Oscars Explain Renfro’s Absence

BradAt our Oscar party last night a few people brought up the lack of Brad Renfro in the In Memoriam montage, I assumed that it was an unfortunate mistake on their part; but that doesn’t seem to be the case. We get the scoop from our friends at TMZ (thanks to Kristina for the hookup)

So in case you missed it, Brad Renfro was ignored during the “in memoriam” montage on the Oscars last night. You’re not gonna believe the statement the Academy gave TMZ. The tape featured 50 movie types who died in the last year. They included actors, studio execs, makeup artists, agents, and on and on. Renfro was nowhere to be seen. We asked the Academy why and they gave us the following statement: “It is simply not possible to include everyone in that segment.”

Interesting. Renfro, whose credits include “The Client,” “Apt Pupil” and “Sleepers,” seems like a bigger player than Margaret Gardner, the head of the international division of a P.R. firm.

Yesterday people were calling out “Bullshit” when Renfro was absent from the montage. I actually thought it was a mistake and thought that they would make it up to the family by including him in next year’s broadcast. We now know that this will not happen, and I think it is unfortunate. The in memoriam montage is one that can run a little long and based on the response circling round the web, the exclusion of Renfro was a mistake.

I am not certain how many movie industry deaths occur each year, but I would prefer an all or nothing approach. International friends, were you upset about the exclusion of Brad Renfro, and do you think the Academy had a valid excuse?

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46 thoughts on “Oscars Explain Renfro’s Absence

  1. In case anyone didn’t notice, Heath Ledger wasn’t in there either. BUT if you do remember, they were both mentioned in the Memorial at the Oscars LAST year, since both had died JUST before the Oscars were aired….

  2. Don’t get me wrong, I thought they should have included Brad Renfro and I was surprised that they didn’t. I just hate how she’s always bought up as a comparison when someone’s pissed off their fave celebrity wasnt remembered.
    Peggy Lee’s family did the same thing and it made me roll my eyes…its an insensitive thing to do. While it’s sad that Peggy Lee died-she was 81. It was sad, but it wasnt a tragedy. Aaliyah was 22 and she died in a plane crash-it shouldnt even be compared.

  3. Those who have been complaining about Aaliyah…Brad Renfro was an actor who had stopped pursuing his craft for a while. Aaliyah was in the middle of her career and was just starting to rise up in the acting industry-she had deals for approx 7-8 movies after Queen of the Damned. Besides they honor everyone who had contributed to the world of hollywood, which includes the music industry. Aaliyah made history as being one of the youngest females to be nominated for an academy award for best original song (Journey to the Past) as well as being one of the youngest female performers at the academy awards in 1998.

  4. I am a fan of Brad Renfro! I just think it is disgraceful that they left him out. It was not only a slap in the face to him RIP but to his family and his fans!! 75% of those people they mentioned I never heard of WHAT A JOKE!! OSCARS YOU SHOUL BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!!!

  5. I find it weird that when people compare the deaths of Ledger and Renfro, some seem to want to gloss over Ledger’s death or somehow explain it away because it was from prescribed drugs.

    Sure, Ledger’s death was from an “accidental overdose”, but then, so are most deaths from overdose. Renfro’s overdose was probably an accident too. So the only difference is the type of drugs they abused.

    Sure, Renfro was abusing heroin, and there’s pretty much nothing uglier than that. But Ledger had his own history of drug problems, and do you really think doctors tend to prescribe five different types of medications to a guy with a drug history? Of course not. Ledger got those drugs however he got them, and he abused them just the same.

    Ledger obviously had more success and talent and fame than Renfro, so you can be more disappointed by his loss because he’s a bigger star. But don’t make him out to be some kind of hero. His death is just as ugly.

  6. Leslie Unger explained the Academy’s decision, and all she did was present herself as a vapid, stupid woman who is a flunkie for the industry, spewing silly, insignificant platitudes and ridiculous ‘explanations.”

    Leslie Unger is a “see” “you” “next” “Tuesday” kind of gal.

  7. I may be weird for saying this, but the “In Memoriam” part is one of my favorite part of the Oscars. A lot of the times I see people on the montage that I hadn’t realized had passed away and its nice to think about them, if only to pay tribute just for a moment. I understand they can’t spend 5-10 minutes on it, but I agree with the all or nothing part. How can they pay tribute to some and not all?

    Also, does a person have to be a member of the academy to appear on the montage or will they include anyone involved in the movie industry?

  8. Lars.
    Ulrich Muhe wasn’t a member of the Academy so of course he wasn’t mentioned.

    Brad Renfro should have been mentioned if a fucking P.R. person was. His lack of good roles didn’t change the fact that he was a good actor, good enough to star against Ian Mckellen at least. So what if he was a drug addict or a “criminal” or even an asshole, how many actors in Hollywood have a criminal record and are the biggest assholes?

  9. German actor Ulrich Mühe (lead actor in “Das Leben der Anderen” which won last year’s best foreign language picture award) died also last year and was also missing.

  10. The final spot doesn’t usually mean they made the biggest impact in history.

    River Phoenix got one because he was nominated in 1989 for Running on Empty and was like Ledger on the peak of greatness. Both Belushi and Farley, despite being druggies, were both influential and memorable.

    I think that Renfro was absent in the montage for one or all of the following reasons:
    1) He was a criminal for numerous crimes.
    2) He wasn’t influential.
    3) None of his roles were memorable.

  11. Jhon

    1. A makeup artist made the list

    2. Heath Ledger(the other junkie)was the final in memoriam. That spot is usually reserved for the one that made the biggest impact on the industry.

    The fact that Brad got snub just reeks of favoritism.

  12. i saw the pictures of Dante Basco (Hook) and the boy from the movie Jurassic Park in the montage, and that means they are dead right? how?? I couldn’t find any news about it

    1. I know this is old news, but I saw that too, this is pretty much the only place it is even mentioned. Apparantly they are NOT dead. But it was never mentioned (anywhere) that it was a mistake.

  13. John Said this in comment #5:
    “All or nothing doesn’t work.

    None of those people are OWED a mention. Renfro didn’t deserve his name mentioned. Everyone on that list had a much longer and more influential career in the industry than he did. He was in a couple of movies, that’s it.

    And let’s face it. No one really cares. Brad Renfro’s death was tragic, but no one was talking about it 2 days after it happened. Heath Ledger on the other hand…. people are still talking about it and he’s still on magazine covers.”

    That may be the most disgusting thing I’ve ever read on this site. As the “founder and editor” you should seriously be ashamed of writing that. You bring shame, and embarrassment to your “award winning” site writing things like that. I just can’t understand or believe it.

    It absolutely SHOULD be all or nothing. PERIOD. The major stars, and contributors should get the chronological clips, and then for the rest, they could quickly put the name with a small still pic of their face on a black screen. I’d much rather have that be a bigger part of the show, than the unnecessary live singing performances. It’s a serious and important part of an otherwise quite frivolous ceremony, and it’s the RIGHT and ONLY fucking thing to do!

  14. Totally and completely disagree with you John. And I’m not looking for reasons to complain.

    Brad Renfro deserved to be mentioned. So what if he was died of an overdose. River Phoenix, John Belushi and Chris Farley did too and they were mentioned at the Oscars. Why did they deserve to be mentioned?

    They also managed to leave out Charles Lane, a man who co-founded the Screen Actors Guild and appeared in “Mr Smith Goes to Washington”, “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

    I agree with Doug. I understand that you have to draw the line at some point but to me, in a business that gives so much to so many, it’s important to honour those involved in the process.

    And John, while I agree that Transformers should have won, The Golden Compass did deserve to be nominated.

  15. Okay HONESTLEY, Refro died of a Herion overdose! He was a black spot in the business. Honestly if the Corey with major drug problems died before his reality show a few years ago. He wouldn’t be put into the in Memoriam as well. Why celebrate the death of an Actor who had fallen OUT of hollywood. In Memoriam is celebrating the PEERS of the Academy. Even though you can argue Ledger had a substanance abuse as well. He was still respected and WAS a peer to everyone in HOLLYWOOD!!!! Not saying Renfro is less than anyone. But I don’t think the academy is in the habit of putting attention on BLACK SHEEPS

  16. Okay, since people aren’t reading POST #13 in regards to Schieder not making the list, I’ll do this in all fucking caps, okay?

    THE CUTOFF DATE FOR MAKING THE LIST THIS YEAR WAS 1/31/2008. SCHIEDER DIED AFTER THIS DATE, THEREFORE HE WAS NOT IN THE IN MEMORIUM MONTAGE. HE WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR. PLEASE STOP BITCHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU.

  17. I don’t know who Renfro was. I’m just glad and touched by the fact that Heath Ledger was mentioned. I couldn’t help myself so I applauded him. R.I.P. dear Heath.

    Did Roy from the movie “Shark” die?? In that case it’s strange that he wasn’t mentioned!

  18. OK EVERYBODY,

    THINKING THAT MENTIONING BRAD RENFRO WAS A WASTE OF TIME IS COMPLETE BULLSHIT. TO JOHN…SO I GUESS THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE MENTIONED CHRIS FARLEY OR JOHN BELUSHI EITHER?

    YOU KNOW WHAT, IT’S SAD TO SAY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE “IN MEMORIUM” TRIBUTE IS BASED ONLY ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. IF THAT REALLY IS TRUE, THEN WHY EVEN MENTION ANYONE THAT PASSED AWAY THAT DIDN’T WIN AN OSCAR PERIOD?

    IT SHOULDN’T BE ABOUT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE POINT OF THE MEMORIUM IS (OR AT LEAST SHOULD BE) OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE DEAD. WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE THE LIFESTYLE OF A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL?

    THE POINT IS THAT EVERYONE MENTIONED HAD AT LEAST MADE IT INTO THE FILM INDUSTRY. RIGHT? BRAD RENFRO HAD JUST AS MUCH RIGHT TO BE MENTIONED AS HEATH LEDGER.

    YES, MAYBE NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW HIS WORK, BUT HE WAS STILL AN ACTOR AND DESERVES TO BE MENTIONED.

  19. Brad Renfro didn’t deserve to be mentioned. Period.

    Not because he was a strug oout druggie who caused his own death. Any death of a young man is tragic regardless of the circumstances.

    He didn’t deserve it because his career was not as influential as any of the others who were mentioned. And I’m sorry, if they put up a memorium for every single person who died this past year who appeared in, or had a hand in just a couple of films, we would have been there all night.

    I wouldn’t have complained if they mentioned Renfro, but I certainly have no complaints that they didn’t mention him.

  20. @Slushie

    So becuase someone dies of an overdose they dont deserve respect? think about that before you say it, how many stars have died that way you’re saying there memory should be whiped out?

    Forget stars so you’re telling me if you had a family member die due to and overdose then there a “druggie whore”? im glad im not a member of your family.

    Becuase ledger died of a overdose on perscription drugs its ok? He was still abusing drugs persciption or not.

    1. If we disrespected all the hollywood actors/actresses that were on drugs and died their of, we would never remember Jim Belushi, Marilyn Monroe, Chris Farley etc… Get off your soapbox

  21. “So because renfo wasnt as big as ledger he doesn’t deserve to be mentioned?”

    No, it’s because he’s a druggie whore.

    “Heath Ledger was the last one shown on the memorium (they made it extra dramatic for him). I think its bullshit. Heath Ledger overdosed on drugs as well. The fact that they left out Renfro is really sad.”

    Ledger was an accidental overdose on prescribed drugs. Renfro was an overdose on illegal drugs.The fact that you just said that’s the same thing, is highly offensive and an assholish analogy.

    I really don’t understand how there can be people that are defending Renfro and think he deserves to be honored. It’s really quite sickening.

  22. I think it was a wrong decision. A lot of people who died weren’t spoken of the way Ledger’s death was and so because they were around longer they deserve it more? I don’t agree.

  23. To E: Thank you for clearing that one up. Although it was declared that Ledger’s death was an accident. Apparently playing the Joker really sapped him and he took one too many sleeping pills. Regarding Renfro, it’s his failure that makes it so he deserves some recognition. He is one of the best examples of how he was given a raw deal as a child actor. He had a good shot and was then thrown to the side like so many others. He just had a worse fate. Although I will admit, it was his own fault that he ODed on heroin.

  24. it’s just the truth that, they can’t include everyone.
    it’s the academies business as to how they choose who is included in the memorium segment
    but it doesn’t matter because the mention is made for who?
    it’s good for the families and friends of the people who are included in the segment.
    but are you gonna say it is “bad” for the families of the people who are not included.

    its a segment on the academy awards.

  25. To Jack Rhien, Heath Ledger was the last one shown on the memorium (they made it extra dramatic for him). I think its bullshit. Heath Ledger overdosed on drugs as well. The fact that they left out Renfro is really sad. And the clapping really gets under my skin (they should mute it next year).

  26. But John, remember Aaliyah, the singer who died in the plane crash? She was only in a few movies before she died, and she made the In Memorium list! They shouldn’t be allowed to pick and choose who gets in solely due to cause of death. Not right.

    And in regards to Schieder, he died after the cutoff date. Remember the beginning of the montage said the cutoff date was 1/31/08. He died after the deadline.

  27. So because renfo wasnt as big as ledger he doesnt deserve to be mentioned? well then neither did almost 80% of the people on the list so it shoulda been a smaller segment all together i geuss. Right? I dare anyone to name the accompllishments of every single other person on that list that was so amazing.

  28. I am kinda pissed about Renfro not being included. Besides the Client he wasn’t in anything that huge, but come on. I was young when it came out but I remember seeing The Client in the theatres and I thought it was an awesome movie with a stellar cast. The Academy should issue an apology instead of some lame ass excuse.

    Check out the movie Bully, Renfro was the main character and it’s a true story and is a very disturbing, but good movie.

  29. “Renfro didn’t deserve his name mentioned.”

    Exactly. Hey, let’s remember a drug addict that died because of his own stupidity. Please, give me a break. I don’t feel the least bit sad over Renfro’s death, nor do I think he should be remembered.

  30. Not that I care that much, given that Renfro hasn’t been in a film of mention in years, but most of the montage was filled with either obscure people or actors only the 80+ crowd would recognize. So much for playing to the 18-35 market…

  31. There’s no excuse, none. I can understand that the montage may have been finished before Sheider’s death but the way they do at the BAFTA’s is the host (the great Stephen Fry) gives mention to any missing names from the montage when it’s over. It couldn’t be simpler.

    If it’s time constraints they are worried about (it could end up being a 10 minute montage but so what?), we have given them many candidates for things that should be cut.

    The Academy just came off as ignorant and now they’ve come across as rude.

  32. All or nothing doesn’t work.

    None of those people are OWED a mention. Renfro didn’t deserve his name mentioned. Everyone on that list had a much longer and more influential career in the industry than he did. He was in a couple of movies, that’s it.

    And let’s face it. No one really cares. Brad Renfro’s death was tragic, but no one was talking about it 2 days after it happened. Heath Ledger on the other hand…. people are still talking about it and he’s still on magazine covers.

  33. I’m amazed that not only the didn’t mention him, but if I’m correct, they didn’t mention Heath Ledger either… did they? But yeah, that does seem to be a bit a crap right there.

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