'The Wood' Actor De'Aundre Bonds' Successful Career Crashed after Violent Crime Resulted in 10 Year Prison Sentence

Between 1990 and 2000, De'Aundre Bonds was on the verge of stardom. Unfortunately, his budding career went downhill when he committed a violent crime that landed him in prison for ten years.

De'Aundre Bonds was one of the most promising stars in Hollywood. The Los Angeles, California-native is best known for several movies including, "Get on the Bus," "Tales from the Hood," and "Lockdown."

It is through the movie "The Wood" that Bonds achieved fame. The 45-year-old actor, who played Stacey in the coming-of-age film, starred with actors Omar Epps, Taye Digs, and Richard T. Jones.

Unfortunately, Bonds' bright future in the industry turned dim after killing his aunt's boyfriend in 2001. In a 2019 interview with VladTV, he opened up about his altercation with his aunt's boyfriend. He said:

"He came and attacked me..."

The attack happened after the veteran actor played loud music at home. He thought the music might have triggered his aunt's boyfriend. Bonds said he stabbed him out of self-defense.

The frightened actor immediately called for help and waited for an ambulance to arrive. Sadly, his aunt's boyfriend, who suffered a stab wound in his chest, died on the spot.

"He died in my arms," Bonds recalled. After the medical responders, the police arrived at the crime scene and arrested the veteran movie star, who was in a state of shock at that time.

Bonds was arrested when he was about to star in a new movie with actor Denzel Washington. The stabbing incident, which he claimed had no provocation, knocked him flat as he was excited about elevating his career.

Following his arrest, Bonds managed to hire a lawyer to defend him, but the odds were not in his favor. The disgraced actor stayed inside the jail, where he fought his case for years.

A few years after regaining his career, Bonds met another incident in 2015.

According to Bonds, he was initially slapped with first-degree and second-degree murder charges and was found not guilty. However, the court found him guilty of manslaughter charges.

After the court's decision, Bonds said he felt relieved as the first two charges against him would sentence him for life. On the manslaughter charges, he received a ten-year prison sentence.

He said he felt grateful for merely being charged with manslaughter, saying he knew he did not intend to murder. He shared that his family became emotional when they found out about his shorter period in jail.

While in prison, he shared that his family, the people who stood by him, and his spirituality were his motivations to serve and complete his sentence. Bonds was released from prison in 2011.

Shortly after his release from prison, Bonds resumed acting. In 2013, he starred in the police drama film "Gangster Squad" with actress Emma Stone and actors Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling.

He then worked on music, launched a clothing line, and started a book and a documentary based on his life. A few years after regaining his career, Bonds met another incident in 2015.

He was rushed to the hospital after suffering injuries on his face and body. Unknown individuals reportedly attacked the movie actor in a certain street in Los Angeles and left him unconscious.

Bonds survived the attack and was able to nurse himself back to health. He has continued rebuilding his public image and eventually landed a role as Skully in the crime series "Snowfall" in 2017.

Gradually reclaiming his career, Bonds opened up about his relationship with his parents. His father, whom he last saw at the court in 2001, passed away in 2005.

Although he did not have a long relationship with his late father, the latter was supportive of him. Bonds said he was the one who saw him progressed in his profession.

Meanwhile, Bonds' mother struggled with drug addiction. Amid her situation, the action star said he and his seven other siblings from different fathers managed to survive through it.

According to him, his mother had her own issues that led to her drug addiction. After a tumultuous past, he said his mother has been sober for 30 years and is looking wonderful now.