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Brad Renfro

Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:17:38 PM Wikipedia source

Brad Barron Renfro (July 25, 1982 – January 15, 2008) was an American actor. He made his film debut at age 11 with a starring role in The Client (1994). Renfro went on to appear in 21 feature films and won several awards. In 2012, he was ranked at #63 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid-Stars" list. Prior to being cast in The Client, Renfro had no acting background and was living with his grandmother in a trailer park. Wanting to cast a "tough kid" who had the life experience to understand the character he would portray, director Joel Schumacher chose Renfro to play the role of Mark Sway. Renfro soon attracted a large fanbase as he continued to star in films such as The Cure, Tom and Huck, Sleepers, Apt Pupil, Bully and Ghost World. Beginning in the late 1990s, Renfro experienced difficulties in his private life, including drug addiction and a series of arrests. He died at age 25 of acute heroin and morphine intoxication.

Infobox

Born
Brad Barron Renfro(1982-07-25)July 25, 1982Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died
January 15, 2008(2008-01-15) (aged 25)Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place
Red House Cemetery, Grainger County, Tennessee
Occupation
Actor
Years active
1993–2008
Children
1

Tables

· Filmography › Film
1994
Role(s)
Mark Sway
1995
Role(s)
Erik
Role(s)
Huckleberry Finn
1996
Role(s)
Young Michael Sullivan
1997
Role(s)
Karchy "Chucky" Jonas
1998
Role(s)
Todd Bowden
1999
2 Little, 2 Late
Role(s)
Jimmy Walsh
2000
Herschel Hopper: New York Rabbit
Role(s)
Tanner
Role(s)
Dothan Talbot
2001
Role(s)
Marty Puccio
Notes
Also associate producer
Role(s)
Josh
Role(s)
Wichita
Role(s)
William Sellers
The Theory of the Leisure Class
Role(s)
Billy
2002
Role(s)
Jay Grubb
Role(s)
Bobby
2003
Citizen Tony
Role(s)
Thoren (voice)
Notes
Television film
Role(s)
Troy Riverside
2004
Mummy an' the Armadillo
Role(s)
Wyatte
2005
Hollywood Flies
Role(s)
Jamie
Role(s)
The Stranger
2006
Role(s)
Vincent
2008
Role(s)
Jack
Notes
Posthumous release; final role; dedicated in memory
2025
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
Archive footage
Year
Title
Role
Notes
Ref.
1994
The Client
Mark Sway
1995
The Cure
Erik
Tom and Huck
Huckleberry Finn
1996
Sleepers
Young Michael Sullivan
1997
Telling Lies in America
Karchy "Chucky" Jonas
1998
Apt Pupil
Todd Bowden
1999
2 Little, 2 Late
Jimmy Walsh
2000
Herschel Hopper: New York Rabbit
Tanner
Skipped Parts
Dothan Talbot
2001
Bully
Marty Puccio
Also associate producer
Ghost World
Josh
Happy Campers
Wichita
Tart
William Sellers
The Theory of the Leisure Class
Billy
2002
American Girl
Jay Grubb
Deuces Wild
Bobby
2003
Citizen Tony
Thoren (voice)
Television film
The Job
Troy Riverside
2004
Mummy an' the Armadillo
Wyatte
2005
Hollywood Flies
Jamie
The Jacket
The Stranger
2006
10th and Wolf
Vincent
2008
The Informers
Jack
Posthumous release; final role; dedicated in memory
2025
George A. Romero's Resident Evil
Himself
Archive footage
· Filmography › Television
2000
Role(s)
(Voice)
Notes
Episode: "Germ Warfare"
Role(s)
Miles (voice)
Notes
Episode: “Movin' on Pup/Escaping Dog Trick”
2003
Slumber Party with Madonna and Dana Pullman
Role(s)
Charles Polka
Notes
Episode: Sleeper by the Dozen
2006
Role(s)
Duane Winslow
Notes
Episode: "Watch"
Year
Title
Role
Notes
Ref.
2000
Recess
(Voice)
Episode: "Germ Warfare"
2000
Teacher's Pet
Miles (voice)
Episode: “Movin' on Pup/Escaping Dog Trick”
2003
Slumber Party with Madonna and Dana Pullman
Charles Polka
Episode: Sleeper by the Dozen
2006
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Duane Winslow
Episode: "Watch"
· Filmography › Music videos
1998
Role(s)
"Gimme Shelter"
2002
Role(s)
"Provider"
2005
Role(s)
"Wasteland'"
Year
Artist
Title
Ref.
1998
The Rolling Stones
"Gimme Shelter"
2002
N.E.R.D
"Provider"
2005
10 Years
"Wasteland
· Awards and nominations
1995
Role(s)
Most Promising Actor
Notes
The Client
Role(s)
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film
Notes
The Client
Role(s)
Best Performance by a Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture
Notes
The Client
1996
YoungStar Awards
Role(s)
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Comedy Film
Notes
Tom and Huck
Role(s)
Young Artist Award for Best Young Leading Actor in a Feature Film (shared with Joseph Mazzello)
Notes
The Cure
1997
YoungStar Awards
Role(s)
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film
Notes
Sleepers
1998
Role(s)
Best Actor Award
Notes
Apt Pupil
1999
Role(s)
Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor
Notes
Apt Pupil
2003
New York International Independent Film Festival
Role(s)
Best Actor
Notes
The Theory of the Leisure Class
2004
Role(s)
Director's Choice Award for Most Spirited Rising Performer
Notes
Breckenridge Festival of Film
Role(s)
Best Ensemble Cast
Notes
Mummy an' the Armadillo
2008
Role(s)
Best Actor
Notes
Collector
Year
Award
Category
Work
Results
Ref.
1995
Chicago Film Critics Association
Most Promising Actor
The Client
Nominated
1995
YoungStar Awards
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film
The Client
Won
1995
Young Artist Awards
Best Performance by a Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture
The Client
Won
1996
YoungStar Awards
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Comedy Film
Tom and Huck
Nominated
1996
Young Artist Awards
Young Artist Award for Best Young Leading Actor in a Feature Film (shared with Joseph Mazzello)
The Cure
Nominated
1997
YoungStar Awards
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film
Sleepers
Nominated
1998
Tokyo International Film Festival
Best Actor Award
Apt Pupil
Won
1999
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films
Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor
Apt Pupil
Nominated
2003
New York International Independent Film Festival
Best Actor
The Theory of the Leisure Class
Won
2004
Sedona International Film Festival
Director's Choice Award for Most Spirited Rising Performer
Won
2004
Breckenridge Festival of Film
Best Ensemble Cast
Mummy an' the Armadillo
Won
2008
Action On Film International Film Festival
Best Actor
Collector
Won

References

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    https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/angela-olsen-obituary?pid=156339726
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  6. BuzzFeed News
    https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adambvary/how-hollywood-failed-brad-renfro
  7. Buzzfeed News
    https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adambvary/how-hollywood-failed-brad-renfro
  8. EL PAÍS
    https://english.elpais.com/culture/2024-09-18/there-has-never-been-another-child-actor-like-him-brad-renfro-the-tragic-star-that-hollywood-forgot.html#
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  37. Knoxville News Sentinel
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