Trinidadian actor Renton Learmont drowned in New York on the weekend. According to reports, Learmont, 34, who lived in Harlem, drowned while swimming off Fire Island Pines in Suffolk, New Jersey.
His body was found washed ashore early Tuesday morning, Suffolk police were reported as saying in the NY Newsday.Learmont was swimming alone at about 3.20 pm on Sunday when beachgoers heard him screaming for help, Homicide Squad Det Lt Jack Fitzpatrick said.
Several people went into the water to try and save him, but as they were about to reach him, Learmont went under and disappeared, Fitzpatrick said.
Suffolk marine and aviation units, with help from the US Coast Guard, began a search.
On Tuesday, at about 1 am, someone walking along the beach off Cherry Grove near Ivy Walk found Learmont?s body.
Fitzpatrick said it appeared that Learmont had been ?caught in a riptide,? and foul play was not suspected.
Learmont, whose stage name was Renton Kirk, appeared in various movies including Bamboozled, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and Malcolm X.
A small-budget, independent film he wrote and starred in, Get a Grip, is in post-production.
Learmont played a New York quad skater whose life spirals out of control because of alcohol and prescription drugs.
Learmont was born in Brooklyn but was raised in T&T.
