Man who inspired 'Lorenzo's' dead at 30

FAIRFAX, Va., May 31 (UPI) -- Lorenzo Odone, whose battle with a genetic disease inspired the film "Lorenzo's Oil," has died at the age of 30 in Fairfax County, Va., his father says.

Odone's father, Augusto, said his son died of aspiration pneumonia after spending most of his life battling a rare ailment known as adrenoleukodystrophy, which can result in brain failure and death, The Washington Post said Saturday.

"Lorenzo's Oil" portrayed the ground-breaking discovery that a derivative of olive and rapeseed oils could help ALD sufferers. The 1992 film, named after that beneficial oil mixture, starred actors Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon.

Augusto Odone said the remains of his son, who died on Friday, would be cremated so his ashes could be blended with those of his mother, who died in 2000.

The Post said in addition to his father, Odone is survived by a unidentified sister and brother.