Actor Brad Renfro Dies

Update II:
Renfro's costar in "The Client" has spoken out. Susan Sarandon released a statement on his death:

"I had the pleasure of working with Brad when he was eleven in THE CLIENT. It was obvious to everyone that he was the sweetest, most incredibly gifted young actor to come along for some time. My heart goes out to the family for their tragic loss."

An autopsy will be performed Thursday.

Update:
Brad Renfro's former lawyer spoke to People:

Former Renfro defense attorney Blair Berk, who routinely represents celebs battling substance abuse (including Lindsay Lohan and Mel Gibson), tells PEOPLE that there's something particularly tragic and disturbing about the talented actor's death at such a young age.

"As critical and prescient as you become in this town, all I did was cry when I heard the news," Berk says. "I feel in some respects like we all failed."

Previously:
TMZ broke the news:

TMZ has learned actor Brad Renfro is dead.

The 25-year-old actor was found dead at his Los Angeles home this morning. The cause of death has not been determined, however, Renfro had a history of drug abuse.

Sources tell us Renfro, who had starring roles in "The Client" and "Apt Pupil" had been working valiantly to stay clean, especially since this summer. Renfro had been convicted of several drug offenses, including attempted heroin possession.

According to People, Renfro had been drinking Monday night:

Drug overdose is "obviously it's a possibility considering his history, but right now all we have is the history of his drinking the previous night," [Craig] Harvey [chief investigator for the Los Angeles county coroner] says. "All that we have is that he was last known to be alive during the morning hours and he was snoring."

Learn more about Brad Renfro:

IMDB Page
Birthdate: July 25, 1982
Birthplace: Knoxville, TN
Brad entered rehab in 2005 after he was arrested and charged with a felony count of attempting to possess heroin. That spring he appeared in court and told the judge that detox had gone "very well."
Claim to Fame: Played Mark Sway in 1994's "The Client"
Fan Site: BradRenfro.org.
Criminal History: Convicted of attempted heroin possession; violated probation.
Mug Shot: Courtesy of The Smoking Gun.
The AP article on his death
Gallery of Brad photos
See photos of Brad in "The Client"
Brad is on the left:

Comments

[ibivi]

How can he be better off dead? What a callous thing to say. A young man dying at 25 is always a tragedy.

[stupidforum]

Who.......­..........­....??

[rektruax]

Early death hurts the surviving loved ones so much. My brother died of a drug overdose (suicide) nearly 15 years ago. It was hard on all of us.

That said...

The planet's population has more than doubled in my lifetime. On the whole, the species appears to be flourishing.

[geobushono]

being a heroin junkie in the USA is flirting with death.....all heroin addicts KNOW this.

[marklittleboy]

This is just another example of the pressures of child stardom. No one cares about the kids emotionally just as long as they showing up to the set to work. Look at River Phoenix's short life. Renfro's life is just the same. It's sad. I feel for this young man who has a bright future. I just read that Ike Turner died of a cocaine overdose. No sympathy there (despite his genius as a musician) because what is a 76-year-old man doing with cocaine?

[MotherWarrior]

As the mother of a heroin and cocaine addict (in recovery and sober now) who struggled with addiction during his teens, I'm always sorry to hear of the death of a young person by overdose. It could happen to any one of our kids; they don't have to be living in Hollywood or in the entertainment industry. My son got into his addiction while attending a good school in a city that is generally touted as a great place to raise children and be healthy. Heroin and cocaine are everywhere and the passing of one more young person from its effects should spur us all to speak out about the need for better controls to keep it out of schools and for better access to treatment no matter income level. See my blog on adolescent addiction issues and what parents need to know at motherwarr­iors.blogs­pot.com

[isisdawnra]

What most people do not understand is:
Even with all the rehab, treatment and information in the world .....only 1 (one) in 30 will be able to sustain sobriety.
Being weak-willed has nothing to do with it.
The invironment he lived in was just too to toxic.

[Charity Froggenhall]

Such a shame. Hollywood is too rough on young actors.

[Gumby123]

Too sad.

[TexPenn]

He was in a movie "The Cure"....
A wonderful performance by a very talented
young man...I will miss him..

[SILVANUS]

You thought Mulholland Drive was a surrealist film about Hollywood?

Hollywood is the vampire, babe.

[JohnPone]

I feel bad about his death... I spent a very uncomfortable night at a dinner party where he was also a guest. He as completely and utterly messed up. No one failed him, many people tried to help... he failed himself.

[lemurfemur]

What difference does it make how he died, or why he died, or whether he could act? The only really important thing is that he was beautiful.

[Bulbul]

Terrible !
I remember the "Client" movie and him really well, he was very good in it and showed lots of promise.
Is this the way it ends ? Who failed him ? Hollywood ?
So sorry for the family !

[eyecon]

I recall a very solid performance in "Bully." He showed great promise. Ultimately, the kid died of parental neglect.

Meanwhile, Tommy Xenu Cruise is shilling for Scientology's Narconon. Pay $15,000 to get overdoses of vitamins and saunas.