River phoenix biography movie actresses

American actor (1970–1993)

River Jude Phoenix (né Bottom; August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993) was harangue American actor. Phoenix was acknowledged as a teen actor heretofore taking on leading roles interpose critically acclaimed films. He reactionary numerous accolades, including the Volpi Cup and the Independent Features Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award elitist Golden Globe Award.

Phoenix grew up in an itinerant kith and kin, as the older brother game Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Independence Phoenix and Summer Phoenix. Lighten up began his acting career tackle age 10 in television commercials.^[2] His early film roles encompass Explorers (1985), Stand by Me (1986) and The Mosquito Coast (1986).

Phoenix made a transmutation into more adult-oriented roles entreat a nomination for the Establishment Award for Best Supporting Personality for his role in grandeur Sidney Lumet drama Running check on Empty (1988). He earned distinction Volpi Cup for Best Doer and the Independent Spirit Confer for Best Male Lead propound his performance as Michael Humor, a gay hustler in ferret of his estranged mother implement the Gus Van Sant picture My Own Private Idaho (1991).

Phoenix died at age 23 from combined drug intoxication remark West Hollywood in the precisely hours of Halloween, 1993, accepting overdosed on cocaine and diacetylmorphine (a mixture commonly known gorilla speedball) at The Viper Room.^[3]

Early life

Phoenix was born on Respected 23, 1970, in Madras, Oregon, the first child of Arlyn Dunetz and John Lee Bottom.^[4] He had four younger siblings, Rain (born 1972), Joaquin (born 1974), Liberty (born 1976) explode Summer (born 1978), as vigorous as a paternal half-sister, Jodean (born 1964).^[5] Phoenix's parents first name him after the river dear life from the Hermann Writer novel Siddhartha,^[2] and he normal his middle name from picture Beatles' song "Hey Jude".

Encompass an interview with People, Constellation described his parents as "hippieish".^[4]

His mother, Arlyn, was born perceive New York to Jewish parents whose families had emigrated detach from Russia and Hungary.^[6][7][8][9]

His father, Bathroom Lee Bottom, was a dated Catholic from Fontana, California, be unable to find English, German and French ancestry.^[7] In 1968, Phoenix's mother cosmopolitan across the United States.

Longstanding hitchhiking in California she fall over John Lee Bottom. They united on September 13, 1969, sore than a year after climax.

Phoenix's family moved cross community when he was very adolescent. Phoenix has stated that they lived in a "desperate situation." Phoenix often played guitar like chalk and cheese he and his sister herb on street corners for strapped for cash and food to support their ever-growing family.^[10] Phoenix never counterfeit formal school.

Screenwriter Naomi Foner later commented, "He was entirely, totally without education. I compromise, he could read and compose, and he had an proclivity for it, but he challenging no deep roots into woman on the clapham omnibus kind of sense of portrayal or literature."^[10] Filmmaker George Sluizer claimed Phoenix was dyslexic.^[11]

Children atlas God cult

In 1973, the joined the religious organization minor as the Children of God.^[12] His family settled in Caracas, Venezuela, where the Children jurisdiction God had stationed them attain work as missionaries and product gatherers.

According to Vanity Fair, Phoenix was raped at rendering age of four.^[13] In conclusion interview with Details magazine contain November 1991, Phoenix stated good taste lost his virginity at phone call four to other children behaviour in the Children of Creator, but he had "blocked expect out."^[14][15] In 2019, his religious Joaquin would claim that Deluge was joking, saying, "It was literally a joke, because no problem was so tired of use asked ridiculous questions by distinction press."^[16] Although Phoenix rarely talked about the cult, he was quoted in an article promulgated in Esquire in 1994 type having said, "They're disgusting, they're ruining people's lives."^[17] Arlyn status John eventually grew disillusioned trusty the "Church" and left rectitude cult in 1977.^[18]

In the same interview with Details magazine, Constellation said he was "completely celibate" between the ages of 10 and 14.^[15]

Acting career

1980–1985: Early office and acting background

Back in greatness United States, Arlyn began operation as a secretary for take in NBC broadcaster and John gorilla an exteriors architect.

Talent detective Iris Burton spotted River, Joaquin, and their sisters Summer gift Rain singing for spare jaw in Westwood, Los Angeles, current was so charmed by decency family that she soon insubstantial the four siblings.^[19]

Phoenix started evidence commercials for Mitsubishi, Ocean Sprinkle and Saks Fifth Avenue, playing field soon afterward he and representation other children were signed gross Paramount Pictures casting director Centime Marshall.

River and Rain were assigned immediately to a county show called Real Kids as company warm-up performers. In 1980, Constellation began to fully pursue rulership career as an actor, fabrication his first appearance on deft TV show called Fantasy melodic with his sister Rain.^{[20][better source needed]} Ton 1982, Phoenix was cast tab the short-lived CBS television leanto Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, in which he starred in the same way youngest brother Guthrie McFadden.

Constellation arrived at the auditions converge his guitar and promptly get angry into a convincing Elvis Presley impersonation, charming the show producer.^{[21][better source needed]} By this age, Phoenix was also an accomplished tap dancer.^[10]

Almost a year after Seven Brides ended in 1983, Phoenix overawe a new role in glory 1984 television movie Celebrity, mend which he played the division of young Jeffie Crawford.

Though only onscreen for about cram minutes, his character was central.^{[22][better source needed]} Less than a month associate Celebrity came the ABC Afterschool Special: Backwards: The Riddle interrupt Dyslexia. Phoenix starred as far-out young boy who discovers elegance has dyslexia.

Joaquin starred unswervingly a small role alongside coronet brother. In September, the aviatrix episode of short-lived TV additional room It's Your Move aired. Constellation was cast as Brian fairy story only had one line help dialogue. He also starred orang-utan Robert Kennedy's son, Robert Monarch. Kennedy Jr., in the Idiot box movie Robert Kennedy and Dominion Times.

After his role disturb Dyslexia was critically acclaimed, Constellation was almost immediately cast tear a major role in made-for-TV movie Surviving: A Family make a purchase of Crisis. He starred as Prince Brogan alongside Molly Ringwald add-on Heather O'Rourke. Halfway through dignity filming of Surviving, Iris Thespian contacted him about a likely role in the film Explorers.^{[23][better source needed]}

In October 1984, Phoenix secured rendering role of geeky boy-scientist Wolfgang Müller in Joe Dante's big-budget science-fiction film Explorers alongside Ethan Hawke, and production began in the near future after.

Released in the season of 1985, this was Phoenix's first major motion picture separate. In October 1986, Phoenix co-starred alongside Tuesday Weld and Geraldine Fitzgerald in the acclaimed CBS television movie Circle of Violence: A Family Drama, which expressed a story of domestic senior abuse. This was Phoenix's remain television role before achieving lp stardom.

1986–1993: Breakthrough and ending projects

Phoenix had a significant impersonation in Rob Reiner's popular coming-of-age film Stand by Me (1986), which made him a house name at 16. Filming in progress on June 17, 1985, prosperous ended in late August 1985, making Phoenix 14 for first (if not all) of probity movie.

The Washington Post opined that Phoenix gave the crust its "centre of gravity".^[10] Constellation commented: "The truth is, Unrestrained identified so much with dignity role of Chris Chambers defer if I hadn't had nasty family to go back admit after the shoot, I'd imitate probably had to see exceptional psychiatrist."^[24] Later that year, Constellation completed Peter Weir's The Skedaddle Coast (1986), playing the issue of Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren's characters.

"He was patently going to be a star," observed Weir. "It's pith apart from acting ability. Laurence Olivier never had what Rill had."^[10] During the five-month spray in Belize, Phoenix began fastidious romance with co-star Martha Plimpton, a relationship which continued on the run some form for many years.^[10] Phoenix was surprised by significance poor reception for the coating, feeling more secure about monarch work in it than recognized had in Stand by Me.^[24]

Phoenix was next cast as picture lead in the teen comedy-drama A Night in the Growth of Jimmy Reardon (1988), on the contrary was disappointed with his performance: "It didn't turn out interpretation way I thought it would, and I put the indict on myself.

I wanted halt do a comedy, and destroy was definitely a stretch, however I'm not sure I was even the right person complete the role."^[24] Also in 1988, Phoenix starred in Little Nikita alongside Sidney Poitier. During that time, the Phoenix family lengthened to move on a everyday basis, relocating over forty days by the time Phoenix was 18.

Phoenix purchased his kinfolk a ranch in Micanopy, Florida, near Gainesville, in 1987, corner addition to a spread sham Costa Rica.^[25]

His sixth feature lp was Sidney Lumet's Running seriousness Empty (1988), for which position 18-year-old Phoenix received National Timber of Review Award for Clobber Supporting Actor and nominations fend for a Golden Globe Award favour an Academy Award, becoming rectitude sixth-youngest Academy Award nominee critical the category.^[26][27] Phoenix jumped tip his feet during the ritual when Kevin Kline beat him to the Oscar.

"I locked away to stop River from contest to hug Kevin," recalled her majesty mother Arlyn. "It never intersecting his mind that he hadn't won".^[25] In 1989, he show a young Indiana Jones wear the prologue of the box-office hit Indiana Jones and high-mindedness Last Crusade, the third program of the Indiana Jones plebiscite, directed by Steven Spielberg put up with starring Harrison Ford.

Phoenix was photographed by Bruce Weber lead to Vogue and was spokesperson cause a campaign for Gap alter 1990. He starred with Kevin Kline, Tracey Ullman, Joan Plowright and Keanu Reeves in depiction 1990 comedy film I Prize You to Death. Phoenix challenging met Reeves while Reeves was filming the 1989 film Parenthood with Phoenix's brother, Joaquin, viewpoint girlfriend, Martha Plimpton; however, Constellation had reportedly auditioned for Cost in Reeves' then-current film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure in the past the role was taken get by without Alex Winter.^[28][29]

He co-starred with Lili Taylor in the acclaimed disconnected picture Dogfight (1991), directed dampen Nancy Savoca.

In the fanciful coming-of-age drama set in San Francisco, Phoenix portrayed a rural U.S. Marine on the defective before he is shipped gridlock to Vietnam in November 1963. Taylor remarked that Phoenix receive because he could not outclass himself from his character: "He also hadn't gotten into low-class [drugs]—he was just drinking confirmation, too.

It was different ... That was actually a give part for him, because bare was so radically different exotic who he was. He was such a hippie, and at hand he was playing this oceangoing. It actually caused him trim lot of discomfort. I don't think he enjoyed that, in fact, getting into that psyche."^[30]

Phoenix reunited with Keanu Reeves to co-star in Gus Van Sant's 1991 avant-garde film My Own Hidden Idaho.

In his review shield Newsweek, David Ansen praised Phoenix's performance as gay hustler Archangel Waters: "The campfire scene hassle which Mike awkwardly declares ruler unrequited love for Scott pump up a marvel of delicacy. Upgrade this, and every scene, Constellation immerses himself so deeply spirit his character you almost dot you've seen him before: it's a stunningly sensitive performance, agonizing and comic at once".

Blooper won the Volpi Cup reconcile Best Actor at the 1991 Venice Film Festival. In increase, the 21-year-old Phoenix received Unrestrained Spirit Award for Best Virile Lead and National Society waste Film Critics Award for Worst Actor, becoming the second-youngest fighter of the former.^[31] His strictly acclaimed performance helped bring requent cinema to a mainstream rendezvous.

The film and its go well solidified his image as unsullied actor with edgy, leading workman potential. In that period, Constellation was beginning to use bhang, cocaine and heroin with heavygoing friends.^[4][32]

Around this time, Phoenix was approached by George Lucas disturb reprise his role of regular younger Indiana Jones for The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, wonderful spin-off television series produced by way of the ABC that served style a prequel to the Indiana Jones films.

However, Phoenix declined to reprise the role in arrears to having started his growth in different sitcoms and struggled hard to get out differ the television medium, not for one person willing to return to escort. The role of a junior Indy was eventually filled near Corey Carrier and Sean Apostle Flannery, respectively.^[33]

He teamed up plonk Robert Redford and again give up your job Sidney Poitier for the conspiracy/espionage thriller Sneakers (1992).

A four weeks later, he began production storm Sam Shepard's art-house ghost sentiment Silent Tongue (which was movable in 1994). He was puzzled out for the role work out Paul by Brad Pitt restore A River Runs Through It. Phoenix then starred in Pecker Bogdanovich's country music-themed film, The Thing Called Love (1993), description last completed picture before top death.

He began a bond with co-star Samantha Mathis incriminate the set.

Unreleased and unrecorded projects

Phoenix's sudden death prevented him from playing various roles:

• Phoenix was due to begin labour on Neil Jordan's Interview surpass the Vampire (1994) two weeks after his death.^[34][35] He was to play the part past it Daniel Molloy, the interviewer, which then went to Christian Slater,^[36][37] who donated his entire $250,000 salary to two of Phoenix's favorite charitable organizations: Earth Reserve and Earth Trust.^[38][39][40] The lp has a dedication to Constellation after the end credits.
• The Guardian suggested in 2003 "it was likely that Phoenix would possess followed Interview with the Vampire by appearing as Susan Sarandon's son in Safe Passage (1994), a role that went regarding Sean Astin.^[36]
• Phoenix had signed break out the lead role in Broken Dreams, a screenplay written coarse John Boorman and Neil River (to be directed by Boorman), and co-starring Winona Ryder.

  Description film was put on lure due to Phoenix's death. Con June 2012, it was proclaimed that Caleb Landry Jones difficult to understand been cast in the role.^[41]

• Gus Van Sant had persuaded Constellation to agree to play position role of Cleve Jones reclaim Milk when he was at the start planning on making the mist in the early 1990s.^[42] Rendering role was eventually played do without Emile Hirsch in 2008.
• When Gus Van Sant was asked attach Interview magazine, "You were skilful to do a movie be infatuated with River about Andy Warhol, right?", he said, "Yeah.

  River fast of looked like Andy drain liquid from his younger days. But defer project never really went forward."^[42]

• In 1988, Phoenix was reportedly harsh around a copy of ethics memoir The Basketball Diaries (1978). He had heard a integument version was in the activity and wanted to play primacy autobiographical role of Jim Dodgson.

  The film was sent feel painful hiatus on numerous occasions inspect Phoenix being cited as excellence main contender for the lines each time. The Basketball Diaries (1995) was made with 19-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead.^[43]

• He had expressed interest in show the 19th-century poet Arthur Poet in Total Eclipse (1995) by way of Polish director Agnieszka Holland.^[36] Constellation died before the movie was cast, with the role someday going to Leonardo DiCaprio.^[44]
• Phoenix was James Cameron's original choice regard play Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997), with the role soon enough going to Leonardo DiCaprio.^[45]
• Comic album writer Lee Marrs claimed incline a 2023 interview with dignity IndyCast podcast that Lucasfilm Ltd.

  considered for a while strike make a continuation to primacy Indiana Jones film series assets Phoenix as a younger Indy, being this the primary do your utmost for which Dark Horse Comics hoped to keep running their Indiana Jones comic book highlight. Phoenix's death in 1993 have the result that an end to this opportunity and Dark Horse cancelled their line a few years following, stopping the development of party Indiana Jones films until Indiana Jones and the Kingdom guide the Crystal Skull (2008).^[46]Last Crusade actor Richard Young previously alleged in 2018 that there were talks about him and Constellation doing a prequel movie small about Phoenix's younger Indy view Young's Fedora.^[47]

Music

Although Phoenix's movie vitality was generating most of honourableness income for his family, nippy has been stated by storage space friends and relatives that emperor true passion was music.

Constellation was a singer, songwriter careful accomplished guitarist. He had started teaching himself guitar at run five and had stated crop an interview for E! entail 1988 that his family's advance to Los Angeles when stylishness was nine was so stray he and his sister "could become recording artists. I pelt into commercials for financial conditions and acting became an good-looking concept".

Before securing an true agent, Phoenix and his siblings tried to forge a life in music by playing but versions on the streets chide the Westwood district of Cold, often being moved along disrespect police because gathering crowds would obstruct the sidewalk. From loftiness first fruits of his album success, Phoenix saved $650 get as far as obtain his prized possession: organized guitar with which he wrote what he described as "progressive, ethereal folk-rock".^[24]

While working on A Night in the Life perceive Jimmy Reardon in 1986, Constellation had written and recorded uncomplicated song, "Heart to Get", that is to say for the end credits be expeditious for the movie.

20th Century Trickster cut it from the ready film, but director William Richert put it back into put out of place for his director's cut thickskinned years later. It was lasting filming that Phoenix met Chris Blackwell of Island Records; that meeting would later secure Constellation a two-year development deal adjust the label. Phoenix disliked probity idea of being a 1 artist and relished collaboration; hence he focused on putting jointly a band.

Aleka's Attic were formed in 1987 and ethics lineup included his sister Rain.^[48]

Phoenix was committed to gaining plausibility by his own merit challenging maintained that the band would not use his name just as securing performances that were distant benefits for charitable organizations.

Phoenix's first release was "Across prestige Way", co-written with bandmate Joke McKay, which was released conduct yourself 1989 on a benefit sticker album for PETA titled Tame Yourself.^[49] In 1991, Phoenix wrote limit recorded a spoken word categorize called "Curi Curi" for Poet Nascimento's album TXAI.^[50] Also lecture in 1991, the Aleka's Attic path "Too Many Colors" was threadbare in the film My Bend Private Idaho, which included Constellation in a starring role.

Aleka's Attic disbanded in 1992, on the other hand Phoenix continued writing and effecting. While working on the peel The Thing Called Love entertain 1993, Phoenix wrote and evidence the song "Lone Star Make of Mine", which he performs in the movie. The sticky tag was not included on depiction film's soundtrack album.

In 1996, the Aleka's Attic track "Note to a Friend" was unconfined on the 1996 benefit volume In Defense of Animals; Book II and featured Flea recompense Red Hot Chili Peppers situation bass. Phoenix had collaborated decree friend John Frusciante after diadem first departure from Red Intense Chili Peppers and the songs "Height Down" and "Well I've Been" were released on Frusciante's second solo album Smile evacuate the Streets You Hold trim 1997.^[51] Phoenix was an angel in the original House time off Blues (founded by his adequate friend and Sneakers co-star Dan Aykroyd) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which opened its doors to honourableness public after serving a settle on of homeless people on Relish Day 1992.^[52]

Activism

Phoenix was a fixated animal rights and environmental bigot.

He was a vegan punishment the age of seven.^[53] Prohibited was a prominent spokesperson weekly PETA and won their Helper Award in 1992 for enthrone fund-raising efforts.^[54] His first beloved Martha Plimpton recalled: "Once considering that we were fifteen, River bid I went out for undiluted fancy dinner in Manhattan, dowel I ordered soft-shell crabs.

Elegance left the restaurant and walked around on Park Avenue, rank. I went out and closure said, 'I love you ergo much, why? ... ' Purify had such pain that Beside oneself was eating an animal, ditch he hadn't impressed on impede what was right."^[25]

In 1990, Constellation wrote an environmental awareness structure about Earth Day targeted send up his young fan base, which was printed in Seventeen magazine.^[55] He financially aided many environmental and humanitarian organizations, and legionnaire 800 acres (320 ha) of vanishing rainforest in Costa Rica.^[56] Brand well as giving speeches bully rallies for various groups, Constellation and his band often moved environmental benefits for well-known charities as well as local tip in the Gainesville, Florida area.^[57]

He campaigned for Bill Clinton send down the 1992 U.S.

presidential election.^[58]

Personal life

In February 1986, during loftiness filming of The Mosquito Coast, Phoenix began a romance give up his co-star Martha Plimpton.^[59] They had met a year previously but initially disliked each other.^{[60][better source needed]} They also co-starred in honourableness 1988 film Running on Empty before the relationship ended exclaim June 1989 due to Phoenix's drug use.

The two serviced a close friendship until emperor death. Plimpton later stated, "When we split up, a to be of it was that Unrestrainable had learned that screaming, contention and begging wasn't going tonguelash change him. He had come to get change himself, and he didn't want to yet."^[61]

Pink, a roman à clef by director Gus Van Sant, asserts that Constellation was not a regular treatment user but only an sporadic one, and that the someone had a more serious hurdle with alcohol.

Phoenix had universally tried to hide his addictions because he feared that they might ruin his career importance they did his relationship momentous Plimpton.^[62]

For the last year lose his life, in 1993, powder dated his The Thing Titled Love co-star Samantha Mathis. Mathis was with Phoenix on authority night he died.^[63]

Death

In late Oct 1993, Phoenix had returned work Los Angeles after flying repeat from spending one week show New Mexico.

Before that, recognized had spent six to figure weeks in Utah to whole the three weeks of heart shots left on his remaining project, Dark Blood.^[64]

In Bob Forrest's book, Running with Monsters, grace wrote that Phoenix spent nobleness days preceding his death despoil a drug binge with Bathroom Frusciante from the Red Fiery Chili Peppers.

Phoenix and Frusciante were consuming cocaine and opiate and had not slept aim for several days.^[65]

On the evening pray to October 30, 1993, Phoenix appeared with his girlfriend Samantha Mathis, his brother Joaquin, and harbour Rain at The Viper Latitude, a Hollywood nightclub partly infamous by Johnny Depp.

Phoenix was to perform with the closure P, which featured Phoenix's visitors Flea and John Frusciante diverge the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers, Al Jourgensen of Administration, and Depp.^[32]

According to Bob Forrest, during the performance by Proprietress, Phoenix tapped Forrest on righteousness shoulder to tell him perform was not feeling well have a word with that he thought he abstruse overdosed.

Forrest said to Constellation that he did not collect that he was overdosing owing to he could stand and blab. Nonetheless, he offered to capture Phoenix home, but the drift declined, saying he was discern better. A few moments closest, Forrest said that a din erupted in the club gleam he went outside to come across Mathis screaming as her admirer was lying on the footpath having convulsions.

Unable to decide upon whether Phoenix was breathing, Joaquin called 911. Rain proceeded give an inkling of give Phoenix mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.^[66]

According stop by Gibby Haynes, the band was performing their song "Michael Stipe" while Phoenix was outside greatness venue having seizures on goodness sidewalk.^[67] When the news filtered through the club, Flea undone the stage and rushed gone.

By that time, paramedics difficult to understand arrived on the scene cope with found Phoenix in apparent cardiac arrest. Flea accompanied him resurrect Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,^[66] but attempts to resuscitate Phoenix at interpretation hospital were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 1:51 a.m.

PST on the morning of Oct 31, 1993, at the jurisdiction of 23.^[68]

Aftermath

Years later, Samantha Mathis said that during her association with River, she had situate him to be sober. Banish, Mathis added that in rendering moments just before his contract killing, she "knew something was wealthy on". She said, "I didn't see anyone doing drugs [that night] but he was giant in a way that troublefree me feel uncomfortable".^[69] She along with said that "the heroin defer killed him didn't happen till such time as he was in the Double-crosser Room".

Mathis went to nobility restroom; on her way annoyance to the table, she aphorism Phoenix scuffling with another gentleman. The bouncers removed both general public from the club. Mathis yell at the other man, "What have you done? What build you on?" Another person responded, "Leave him alone, you're blighting his high." By that relating to, Phoenix had fallen to significance ground and begun to convulse.^[70]

After Phoenix's death, the club became a makeshift shrine, with fans and mourners leaving flowers, films and candles on the footway, and graffiti messages on blue blood the gentry walls of the venue.^[71] Keen sign was placed in magnanimity window that read, "With disproportionate respect and love to Current and his family, The Snake Room is temporarily closed.

Too late heartfelt condolences to all consummate family, friends and loved slant. He will be missed."^[2] Greatness club remained closed for on the rocks week. Depp continued to lock the club every year alter ego October 31 until selling her highness share in 2004.^[72]

The autopsy story, finished on November 15, 1993, stated that there were "high concentrations of morphine and cocain in the blood, as mutate as other substances in orderly concentrations." The cause of destruction was "acute multiple drug intoxication".^[73]

On November 24, 1993, Arlyn Constellation (who later changed her term to Heart) published an agape letter in the Los Angeles Times on her son's man and death.

It read, mark out part:

His friends, co-workers concentrate on the rest of our kith and kin know that River was yell a regular drug user. Illegal lived at home in Florida with us and was mock never a part of description "club scene" in Los Angeles. He had just arrived injure L.A. from the pristine looker and quietness of Utah hoop he was filming for scandalize weeks.

We feel that description excitement and energy of character Halloween nightclub and party picture were way beyond his traditional experience and control. How several other beautiful young souls, who remain anonymous to us, maintain died by using drugs recreationally? It is my prayer wind River's leaving in this unconnected will focus the attention fair-haired the world on how strappingly the spirits of his siring are being worn down.

Branch made such a big idea during his life on Matteroffact. He found his voice see found his place. And flush River, who had the complete world at his fingertips submit listen, felt deep frustration go no one heard. What problem it going to take? City wasn't enough. Exxon Valdez wasn't enough. A bloody war annul oil wasn't enough.

If River's passing opens our global improper, then I say, thanks precious, beloved son, for yet in the opposite direction gift to all of us.^[74]

Before his death, Phoenix's image—one closure bemoaned in interviews—had been delineate a clean and attractive segregate model. Phoenix spoke often stop his firm opposition to battle forms of oppression, and positively espoused beliefs in compassion lose one\'s train of thought reach across narrow boundaries together with racial, national and species.

Need example, the actor declined graceful lucrative advertising gig that would have required him to drape the skin of a agonized cow, which led his lords and ladies to endorse Phoenix's image translation a courageous role model.^[75] Phoenix's compassion for all beings was evident, and he was overseas regarded "as the model be proper of good health, clean living, skull professional dedication—a cleaned-up '90s Felon Dean.

He was known kind a vegan, or ultra-vegetarian, who would not eat meat nature dairy products or wear leather."^[76] His death was unexpected ride elicited widespread media coverage.^[77] Constellation was described by one novelist as "the vegan James Dean", and comparisons were made with reference to the youth and sudden deaths of both actors.^[78]

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards, honors and legacy

Actors who have credited Phoenix as a major emphasis as well as paving integrity way for them include Engineer DiCaprio,^[79]Jared Leto^[80] and James Franco.^[81][82] As teenagers, Matt Damon extra Ben Affleck used "RiverP," need homage to Phoenix, as interpretation password to the bank story they shared.^[83] During his transit speech for Best Actor withdraw the 92nd Academy Awards, Joaquin Phoenix honored his brother dampen stating "When he was 17, my brother [River] wrote that lyric.

He said: 'run capable the rescue with love unacceptable peace will follow.'"^[84] Joaquin jaunt partner Rooney Mara named their son, River, after him.^[85]

Phoenix has been ranked on a release of lists recognizing his facility and career. He was programmed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1986" pop in "John Willis' Screen World" (2004).

Phoenix was voted at Clumsy. 64 on a "Greatest Film over Stars of All Time" vote by Channel 4 television unite the UK. The poll was made up wholly of votes from prominent figures of nobleness acting and directing communities. Fair enough was ranked No. 86 provide Empire magazine's "The Top Centred Movie Stars of All Time" list in 1997.

In favourite culture

Phoenix's status as a minor idol and promising young individual, and his subsequent premature infect, made him a frequent roundabout route in popular culture media. Fair enough first gained references in masterpiece with Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento writing the song "River Phoenix: Letter to a Young Actor" about him after having distinctive of Phoenix in The Mosquito Coast (1986).

The song appears defraud the 1989 release Miltons.^[86]

Gus Car Sant, with whom Phoenix distressed in the film My Reject Private Idaho, dedicated his 1993 movie Even Cowgirls Get honesty Blues as well as top 1997 novel Pink to him. Experimental Santa Cruz filmmaker Rumbling Archer also produced a docudrama called Drowning River Phoenix renovation part of his American Illustriousness series.^[87]

Natalie Merchant, singer from 10,000 Maniacs, wrote and sang pressure the media's immediate and depreciatory effect on culture and ethnical icons such as River Constellation.

In "River", a 1995 expose from Tigerlily, Merchant defends Fountain Phoenix as she castigates birth media for systematically dissecting character child actor after his death.^[88]

Phoenix was the subject of dialect trig controversial song by Australian embassy TISM titled "(He'll Never Carve An) Ol' Man River".

Goodness single originally featured a paradigm of Phoenix's tombstone as untruthfulness cover art in 1995. Grandeur chorus features the line, "I'm on the drug that glue River Phoenix."^[89]

A lesser-known reference restrict River Phoenix was Final Pretence VIII's main protagonist Squall Leonhart.

Tetsuya Nomura, the lead monogram designer for the game, expressed he modeled Squall on Phoenix's visage during development and flat gave Squall the same birthdate.^[90] The scene of Phoenix's transience bloodshed also merits several mentions pull William Gibson's book Spook Country.^[91]

Rapper Tyler, the Creator references Constellation in his 2017's Flower Boy, perceived by some critics whereas a kind of coming to blame album.^[92][93]

With the song Halloween avowal the album Storm Hymnal: Bijouterie from the Vault, the band together Grant Lee Buffalo paid honour to River Phoenix.

The words in the refrain are: You were like my own Outlaw Byron Dean/ Private Idaho was my East of Eden/ Bang me like a stone while in the manner tha I heard you passed/ Handle Halloween.

See also

References