How Sad is Jeremy Renner? Let Us Count the Ways

In a new interview over at The Hollywood Reporter, Jeremy Renner gets real about his on-the-brink career and personal life -- like, so real you'll want to give him a hug and then buy all the tickets for Bourne just to help him on his humble way towards megamillionaire action hero status. He's either a calculatedly brilliant PR strategist or a walking country song. Either way, this dog-loving, single dude, does-his-own-stunts part-time house-flipper is sure to endear himself to all four quadrants with this profile-boosting piece. Oh Jeremy Renner, don't be so sad!

This moment in time is what historians years from now might consider a turning point in Renner's career; hot from his breakout roles in The Hurt Locker and The Town, he landed supporting turns in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and the upcoming Avengers, and will soon debut two of his own starring vehicles: 2013's Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters and this summer's The Bourne Legacy, taking over from franchise star Matt Damon.

All in all, Renner seems like a fairly well-adjusted guy who's only now having to deal with fame and all that comes with it. But you know what? Renner's puppy passed away last month, man, and he is so lonely he refers to his loneliness twice in the same interview. Get the Kleenex ready, people. This shit gets dark.

For starters, Renner and bars don't have the best history.

He tells the story of how, on Christmas Eve a few years back, when he was with his family in a bar, "This guy chokes me with the scarf I was wearing. He called me a fag 'cause I was wearing a scarf! Then he shoved my sister and I got behind him and I choked him out -- put him to sleep." Without a trace of irony, he adds, "I'm not violent." Although, he says, "I'd have gone to prison" if he'd been present when a family member recently was raped. Oh.

For that matter, Renner's pals and bars have it pretty bad, too.

And what about that much-reported knife fight in Thailand in January? "It was a silly, tragic accident that happened to this guy," explains Renner, noting that he had gone to Phuket for a break when an acquaintance made a comment and "got attacked in a bar fight at 4 in the morning. He was saying stuff, and 20 people jumped on him. I was in flip-flops. I don't do bar fights. Did he deserve to get stabbed and almost murdered by 20 people? F-- no." (Six local men were arrested.)

Phew. Time out for some unexpected getting-to-know-youness: Jeremy Renner isn't just a sometimes house-flipper, he also loves macro photography! In other news, Jeremy Renner has had long-term relationships, but both of them ended. Sadface.

As to his long-term involvements, he says he had one five-year relationship with a woman while in his 20s and another that ended two years ago after 4-1/2 years... He met that girlfriend, Jes Macallan -- who, as her Twitter account reveals, married actor Jason Gray-Stanford (Monk) on March 17 -- when she was 23 and working at a film festival in Florida; subsequently, she decided to go into acting. "That was part of the issue," says Renner. "I was going through the Hurt Locker campaign and she's like, 'Where do I get headshots?'"

Are we losing the dudes? Here's a masculine tidbit to keep the male demo: Renner isn't one of those sissypants action stars -- he does his own stunts! (And pays the price.)

On Bourne, "I got injured kicking a table and missing and hyper-extending my leg! I had to get an MRI." He also hurt his arm, which "will be f--ed up for a while. I can't really grab anything" with one hand.

But forget torn muscles and strained ligaments -- the most painful thing to endure on-set is probably the loneliness, which Renner blames for his break-down while shooting The Hurt Locker.

"Pure loneliness, that's what it came down to. It was a whole rainbow of good and bad."

Talking about losing his puppy last month, though, brings the tears.

Most recently came the death in March of his 8-month-old French bulldog, Franklin, of a heart attack. For a moment, Renner's eyes go moist because the puppy touches on the singular problem that has most bedeviled him the past two years. Says Renner, "He was my solution for being so lonely."

Goddammit, Renner. You're gonna make me cry.

The Bourne Legacy is in theaters August 3. Let's buy up all the tickets so Renner doesn't feel so alone. Let our box office dollars wash over him like a giant group hug.

[THR]



Comments

  • Yojimbo says:

    OH NO YOU DID NOT JUST INTRODUCE A DEAD PUPPY INTO A FLUFFY RENNER PIECE.

    That is unconscionable. Please update with some pictures of Renner's magnificent forearms to heal my own epic pain.

  • Neo says:

    Dear Jeremy, Xenu is calling.

  • Rennergade says:

    Just keep calm and do the Renner Stretch.

  • Stewart says:

    His whining and complaining in that interview actually turned a lot of people off. Not the way to get people to see your movies.

    • x says:

      ASSHOLE. GO FUCK YOURSELF.

      • I agree. The guy's career is over. Hansel and Gretel was pure garbage AND he's a sell out by acting in rehashes and remakes. He was great through "The Town", then it was all down hill from there. Sorry I agree with Stewart, the guy got too big for his britches. And this "X says" should go fuck themselves hard until they never wake up. Do us all a favor.

      • Tyler says:

        I agree. The guy's career is over. Hansel and Gretel was pure garbage AND he's a sell out by acting in rehashes and remakes. He was great through "The Town", then it was all down hill from there. Sorry I agree with Stewart, the guy got too big for his britches. And this "X says" should go fuck themselves hard up and down around. Sit on it and twist.

  • Nicole says:

    Bullshit whining and complaining my ass!!! All you people call actors asshole and shit cause they don't ever share anything about themselves and now one has and u call it whining and complaining?!?!!!!! Jeremy Renner is a class act no one can touch that!! His heroics and overall boyish good looks win me over 7days out of any week. This actor has yet to be lonely anymore! GO JEREMY! YOUR A WINNER IN MY EYES <3

    • Ashley morrisob says:

      I agree with u totally 100% people are just jealous that hes famous and theyre not. He makes more money than they would in a lifetime. Jeremy renner is too sexy and talented to be messed with. Some people just love hating on people they dont know and they dont have a heart.

    • Val says:

      Agreed! I think it's great that he opened up in such a way. it lets us know he is a genuine individual. wtf is the author's problem? ...Such an instigator!

    • jordan says:

      DAMN STRAIGHT! Jeremy is one of the nicest guys ever!

  • Nicole says:

    Hey, Renner, if you're lonely my door's always open. 😉

  • Haley says:

    I feel bad for you Jeremy your so sweet!:) you have good looks! Your a good actress and I love your movies! You shouldn't be lonely! Feel bad your dog died!!! You'll find a girl that likes you for you!!!<3 love you Jeremy Renner!!!

  • i would rather not say. says:

    I would be happy to guve Jeremy a hug and tell him I love him. He is such a sweetie. I would definitely be his friend. ☺xo

  • Karen says:

    Jeremy, please meet my daughter in NYC for coffee. She loves you! She is also beautiful,
    and a beautiful person who grew up in Chicago. 31 years old. Blonde, blue eyes, 5'6" tall.

  • Ambika Singh says:

    He's a Capricorn.It comes with the territory.
    I get it.
    What he said in that interview,I've said it at least once in my life.
    It's awful,people

  • nerdydame says:

    I'm awful I know but he may have hurt his fapping arm hence the added loneliness.. not even his hand is there for him... Love him but yeah.. *hangs head in shame*

  • mickysmith says:

    After I read this the ad at thebottom was about puppies...

  • Jahaira says:

    Such a beautiful guy from the inside out... WTF is wrong with this world? Loneliness shouldn't be a part of anyone's life... But I feel his pain of loneliness :*(

  • Harper says:

    JEREMY LET ME LOVE YOU!!! :c So sad. He needs to be happy. I feel for him.

  • Vina says:

    Speechless. But, always wish you all the best, mr Renner. Good luck... :') =)

  • Beth says:

    I will marry him and I have a puppy dog that will cheer him up 🙂

  • Love says:

    🙁 I will love you Jeremy.

  • Love says:

    Visit again here in the Philippines and I'll take care of you. You're too perfect to be alone. You should be loved and I'm the one who will do that!

    • Mrs.Renner says:

      it's like a slap in the face don't you think, he shoot the movie there in Manila,but he didn't back there for the premiere. ouch. he's happy btw, cos he's next to me now 😉

  • Connie says:

    Okay seriously? What is up with the author of this piece? Why are you trying to be so sarcastic and annoying? It makes you come off as a complete bitch. Please stop trying so hard. My god. I'd rather spend a day with Jeremy Renner any day than have to read your articles.

  • Alison K says:

    OH MY GOD! I just want to hug him forever, hes so sweet and GOD DAMN SEXY! I watche a video where a tree fell on his mums hous n he was just like 'Ahhhh oh its a tree HaHa' while he was eating his breakfast XD Love Mr. Renner so much my huband is jealous XD xx

  • allyssa says:

    You were some cool and awsome in the avergers! I wish you can teach me how to use your bow and arrow(: i feel you pain i wish i could meet you!!!!!!!

  • girlieq24 says:

    Count me in with the love for this man. I think my hubby is jealous too, although he would never admit it. My door's open too baby.

  • Lily says:

    Errr...yeah lonely my ass....didnt he knock up a slut with his kid. Lonely, or a douche. Thinking a 22 year old wet t shirt model actually loves him. He is fucking 42. Damn thats sadder then sad. He obviously doesnt know what love is not by experience, but by the choices in his life. Grow up Jeremy. Wasnt your last gal pal 24? Your 42. You want something serious get with people who are old enough, and mature. 22 year old women havent even finished developing according to scientists, and doctors. The one you knocked up developed by force with her fake implants. Oscar Wilde said "all women turn into there mothers". Your kid will be a stripper in no time prune face. That explains his face.

  • Kimberly says:

    An interesting blog post right there mate . Thanks for posting .

  • love hurts says:

    I just wanna give Jeremy a hug and never let until the sadness goes away