crack to you,” he told. When Mali Finn, the casting director for The Client, started scouting for young actors to play street smart kid Mark Sway, a Knoxville police officer who saw Brad in the play recommended him to Finn. He auditioned at the Knoxville Radisson, then flying to Los Angeles to read for director Joel Schumacher and got the part. It was the beginning of his career.
As Mark Sway in The Client (1994)
After jump-starting his career into full swing, he began to work steadily in Hollywood by following up with films such as the inspirational best friends drama, The Cure, Sleepers, where he played a young version of Brad Pitt’s character, Telling Lies in America and Disney’s Tom and Huck. Suddenly he was cultivated into teen heartthrob status gracing covers on all the teen magazines.
Trying to steer away from that status, he took a risky turn by playing Todd Bowden, a student who befriends a reclusive neighbour who is actually a Nazi war criminal in Bryan Singer’s Apt Pupil. A daring choice for someone who was only sixteen years old. Although the film was not a commercial success, the critics raved specifically about his performance.
As Todd Bowden in Apt Pupil (1998)
Going in 2000, he delved into directing for the first time with his short film, Meter Man, which he also starred and wrote. Then came one of his most unforgettable roles on screen, as Marty Puccio in Bully. He seemed to be proud of taking part in another dark gritty role. “[But] I look at Bully and this may be the most pompous thing I’ve ever said in my life but that’s the most brilliant I’ve ever seen me, playing a little dumb Florida boy.” Portraying vulnerable in the beginning to resilient in Marty, it became a tour-de-force performance, reflecting of his earlier films. Then he appeared in Ghost World as Josh, the best friend of Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johannson), and their target of annoyance, the quirky Happy Campers with frequent co-star Dominique Swain, and the 1950s Brooklyn gang drama Deuces Wild with Stephen Dorff.
As Marty Puccio in Bully (2001) with Nick Stahl
In the midst of making films, he finally made his childhood dream come true by starting a band with his friends, calling themselves Frodad (a nickname of Brad and his dad). They’ve performed gigs all over L.A. including The Trobadour, The Viper Room and more. They also had songs that begun floating around the internet such as “Distorted Spirits”, “Hey Momma Darlin” and “Hard Jazz”, showcasing the band’s Southern rock roots. Another one of their songs, “Feel This Way”, was even featured in Brad’s movie, The Jacket in 2005. The band had recorded an album some years ago and it’s currently awaiting approval to be released.
Jamming on the guitar
One thing that is heavily associated with Brad is his reputation as a bad boy, because of drugs and brushes with the law. What people have forgotten is that he is just like the rest of us. We make and learn from our mistakes but due to him being an actor, it happens to be splashed all over the media. It was no secret that he was ashamed of his addictions but he constantly tried very hard to stay clean and to continue working.
Joking around under a table
Gradually making his way back to acting, he starred in the mob drama 10th and Wolf, joining the ensemble alongside Giovanni Ribisi, James Marsden and Val Kilmer, and even appeared in an episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. He then signed up for the film adaptation of the Brett Easton Ellis novel, The Informers, another ensemble cast that included Billy Bob Thorton and Winona Ryder set for October this year.
With a few bumps on the road here and there, he was concentrated on his sobriety but it all came to a sudden halt on January 15, 2008. The cause of death was drug related but he is no longer at battle with his demons and is now at peace.
As for what is left in memory of him, he’ll live forever through what we love him doing, acting. Telling Japan Today in 2003, “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.”
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Beautiful article! Brad was very talented and will be missed!
Thank you!
Wonderful!
Finally, a great article about Brad! Thanks!
RIP Brad Renfro
Great article!
It’s great to see an article that gives Brad the respect his deserves! Thank you for that!
this was a beautiful, informative article on such a sweet talented young man. brad will be missed by all.
Thanks so much for this… he should be remembered as a beautiful person who had talent, not as some talentless drug addict as most people made/make him out to be. He deserves just as much respect as Heath Ledger. Reading this made me teary-eyed, as most things relating to him do now, but it was nicely put. RIP.
This is very sweet and does him some justice. I’m thankful at the respectful way the author touches on Brad’s battles while keeping the focus on his art. THANKS!
Awesome article about Brad– finally!!
Oh, thank you so much for this article. Brad deserves more articles like this one! He was a talented young man who will always be in our hearts.
THANK YOU!
A great article written with respect for a man of many talents, Brad Renfro. Thank you for writing such a wonderful article!
This is much needed article. As a family member it so wonderful reading it. I hope all get to see it. Brad accomplished so much and so sad that he is not here today. So many loved Brad not because he was star but for the person he was. A kind hearted and careing person. He is missed. But he left a mark in this world.
Thanks for such a positive article.
Thank you for writing a great article about Brad! I really liked the last part:
As for what is left in memory of him, he’ll live forever through what we love him doing, acting. Telling Japan Today in 2003, “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.”
Simply amazing! Thank you!
R.I.P. Brad.
THANKS!
Thanks for this great article about Brad.
Thanx for writing a great article about Brad and having compassion unlike what the media is writing about Brad. I think he would be happy with this article.
Written perfectly. Thank you for sharing.
Perfect article! Thank you!
RIP Bradley
Great! Great! Great!
Thank you for writing such a respectful article about Brad!
Thanks for the article! Beautifully written!!!
Thank you! It is great to see an article written with respect for Brad and his work.
THANKS FOR THIS GREAT ARTICLE ABOUT BRAD!!! YOU SHOWED HIM THE RESPECT THAT HE DESERVED!!!
RIP BRAD!
Thank you for writting a great aritcle!
Rest in peace Brad. Hope you are rocking out in heaven. I know that I’ll see you one day…
Love this article and love Brad! Thanks for writing a positive article!
Can’t say enough about this article! It’s great!
Thank you!
Wonderful article!
Really beautiful article. You did right by Brad, his family, his friends and his fans by writing this. Thank you.
Brad would of been proud of this article. It paid tribute to his life with honor and respect. It’s a beautiful article that brought tears to my eyes. Thank for for writing it.
RIP Brad
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Nice article! I’m sure that this article means so much to the fans, friends, and family of Brad. Thanks for writing it!
That article was perfection! Thanks!
Very good article about a talented actor. I really like that “Jamming on the guitar” picture.
Wonderful article. Thank you for writing something so respectful.
So nice to read such a great article about Brad’s life. Thanks!
RIP
Thank you for such a wonderful tribute to a brilliant young actor who seemed to be forgotten by the others in the film industry. This is a great article that showcases Brad’s talents and why his fans will be missed as an actor.
Yes, I agree with all who have posted! Thank you so much for this article! It’s very beautiful! It means so much to all those who loved him!
Rest in peace Brad
[...] 12-year-old Brad gracing the movie screens around the world for the first time in The Client. A nhttp://tangledmagazine.com/features/the-life-of-brad-renfroMarty Puccio Archive - Police Forums & Law Enforcement Forums …Jan 24, 2002 … Archive marty [...]
lovely article. however, i wish it didnt even exist and that brad was still here today. it’s really sucha loss… but what a wonderful mark he left
“abigail on June 15th, 2008 at 8:53 pm:
lovely article. however, i wish it didnt even exist and that brad was still here today. it’s really sucha loss… but what a wonderful mark he left”
I agree with all that Abigail said. I feel the same way. Great article…I just wish he was still here with us, but I know he’s in a better place now.
awww…I loved that boy! I miss him…
Beautiful words about
Love the pictures