Brad Renfro | Morphine & Heroin Overdose Death

In 1996 the young actor Brad Renfro, only 14 at the time, was awarded a spot in People Magazine’s 30 Under 30, a distinguished honor and sign of a rising star.

However, Renfro’s career ended all too soon and all too tragically at the age of 25, an early casualty of America’s escalating opioid epidemic.

How Brad Renfro Died

In January 2008, Brad Renfro visited his cousin Jesse Hasek in Knoxville, Tennessee. According to Hasek, Renfro had a troubled life and previously hit rock bottom, but seemed in a good place at the time.

After the visit, Renfro returned to Los Angeles, California. On January 15th, 2008, Renfro was found dead in his apartment at 25 years old. 

In early February of that year, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office ruled Renfro’s death accidental, recording the cause of death to be acute heroin/morphine intoxication.

About Brad Renfro

Brad Barron Renfro was born on July 25, 1982 in Knoxville, Tennessee. From the age of five he was raised by his paternal grandmother, Joanne Renfro, in a trailer park. Renfro was reported to have never had a close relationship with his divorced father, Mark Renfro, a factory worker.

At the age of 10, Renfro’s presence and personality saw him referred to Mali Finn, a casting director for American film producer, screenwriter, and director Joel Schumacher.

Acting Career

Despite his lack of acting experience, Renfro was selected by Schumacher to play Mark Sway in The Client, a 1994 legal thriller adapted from the John Grisham novel of the same name.

The child actor would join Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones on screen, and the movie was a critical and financial success. Renfro was praised for his debut, winning The Hollywood Reporter’s “Young Star” award in 1995 and again in 1996.

Other Hollywood roles Renfro would take in the following years included:

• Huckleberry Finn in Tom and Huck (1995)
• Erik in The Cure (1995)
• a young version of Michael Sullivan (played by Brad Pitt) in Sleepers (1996)
• Karchy ‘Chucky’/’Slick’ Jonas in Telling Lies in America (1997)
• Todd Bowden in Apt Pupil (1998)
• Josh in Ghost World (2001)
• Martin “Marty” Puccio in Bully (2001)
• Wichita in Happy Campers (2001)
• William Sellers in Tart (2002)
• Jay Grubb in American Girl (2002)
• The Stranger in The Jacket (2005)
• one Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode, “Watch” (2006)
• Jack on The Informers (2008)

Brad Renfro’s Substance Abuse History

Unfortunately, stardom often comes with increased exposure to substance abuse and an underestimation of the consequences of addiction.

Renfro began abusing drugs and alcohol during his teenage years, shortly after his Hollywood career began. 

Arrests & Criminal Charges

The child star and his cousin were arrested in June of 1998 and charged with drug possession, specifically cocaine and marijuana. Renfro was 15 at the time, and in a plea bargain agreed to submit to random drug tests.

At 19, Renfro was arrested for grand theft and criminal mischief after he attempted to steal a yacht from a Fort Lauderdale harbor. He received two years probation as a result but violated this probation in May of 2001 when he was arrested for underage drinking.

A second violation occurred in January of 2002, when Renfro was arrested for public intoxication and driving without a license in Knoxville.

In 2005, Renfro (now 23) was charged with driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. 

Heroin Use

Two weeks after spending ten days in jail in 2005, Renfro was again arrested by Los Angeles police officers for using heroin and methadone, having been picked up during an undercover drug sweep of Skid Row.

Renfro pled guilty and received three years of probation but was once again arrested in 2006 and jailed for ten days for driving under the influence and attempted possession of heroin. 

Renfro claimed that he first injected heroin at the age of 12, and was reported to have said that he was “born addicted to heroin.” 

Did Brad Renfro Attend Addiction Treatment?

Renfro entered rehab multiple times during his teenage years, but continued to struggle with substance abuse.

After his second probation violation in 2002, Renfro participated in a three-month substance abuse treatment program immediately after his arrest for public intoxication.

In 2007, a judge declared that Renfro had violated his probation by not participating in a long-term drug rehabilitation program, and he was warned to do so. It’s reported that Renfro had just completed an outpatient treatment program before his death.

Recovery Is Possible

Unfortunately, fatal opioid overdoses are more likely to occur after a period of abstinence. The story of Brad Renfro is a cautionary tale not only for young Hollywood stars, but also for the importance of maintaining recovery and seeking out support when you need it.

Recovery is possible with professional rehab and ongoing support from family, friends, and loved ones. To learn about the effective addiction treatment options that are available, please contact us today.