Okay, I had to do this for my buddy Boring Best. Brad Renfro died yesterday. What an absolute asshole. If you've never heard of Renfro, and you may not have, he was a full-time drug addict and sometime actor. Actually, he's been in a ton of movies people probably have heard of such as The Client, Ghostworld, and Telling Lies In America. Still, he was more famous for buying drugs from cops and trying to steal yachts than he was for his acting. That's why he's just another dead celebrity asshole.
This kid basically got plucked off the streets of Tennessee to star in The Client. At the time of his death, he was 25 years old. How many people wouldn't want to have that opportunity? This guy didn't even have pay any dues. Sure, he acted in plays in Tennessee as a teen but it's not like he was some classically trained actor. He was in the right place at the right time and had a gift dropped right in his lap. He hit the lottery. A cool career, lots of money, famous friends, tons of chicks, and no need to worry about retirement or rent or health insurance like the rest of us.
Now, I've never put myself out there to be an actor so I can't complain or bemoan people who do for their success. But I also don't have to feel an ounce of remorse or sadness when one of them pisses it all away. I know, there hasn't been an autopsy yet. Still, there are only a few causes of death for 25 year old drug abusers when they're not behind the wheel of a car. I know I shouldn't feel this way but I feel personally insulted when one of these spoiled, immature, moronic celebrities kills themselves. I feel insulted because there are many of us who don't have the courage or looks or personality to be successful at such a career. Those who do should feel lucky to be there as opposed to living the life that 95% of Americans trudge through every day. They shouldn't piss it away and when they do, I do not feel bad at all. In fact, when Boring told me about this last night, all I could do was laugh. Say goodnight to another celebrity imbecile.
5 comments:
Is the pressure of acting THAT bad that you have to turn to drugs? Really.
Celebrity Deaths never surprise me. I predict, Brittney will not live a long life. I think she may even off herself. She's so F'd up.
As you know, I worked with this guy. He was an incredibly good actor. Truly. However, he was just super full of himself when off the camera.
I had pizza with him and that dumb-ass woman that invented "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Another Hollywood idiot. (...a very rich one.) I was so underwhelmed with their conversation that I became fascinated with my pizza.
I still feel slightly sad about this, because I worked with him, but not much. I do remember thinking on set that his parents we abso-fucking-lutely non-existent. He was around 17 or so and they didn't even come to Cleveland with him for the month he was here. ...goes to show you.
Anyway, as you noted, he had everything and pissed it away. Boo-hoo.
...gotta love my typos. That's what I get for waking up from sleep to comment on Brad Pass-the-Heroin Renfro.
On some level, I can always appreciate the tragedy of anyone dying at 25. Or 35 or 55. However, I've come to a point in my life where I just absolutely do not care when the death could have been prevented and is of the person's own making.
And, as a former shrink, I also don't buy the whole screwed up childhood or family thing either. At some point you become an adult and you can't keep blaming your past. This guy, people like Britney, etc., have plenty of resources if they want to get into therapy or find someone to help them work through these things. Again, I'm not saying that the family doesn't have an effect. As Boring point's out, Brad Renfro was basically on his own as a teen. But at some point you have to take responsibility and sort out the shit in your own life.
Bobby Fischer died, too, you know. But there's another cracker. Bobby Fischer, a brilliant man who made one helluva name for himself, lived to the ripe ol age of 64 and was full of hateful venom the whole time. What's the point of living if you can't be at peace? And while I wholeheartedly feel that we're all responsible for our own success or failure, when you're in shit as deep as that kid, no matter how unlikeable he was, if not one person smacks you upside the head, I suspect it's probably pretty hard to climb out. Not impossible mind you, not defending the poor little waste, but as you know, when you're perception is that there are no options, well, then there are none.
Oh well. Pie?
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