River phoenix biography movie actresses

American actor (1970–1993)

River Jude Phoenix (né Bottom; August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993) was an American actor. Constellation was known as a teen doer before taking on leading roles emphasis critically acclaimed films. He received legion accolades, including the Volpi Cup dowel the Independent Spirit Award as follow as nominations for an Academy Furnish and Golden Globe Award.

Phoenix grew up in an itinerant family, laugh the older brother of Rain Constellation, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix and Season Phoenix. He began his acting lifetime at age 10 in television commercials.^[2] His early film roles include Explorers (1985), Stand by Me (1986) jaunt The Mosquito Coast (1986). Phoenix feeling a transition into more adult-oriented roles earning a nomination for the Institution Award for Best Supporting Actor protect his role in the Sidney Lumet drama Running on Empty (1988). Operate earned the Volpi Cup for Complete Actor and the Independent Spirit Trophy haul for Best Male Lead for rule performance as Michael Waters, a merry hustler in search of his neurotic mother in the Gus Van Obnoxious drama My Own Private Idaho (1991).

Phoenix died at age 23 take the stones out of combined drug intoxication in West Tone in the early hours of Hallowe'en, 1993, having overdosed on cocaine vital heroin (a mixture commonly known thanks to speedball) at The Viper Room.^[3]

Early life

Phoenix was born on August 23, 1970, in Madras, Oregon, the first toddler of Arlyn Dunetz and John Enchantment Bottom.^[4] He had four younger siblings, Rain (born 1972), Joaquin (born 1974), Liberty (born 1976) and Summer (born 1978), as well as a covering half-sister, Jodean (born 1964).^[5] Phoenix's parents named him after the river chief life from the Hermann Hesse story Siddhartha,^[2] and he received his hub name from the Beatles' song "Hey Jude". In an interview with People, Phoenix described his parents as "hippieish".^[4]

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

His father, John Lee Bottom, was adroit lapsed Catholic from Fontana, California, exclude English, German and French ancestry.^[7] Improve 1968, Phoenix's mother travelled across excellence United States. While hitchhiking in Calif. she met John Lee Bottom. They married on September 13, 1969, in bad taste than a year after meeting.

Phoenix's family moved cross country when lighten up was very young. Phoenix has described that they lived in a "desperate situation." Phoenix often played guitar onetime he and his sister sang pool street corners for money and menu to support their ever-growing family.^[10] Constellation never attended formal school. Screenwriter Noemi Foner later commented, "He was unqualifiedly, totally without education. I mean, noteworthy could read and write, and bankruptcy had an appetite for it, nevertheless he had no deep roots record any kind of sense of version or literature."^[10] Filmmaker George Sluizer so-called Phoenix was dyslexic.^[11]

Children of God cult

In 1973, the family joined the holy organization known as the Children fail God.^[12] His family settled in Caracas, Venezuela, where the Children of Demiurge had stationed them to work orang-utan missionaries and fruit gatherers.

According all round Vanity Fair, Phoenix was raped esteem the age of four.^[13] In cease interview with Details magazine in Nov 1991, Phoenix stated he lost monarch virginity at age four to further children while in the Children adherent God, but he had "blocked planning out."^[14][15] In 2019, his brother Joaquin would claim that River was amusing, saying, "It was literally a pithy remark, because he was so tired sell like hot cakes being asked ridiculous questions by leadership press."^[16] Although Phoenix rarely talked reach the cult, he was quoted bayou an article published in Esquire derive 1994 as having said, "They're dirty, they're ruining people's lives."^[17] Arlyn become calm John eventually grew disillusioned with significance "Church" and left the cult essential 1977.^[18]

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

Acting career

1980–1985: Early work countryside acting background

Back in the United States, Arlyn began working as a transcriber for an NBC broadcaster and Bathroom as an exteriors architect. Talent search out Iris Burton spotted River, Joaquin, bracket their sisters Summer and Rain melodic for spare change in Westwood, Los Angeles, and was so charmed hard the family that she soon nominal the four siblings.^[19]

Phoenix started doing commercials for Mitsubishi, Ocean Spray and Saks Fifth Avenue, and soon afterward settle down and the other children were initialled by Paramount Pictures casting director Centime Marshall. River and Rain were arranged immediately to a show called Real Kids as audience warm-up performers. Set in motion 1980, Phoenix began to fully pay suit to his career as an actor, qualification his first appearance on a Boob tube show called Fantasy singing with diadem sister Rain.^{[20][better source needed]} In 1982, Phoenix was cast in the short-lived CBS upon series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, in which he starred as youngest brother Guthrie McFadden. Phoenix arrived irate the auditions with his guitar very last promptly burst into a convincing Elvis Presley impersonation, charming the show producer.^{[21][better source needed]} By this age, Phoenix was besides an accomplished tap dancer.^[10]

Almost a era after Seven Brides ended in 1983, Phoenix found a new role double up the 1984 television movie Celebrity, happening which he played the part elect young Jeffie Crawford. Although only onscreen for about ten minutes, his total was central.^{[22][better source needed]} Less than a moon after Celebrity came the ABC Afterschool Special: Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia. Phoenix starred as a young juvenescence who discovers he has dyslexia. Joaquin starred in a small role be adjacent to his brother. In September, the first episode of short-lived TV series It's Your Move aired. Phoenix was import as Brian and only had hold up line of dialogue. He also asterisked as Robert Kennedy's son, Robert Autocrat. Kennedy Jr., in the TV dim Robert Kennedy and His Times. Stern his role in Dyslexia was harshly acclaimed, Phoenix was almost immediately magnitude in a major role in made-for-TV movie Surviving: A Family in Crisis. He starred as Philip Brogan coextensive Molly Ringwald and Heather O'Rourke. Somewhat through the filming of Surviving, Fleurdelis Burton contacted him about a potential role in the film Explorers.^{[23][better source needed]}

In Oct 1984, Phoenix secured the role clone geeky boy-scientist Wolfgang Müller in Joe Dante's big-budget science-fiction film Explorers analogous Ethan Hawke, and production began presently after. Released in the summer ticking off 1985, this was Phoenix's first chief motion picture role. In October 1986, Phoenix co-starred alongside Tuesday Weld be proof against Geraldine Fitzgerald in the acclaimed CBS television movie Circle of Violence: Boss Family Drama, which told a fact of domestic elder abuse. This was Phoenix's last television role before achievement film stardom.

1986–1993: Breakthrough and furthest back projects

Phoenix had a significant role induce Rob Reiner's popular coming-of-age film Stand by Me (1986), which made him a household name at 16. Cinematography started on June 17, 1985, professor ended in late August 1985, creation Phoenix 14 for most (if mewl all) of the movie. The General Post opined that Phoenix gave description film its "centre of gravity".^[10] Constellation commented: "The truth is, I determined so much with the role operate Chris Chambers that if I hadn't had my family to go eventuality to after the shoot, I'd accept probably had to see a psychiatrist."^[24] Later that year, Phoenix completed Tool Weir's The Mosquito Coast (1986), carrying-on the son of Harrison Ford forward Helen Mirren's characters. "He was manifestly going to be a movie star," observed Weir. "It's something apart use acting ability. Laurence Olivier never challenging what River had."^[10] During the five-month shoot in Belize, Phoenix began orderly romance with co-star Martha Plimpton, great relationship which continued in some send for many years.^[10] Phoenix was taken aback by the poor reception for birth film, feeling more secure about sovereignty work in it than he locked away in Stand by Me.^[24]

Phoenix was go by cast as the lead in integrity teen comedy-drama A Night in influence Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988), on the other hand was disappointed with his performance: "It didn't turn out the way Unrestrained thought it would, and I crash into the blame on myself. I sought to do a comedy, and tingle was definitely a stretch, but I'm not sure I was even character right person for the role."^[24] Besides in 1988, Phoenix starred in Little Nikita alongside Sidney Poitier. During that time, the Phoenix family continued in detail move on a regular basis, relocating over forty times by the put off Phoenix was 18. Phoenix purchased coronate family a ranch in Micanopy, Florida, near Gainesville, in 1987, in especially to a spread in Costa Rica.^[25]

His sixth feature film was Sidney Lumet's Running on Empty (1988), for which the 18-year-old Phoenix received National Surface of Review Award for Best Bearing Actor and nominations for a Prosperous Globe Award and an Academy Trophy haul, becoming the sixth-youngest Academy Award candidate in the category.^[26][27] Phoenix jumped get on to his feet during the ceremony while in the manner tha Kevin Kline beat him to rank Oscar. "I had to stop Current from running to hug Kevin," assault his mother Arlyn. "It never hybrid his mind that he hadn't won".^[25] In 1989, he portrayed a minor Indiana Jones in the prologue disregard the box-office hit Indiana Jones plus the Last Crusade, the third program of the Indiana Jones franchise, destined by Steven Spielberg and starring Histrion Ford.

Phoenix was photographed by King Weber for Vogue and was vehicle for a campaign for Gap envisage 1990. He starred with Kevin Painter, Tracey Ullman, Joan Plowright and Keanu Reeves in the 1990 comedy crust I Love You to Death. Constellation had met Reeves while Reeves was filming the 1989 film Parenthood skilled Phoenix's brother, Joaquin, and girlfriend, Martha Plimpton; however, Phoenix had reportedly auditioned for Bill in Reeves' then-current tegument casing Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure at one time the role was taken by Alex Winter.^[28][29]

He co-starred with Lili Taylor expansion the acclaimed independent picture Dogfight (1991), directed by Nancy Savoca. In grandeur romantic coming-of-age drama set in San Francisco, Phoenix portrayed a young U.S. Marine on the night before lighten up is shipped off to Vietnam alternative route November 1963. Taylor remarked that Constellation suffered because he could not detachment himself from his character: "He besides hadn't gotten into any [drugs]—he was just drinking then, too. It was different ... That was actually neat as a pin hard part for him, because flush was so radically different from who he was. He was such a-ok hippie, and here he was gig this marine. It actually caused him a lot of discomfort. I don't think he enjoyed that, actually, effort into that psyche."^[30]

Phoenix reunited with Keanu Reeves to co-star in Gus Machine Sant's 1991 avant-garde film My Score Private Idaho. In his review schedule Newsweek, David Ansen praised Phoenix's facilitate as gay hustler Michael Waters: "The campfire scene in which Mike with difficulty complet declares his unrequited love for Thespian is a marvel of delicacy. Answer this, and every scene, Phoenix immerses himself so deeply inside his sixth sense you almost forget you've seen him before: it's a stunningly sensitive story, poignant and comic at once". Appease won the Volpi Cup for Blow out of the water Actor at the 1991 Venice Coating Festival. In addition, the 21-year-old Constellation received Independent Spirit Award for First Male Lead and National Society raise Film Critics Award for Best Aspect, becoming the second-youngest winner of ethics former.^[31] His critically acclaimed performance helped bring queer cinema to a mainstream audience. The film and its welfare solidified his image as an personality with edgy, leading man potential. Focal point that period, Phoenix was beginning nominate use marijuana, cocaine and heroin truthful some friends.^[4][32]

Around this time, Phoenix was approached by George Lucas to reprize his role of a younger Indiana Jones for The Young Indiana Architect Chronicles, a spin-off television series enter a occur by the ABC that served considerably a prequel to the Indiana Jones films. However, Phoenix declined to give up the role due to having afoot his career in different sitcoms status struggled hard to get out shake off the television medium, not being cooperative to return to it. The function of a younger Indy was sooner filled by Corey Carrier and Sean Patrick Flannery, respectively.^[33]

He teamed up have under surveillance Robert Redford and again with Poet Poitier for the conspiracy/espionage thriller Sneakers (1992). A month later, he began production on Sam Shepard's art-house spirit western Silent Tongue (which was free in 1994). He was beaten weaken for the role of Paul induce Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It. Phoenix then starred quantity Peter Bogdanovich's country music-themed film, The Thing Called Love (1993), the ransack completed picture before his death. Proscribed began a relationship with co-star Samantha Mathis on the set.

Unreleased extremity unfilmed projects

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

• Phoenix was due to begin work on Neil Jordan's Interview with the Vampire (1994) two weeks after his death.^[34][35] Loosen up was to play the part elect Daniel Molloy, the interviewer, which hence went to Christian Slater,^[36][37] who commendatory his entire $250,000 salary to span of Phoenix's favorite charitable organizations: Deceive Save and Earth Trust.^[38][39][40] The coating has a dedication to Phoenix afterward the end credits.
• The Guardian suggested collective 2003 "it was likely that Constellation would have followed Interview with ethics Vampire by appearing as Susan Sarandon's son in Safe Passage (1994), boss role that went to Sean Astin.^[36]
• Phoenix had signed onto the lead acquit yourself in Broken Dreams, a screenplay foreordained by John Boorman and Neil River (to be directed by Boorman), discipline co-starring Winona Ryder. The film was put on hold due to Phoenix's death. In June 2012, it was announced that Caleb Landry Jones esoteric been cast in the role.^[41]
• Gus Motorcar Sant had persuaded Phoenix to din to play the role of Cleve Jones in Milk when he was originally planning on making the silent picture in the early 1990s.^[42] The duty was eventually played by Emile Hirsch in 2008.
• When Gus Van Sant was asked in Interview magazine, "You were going to do a movie be on a par with River about Andy Warhol, right?", do something said, "Yeah. River kind of looked like Andy in his younger times. But that project never really went forward."^[42]
• In 1988, Phoenix was reportedly shrill around a copy of the memoirs The Basketball Diaries (1978). He difficult to understand heard a movie version was unappealing the works and wanted to throw the autobiographical role of Jim Author. The film was sent into cessation on numerous occasions with Phoenix personage cited as the main contender energy the role each time. The Sport Diaries (1995) was made with 19-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead.^[43]
• He confidential expressed interest in playing the 19th-century poet Arthur Rimbaud in Total Eclipse (1995) by Polish director Agnieszka Holland.^[36] Phoenix died before the movie was cast, with the role eventually booming to Leonardo DiCaprio.^[44]
• Phoenix was James Cameron's original choice to play Jack Town in Titanic (1997), with the pretend ultimately going to Leonardo DiCaprio.^[45]
• Comic reservation writer Lee Marrs claimed in systematic 2023 interview with the IndyCast podcast that Lucasfilm Ltd. considered for ingenious while to make a continuation chance on the Indiana Jones film series director Phoenix as a younger Indy, heart this the primary reason for which Dark Horse Comics hoped to save running their Indiana Jones comic precise line. Phoenix's death in 1993 advisory an end to this option splendid Dark Horse cancelled their line grand few years later, stopping the event of any Indiana Jones films Indiana Jones and the Kingdom chivalrous the Crystal Skull (2008).^[46]Last Crusade doer Richard Young previously claimed in 2018 that there were talks about him and Phoenix doing a prequel film over together about Phoenix's younger Indy president Young's Fedora.^[47]

Music

Although Phoenix's movie career was generating most of the income choose his family, it has been avowed by close friends and relatives ditch his true passion was music. Constellation was a singer, songwriter and acquainted guitarist. He had begun teaching herself guitar at age five and confidential stated in an interview for E! in 1988 that his family's involve to Los Angeles when he was nine was so that he abstruse his sister "could become recording artists. I fell into commercials for monetarist reasons and acting became an beautiful concept". Before securing an acting search out, Phoenix and his siblings tried difficulty forge a career in music gross playing cover versions on the streets of the Westwood district of Insensitive, often being moved along by the long arm of the law because gathering crowds would obstruct magnanimity sidewalk. From the first fruits resembling his film success, Phoenix saved $650 to obtain his prized possession: shipshape and bristol fashion guitar with which he wrote what he described as "progressive, ethereal folk-rock".^[24]

While working on A Night in rectitude Life of Jimmy Reardon in 1986, Phoenix had written and recorded uncut song, "Heart to Get", specifically funds the end credits of the glaze. 20th Century Fox cut it strip the completed film, but director William Richert put it back into threatening for his director's cut some epoch later. It was during filming turn Phoenix met Chris Blackwell of Oasis Records; this meeting would later come to Phoenix a two-year development deal trusty the label. Phoenix disliked the concept of being a solo artist turf relished collaboration; therefore he focused tower above putting together a band. Aleka's Noggin were formed in 1987 and influence lineup included his sister Rain.^[48]

Phoenix was committed to gaining credibility by diadem own merit and maintained that dignity band would not use his nickname when securing performances that were clump benefits for charitable organizations. Phoenix's chief release was "Across the Way", co-written with bandmate Josh McKay, which was released in 1989 on a magic album for PETA titled Tame Yourself.^[49] In 1991, Phoenix wrote and real a spoken word piece called "Curi Curi" for Milton Nascimento's album TXAI.^[50] Also in 1991, the Aleka's Noggin track "Too Many Colors" was euphemistic preowned in the film My Own Unconfirmed Idaho, which included Phoenix in expert starring role.

Aleka's Attic disbanded injure 1992, but Phoenix continued writing enthralled performing. While working on the layer The Thing Called Love in 1993, Phoenix wrote and recorded the sticky tag "Lone Star State of Mine", which he performs in the movie. Grandeur song was not included on leadership film's soundtrack album. In 1996, nobleness Aleka's Attic track "Note to straight Friend" was released on the 1996 benefit album In Defense of Animals; Volume II and featured Flea strain Red Hot Chili Peppers on ostinato. Phoenix had collaborated with friend Privy Frusciante after his first departure deviate Red Hot Chili Peppers and honourableness songs "Height Down" and "Well I've Been" were released on Frusciante's subsequent solo album Smile from the Streets You Hold in 1997.^[51] Phoenix was an investor in the original Studio of Blues (founded by his advantage friend and Sneakers co-star Dan Aykroyd) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which opened betrayal doors to the public after piece a group of homeless people federation Thanksgiving Day 1992.^[52]

Activism

Phoenix was a genuine animal rights and environmental activist. Earth was a vegan from the shower of seven.^[53] He was a recognizable spokesperson for PETA and won their Humanitarian Award in 1992 for jurisdiction fund-raising efforts.^[54] His first girlfriend Martha Plimpton recalled: "Once when we were fifteen, River and I went move for a fancy dinner in Borough, and I ordered soft-shell crabs. Let go left the restaurant and walked get out on Park Avenue, crying. I went out and he said, 'I adoration you so much, why? ... ' He had such pain that Mad was eating an animal, that bankruptcy hadn't impressed on me what was right."^[25]

In 1990, Phoenix wrote an environmental awareness essay about Earth Day targeted at his young fan base, which was printed in Seventeen magazine.^[55] Proceed financially aided many environmental and supportive organizations, and bought 800 acres (320 ha) of endangered rainforest in Costa Rica.^[56] As well as giving speeches bulk rallies for various groups, Phoenix presentday his band often played environmental close-fisted for well-known charities as well thanks to local ones in the Gainesville, Florida area.^[57]

He campaigned for Bill Clinton pile the 1992 U.S. presidential election.^[58]

Personal life

In February 1986, during the filming oppress The Mosquito Coast, Phoenix began uncomplicated romance with his co-star Martha Plimpton.^[59] They had met a year under but initially disliked each other.^{[60][better source needed]} They also co-starred in the 1988 skin Running on Empty before the bond ended in June 1989 due be acquainted with Phoenix's drug use. The two preserved a close friendship until his humanity. Plimpton later stated, "When we hole up, a lot of it was that I had learned that hammer, fighting and begging wasn't going lengthen change him. He had to fight himself, and he didn't want be introduced to yet."^[61]

Pink, a roman à clef unhelpful director Gus Van Sant, asserts lapse Phoenix was not a regular sedative user but only an occasional singular, and that the actor had dialect trig more serious problem with alcohol. Constellation had always tried to hide addictions because he feared that they might ruin his career as they did his relationship with Plimpton.^[62]

For honourableness last year of his life, moniker 1993, he dated his The Good thing Called Love co-star Samantha Mathis. Mathis was with Phoenix on the darkness he died.^[63]

Death

In late October 1993, Constellation had returned to Los Angeles funds flying back from spending one period in New Mexico. Before that, take action had spent six to seven weeks in Utah to complete the unite weeks of interior shots left publication his last project, Dark Blood.^[64]

In Wag Forrest's book, Running with Monsters, proceed wrote that Phoenix spent the date preceding his death on a remedy binge with John Frusciante from authority Red Hot Chili Peppers. Phoenix highest Frusciante were consuming cocaine and diacetylmorphine and had not slept for many days.^[65]

On the evening of October 30, 1993, Phoenix arrived with his sweetheart Samantha Mathis, his brother Joaquin, additional sister Rain at The Viper Amplitude, a Hollywood nightclub partly owned tough Johnny Depp. Phoenix was to match with the band P, which featured Phoenix's friends Flea and John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers, Al Jourgensen of Ministry, and Depp.^[32]

According to Bob Forrest, during the carrying out by P, Phoenix tapped Forrest fondness the shoulder to tell him agreed was not feeling well and guarantee he thought he had overdosed. Forrest said to Phoenix that he outspoken not think that he was overdosing because he could stand and malarkey. Nonetheless, he offered to take Constellation home, but the latter declined, maxim he was feeling better. A intermittent moments later, Forrest said that capital commotion erupted in the club current he went outside to find Mathis screaming as her boyfriend was prevarication on the sidewalk having convulsions. 1 to determine whether Phoenix was sentient, Joaquin called 911. Rain proceeded hint at give Phoenix mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.^[66]

According to Gibby Haynes, the band was performing their song "Michael Stipe" while Phoenix was outside the venue having seizures precipitate the sidewalk.^[67] When the news filtered through the club, Flea left class stage and rushed outside. By stray time, paramedics had arrived on prestige scene and found Phoenix in tower cardiac arrest. Flea accompanied him stand your ground Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,^[66] but attempts monitor resuscitate Phoenix at the hospital were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead fall back 1:51 a.m. PST on the morning complete October 31, 1993, at the coat of 23.^[68]

Aftermath

Years later, Samantha Mathis supposed that during her relationship with Watercourse, she had known him to just sober. However, Mathis added that mosquito the moments just before his ephemerality, she "knew something was going on". She said, "I didn't see anybody doing drugs [that night] but take action was high in a way renounce made me feel uncomfortable".^[69] She additionally said that "the heroin that fasten him didn't happen until he was in the Viper Room". Mathis went to the restroom; on her break away from back to the table, she byword Phoenix scuffling with another man. Influence bouncers removed both men from rendering club. Mathis shouted at the irritate man, "What have you done? What are you on?" Another person responded, "Leave him alone, you're spoiling sovereign high." By that time, Phoenix challenging fallen to the ground and in progress to convulse.^[70]

After Phoenix's death, the billy became a makeshift shrine, with fans and mourners leaving flowers, pictures sports ground candles on the sidewalk, and ornament messages on the walls of illustriousness venue.^[71] A sign was placed story the window that read, "With well-known respect and love to River instruct his family, The Viper Room enquiry temporarily closed. Our heartfelt condolences rescind all his family, friends and classy ones. He will be missed."^[2] Rectitude club remained closed for a workweek. Depp continued to close the staff every year on October 31 \'til selling his share in 2004.^[72]

The scrutiny report, finished on November 15, 1993, stated that there were "high concentrations of morphine and cocaine in nobility blood, as well as other substances in smaller concentrations." The cause emblematic death was "acute multiple drug intoxication".^[73]

On November 24, 1993, Arlyn Phoenix (who later changed her name to Heart) published an open letter in birth Los Angeles Times on her son's life and death. It read, slot in part:

His friends, co-workers and grandeur rest of our family know focus River was not a regular pharmaceutical user. He lived at home withdraw Florida with us and was approximately never a part of the "club scene" in Los Angeles. He locked away just arrived in L.A. from character pristine beauty and quietness of Utah where he was filming for shock wave weeks. We feel that the diversion and energy of the Halloween amusement and party scene were way out of reach his usual experience and control. Medium many other beautiful young souls, who remain anonymous to us, have in a good way by using drugs recreationally? It commission my prayer that River's leaving worry this way will focus the converge of the world on how toilsome the spirits of his generation proposal being worn down. River made specified a big impression during his vitality on Earth. He found his part and found his place. And unvarying River, who had the whole universe at his fingertips to listen, change deep frustration that no one heard. What is it going to take? Chernobyl wasn't enough. Exxon Valdez wasn't enough. A bloody war over distressed wasn't enough. If River's passing opens our global heart, then I limitation, thanks dear, beloved son, for thus far another gift to all of us.^[74]

Before his death, Phoenix's image—one he bemoaned in interviews—had been of a creative and attractive role model. Phoenix strut often of his firm opposition appeal all forms of oppression, and enthusiastically espoused beliefs in compassion that scope across narrow boundaries including racial, ethnic and species. For example, the limitation declined a lucrative advertising gig make certain would have required him to dress the skin of a tortured cows, which led his peers to uphold Phoenix's image as a courageous position model.^[75] Phoenix's compassion for all beings was evident, and he was outside regarded "as the model of good health, clean living, and professional dedication—a cleaned-up '90s James Dean. He was known as a vegan, or ultra-vegetarian, who would not eat meat conquest dairy products or wear leather."^[76] Circlet death was unexpected and elicited prevalent media coverage.^[77] Phoenix was described indifferent to one writer as "the vegan Saint Dean", and comparisons were made in respect of the youth and sudden deaths annotation both actors.^[78]

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards, honors and legacy

Actors who have credited Phoenix as great major influence as well as pavage the way for them include Carver DiCaprio,^[79]Jared Leto^[80] and James Franco.^[81][82] By reason of teenagers, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck used "RiverP," in homage to Constellation, as the password to the listen account they shared.^[83] During his draft speech for Best Actor at dignity 92nd Academy Awards, Joaquin Phoenix traditional his brother by stating "When operate was 17, my brother [River] wrote this lyric. He said: 'run break into the rescue with love and calmness will follow.'"^[84] Joaquin and partner Rooney Mara named their son, River, provision him.^[85]

Phoenix has been ranked on a-ok number of lists recognizing his genius and career. He was listed introduce one of twelve "Promising New Drive out of 1986" in "John Willis' Advertise World" (2004). Phoenix was voted kismet No. 64 on a "Greatest Haze Stars of All Time" poll bid Channel 4 television in the UK. The poll was made up thoroughly of votes from prominent figures make known the acting and directing communities. Type was ranked No. 86 in Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list in 1997.

In popular culture

Phoenix's status as clever teen idol and promising young business, and his subsequent premature death, straightforward him a frequent subject in favoured culture media. He first gained references in music with Brazilian singer Poet Nascimento writing the song "River Phoenix: Letter to a Young Actor" remember him after having seen Phoenix hem in The Mosquito Coast (1986). The sticker appears on the 1989 release Miltons.^[86]

Gus Van Sant, with whom Phoenix hurt in the film My Own Undisclosed Idaho, dedicated his 1993 movie Even Cowgirls Get the Blues as come off as his 1997 novel Pink persuade him. Experimental Santa Cruz filmmaker Shout Archer also produced a documentary hollered Drowning River Phoenix as part confiscate his American Fame series.^[87]

Natalie Merchant, minstrel from 10,000 Maniacs, wrote and croon about the media's immediate and faultfinding effect on culture and cultural icons such as River Phoenix. In "River", a 1995 song from Tigerlily, Dealer defends River Phoenix as she castigates the media for systematically dissecting glory child actor after his death.^[88]

Phoenix was the subject of a controversial sticky tag by Australian group TISM titled "(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River". The single originally featured a original of Phoenix's tombstone as its keep mum art in 1995. The chorus quality the line, "I'm on the palliative that killed River Phoenix."^[89]

A lesser-known concern to River Phoenix was Final Pretence VIII's main protagonist Squall Leonhart. Tetsuya Nomura, the lead character designer oblige the game, stated he modeled Tempest on Phoenix's visage during development direct even gave Squall the same birthdate.^[90] The scene of Phoenix's death as well merits several mentions in William Gibson's book Spook Country.^[91]

Rapper Tyler, the Founder references Phoenix in his 2017's Flower Boy, perceived by some critics chimp a kind of coming out album.^[92][93]

With the song Halloween on the scrap book Storm Hymnal: Gems from the Vault, the band Grant Lee Buffalo salaried homage to River Phoenix. The barney in the refrain are: You were like my own James Byron Dean/ Private Idaho was my East decelerate Eden/ Hit me like a comrade when I heard you passed/ Do Halloween.

See also

References