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Feb 8, 2008 1:21 pm US/Pacific
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Renfro Died Of Accidental Overdose Of Heroin
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
Actor Brad Renfro died from an accidental overdose of heroin, the coroner's office reported on Friday.
The 25-year-old actor was found dead at 9 a.m. Jan. 15 at his home in the 1000 block of South Ogden Drive, said Assistant Chief Ed Winter of the coroner's office. No foul play was suspected, he said.
The cause of death was "acute heroin/morphine intoxication," and the drugs were injected, according to the coroner's office.
"The final manner of death has been ruled an accident," the coroner's office reported.
Renfro rose to fame as a child star appearing opposite Susan Sarandon in the 1994 John Grisham legal thriller "The Client." He quickly became one of
Hollywood's most sought-after young talents, appearing in films such as "Apt Pupil," "Sleepers" and "Bully."
However, drug and legal troubles dogged his career. He was arrested on drug charges at age 15 in his hometown of Knoxville, Tenn., and agreed to undergo random drug screening. At age 18, he tried to steal a yacht in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and was placed on probation.
More arrests followed for underage drinking and driving under the influence, leading him to be jailed in Florida and California.
On Dec. 22, 2005, Renfro was among 14 people arrested during a police sting on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. During a span of a few hours, six undercover narcotics officers from the LAPD's Central Station sold balloons filled with fake heroin to people looking to buy the drug at Sixth and Spring streets.
Renfro was placed on three years probation and entered a drug rehabilitation program.
During a court hearing in August, Renfro told a judge he was trying to remain drug-free. He was scheduled to return to court Feb. 27.
Renfro was most recently filming "The Informers," which also stars Winona Ryder, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger and Billy Bob Thornton, due to be released later this year.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)