Actor Brad Renfro Dead

By: Shannon Gossage

It was reported that Renfro, who has a history of drug abuse, died Tuesday at a Los Angeles apartment after spending the night drinking with friends. Friends heard Renfro snoring during the night, but found him not breathing Tuesday morning. Paramedics were called and pronounced Renfro dead at the scene at approximately 9 a.m. Chief investigator for the L.A. county coroner, Craig Harvey, said that a drug overdose is a "possibility considering his history." Harvey went on to say, "All we have now is the history of his drinking the previous night. All that we have is that he was last known to be alive during the morning hours and he was snoring."

Renfro got his big break starring in 1994’s The Client after director Joel Schumacher discovered the 12-year old and cast him alongside Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones. Renfro also starred in Apt Pupil, Tom and Huck, and Deuces Wild. He recently filmed a movie co-starring Billy Bob Thornton and Winona. In 1995, PEOPLE picked Renfro as one of its "Top 30 Under 30."

Renfro’s troubles began in 1997 when he was place don two years probation after trying to steal a yacht. He was arrested in 2005 after being charged with a felony count of attempting to buy heroin. That same year he was also charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence and two counts of driving with a suspended license. Renfro entered a rehab program in January 2006. His attorney said he was "doing whatever is necessary to take care of his personal and legal issues." Renfro plead guilty to the heroin charge and received three year’s probation. In June 2007, he violated his probation by failing to enroll in a long-term drug treatment program. He faced jail time or live-in rehab if he violated his probation two more times. Tragically his life was cut short before he could get it straightened out.