Academy Screws Renfro, In Memoriam

Posted Feb 25th 2008 1:34PM by TMZ Staff

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.

Someone in Renfro's world called the slap in the face "unbelievable and disgusting." We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Movies

Comments [232]

Digg it Del.icio.us My Yahoo Sphere RSS MySpace Permalink Email

Reader Comments

(Page 5 of 16)Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. Heath Ledger died in January of '08 and he was prominently--and deservingly--included in the tribute. Brad Renfro also deserved it. He very much deserved it. He was an outstanding actor who participated in memorable films. For the Academy to exclude him is appalling. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt (oversights do happen), until I read their statement. My jaw hit the floor, as I'm sure many people's did. "The Client" was a movie, by the way, that made nearly 125mil. And he was one its stars. He made many people rich in Hollywood. Again--absolutely shameful and awful of the Academy to ignore him and to give such a weak statement. Hopefully, if anyone over there has any sense--they will make up for their error and include him in next year's broadcast.

Posted at 1:52PM on Feb 25th 2008 by Me_just_me

62. When another notable actress who died.. and I can't think of her name right now.. (she played Phoebe Tyler on All My Children" but also played Mrs. Citizen Cane" in Citizen Cane)
She died one year and they for got to mention it.. they did the following year.

Who cares??? Much ado about nothing.. ...
............................maybe the Academy doean't aknowledge suicides? Not exactly a great performance..but a final one.

Posted at 1:55PM on Feb 25th 2008 by BlueJay

63. He was a drug addict. They should not give him any kudos for that. Junkies suck!!

Posted at 1:56PM on Feb 25th 2008 by trendy

64. Why should a repeated drug addict who died of an overdose be celebrated at all? He was not "tragic." He was a loser that was convicted of several crimes. Not exactly the sort of "star material" that Hollywood would want to honor on its special night. The Academy made a wise choice of omission in this case.

Posted at 1:56PM on Feb 25th 2008 by Ken

65. IT was an accident. Come-on its not like he will be missed. They only people that will miss hime are drug dealers

Posted at 1:57PM on Feb 25th 2008 by stan39520

66. More importantly Roy Scheider was omitted and he was very talented and active for many years.

Posted at 1:57PM on Feb 25th 2008 by Mike

67. his name smells of gay!

Posted at 1:58PM on Feb 25th 2008 by shi* head

68. to everyone saying Brad died in 2008 and not 2007...SO DID HEATH

i don't really know what their reasoning was, or if it's because what most of you are saying ... that he was never nominated or whatever, but i was surpised last night when they didn't show him.

Posted at 1:58PM on Feb 25th 2008 by hey ....

69. Instead of yaking about it at the tmz website, which I guarantee The Academy is not monitoring, why not register your disagreement at http://www.oscars.org/contact/general.html. If they get enough emails, they might just issue an apology! ...Just an idea...

Posted at 1:59PM on Feb 25th 2008 by erin

70. Scheider died earlier this month and undoubted will be recognized at the ceremonies next year, as would be appropriate.

Posted at 2:00PM on Feb 25th 2008 by Ken

71. 1. He was no A-lister? and 2) I doubt Renfro is even aware of the slight, much less upset about it.

Posted at 2:01PM on Feb 25th 2008 by truthmonger

72. I'll type s l o w l y for all you that can't seem to read....Roy Scheider died AFTER the January 31st cutoff date!

Posted at 2:01PM on Feb 25th 2008 by READ!!!!!

73. Hi, I waited for his tribute as well. Here's is Brad's funeral book.
http://www.legacy.com/KnoxNews/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=101570815

Posted at 2:02PM on Feb 25th 2008 by Janice from Florida

74. And if it was for the year previous, why would they issue that ridiculous statement about not being able to fit everyone in? They fit 98 people, but couldn't fit one more? If it really was for the previous year, why didn't they just say that? It was a cop out, if ya ask me.

Posted at 2:03PM on Feb 25th 2008 by TattedUpChick

75. IMO, it sounds like they didn't have the guts to admit they screwed up and instead just made an excuse.

It is not as though the Oscars are relevant anyway. They are to hollywood what the Espys are to sports. Nothing more than meaningless awards that are give to over inflated egos.

Posted at 2:03PM on Feb 25th 2008 by Noodles

Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments