A passed-over passing

THANK you, Rachel Abramowitz, for “Death Spiral” [Feb. 10], acknowledging Brad Renfro’s talents and life. He was truly a tremendously gifted actor and a beautiful person inside and out. I went to a vigil for him the Saturday after he died, but as Abramowitz pointed out, his passing went largely unnoticed, especially compared with Heath Ledger’s. I have no doubt that had he lived on, not only Ledger but Renfro would also have received a best actor Academy Award.

I really feel that Hollywood could still do more to pay its respects and honor him. It was with great disappointment while watching the Academy Awards show last Sunday that Renfro was left out of the “In Memoriam” segment. Given that he had compiled an impressive body of work of over 20 films and worked with so many Academy Award winners and nominees (Susan Sarandon, Robert De Niro, Ian McKellen, Brad Pitt, Scarlett Johansson, Tommy Lee Jones, among others), some type of recognition was warranted. That would have been an honorable, decent and simple thing to do.

Moreover, Hollywood has a duty to do more about the serious drug issues it faces. While Ledger’s situation was such a surprise, it seems like Hollywood was not surprised at Renfro’s plight, which is very, very sad. Whether he would have succumbed with or without his Hollywood stardom, with or without any Hollywood intervention, is anybody’s guess, but once Hollywood was on notice, I truly feel the film community had a duty to try to do more for this young actor who grew up under its watch.

This situation has made me want to mentor troubled/disadvantaged youth, as I feel that if Brad had had a mentor to provide guidance and be a beacon of light, he would have had a much higher chance of being with us today.

R. Katchen

Long Beach