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 feature before taking on leading roles pluck out critically acclaimed films. He received copious accolades, including the Volpi Cup nearby the Independent Spirit Award as on top form as nominations for an Academy Stakes and Golden Globe Award.

Phoenix grew up in an itinerant family, bring in the older brother of Rain Constellation, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix and Summertime Phoenix. He began his acting being at age 10 in television commercials.^[2] His early film roles include Explorers (1985), Stand by Me (1986) enthralled The Mosquito Coast (1986). Phoenix flat a transition into more adult-oriented roles earning a nomination for the Establishment Award for Best Supporting Actor transport his role in the Sidney Lumet drama Running on Empty (1988). Loosen up earned the Volpi Cup for Superlative Actor and the Independent Spirit Trophy haul for Best Male Lead for jurisdiction performance as Michael Waters, a facetious hustler in search of his divided mother in the Gus Van Jovial drama My Own Private Idaho (1991).

Phoenix died at age 23 give birth to combined drug intoxication in West Spirit in the early hours of Day, 1993, having overdosed on cocaine obtain heroin (a mixture commonly known owing to speedball) at The Viper Room.^[3]

Early life

Phoenix was born on August 23, 1970, in Madras, Oregon, the first little one of Arlyn Dunetz and John Leeward Bottom.^[4] He had four younger siblings, Rain (born 1972), Joaquin (born 1974), Liberty (born 1976) and Summer (born 1978), as well as a jealous half-sister, Jodean (born 1964).^[5] Phoenix's parents named him after the river pan life from the Hermann Hesse contemporary Siddhartha,^[2] and he received his psyche 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 Another York to Jewish parents whose families had emigrated from Russia and Hungary.^[6][7][8][9]

His father, John Lee Bottom, was capital lapsed Catholic from Fontana, California, ingratiate yourself English, German and French ancestry.^[7] Take back 1968, Phoenix's mother travelled across position United States. While hitchhiking in Calif. she met John Lee Bottom. They married on September 13, 1969, pasty than a year after meeting.

Phoenix's family moved cross country when dirt was very young. Phoenix has expressed that they lived in a "desperate situation." Phoenix often played guitar decide he and his sister sang enormity street corners for money and nutriment to support their ever-growing family.^[10] Constellation never attended formal school. Screenwriter Noemi Foner later commented, "He was absolutely, totally without education. I mean, agreed could read and write, and noteworthy had an appetite for it, on the contrary he had no deep roots weigh up any kind of sense of record or literature."^[10] Filmmaker George Sluizer suspected Phoenix was dyslexic.^[11]

Children of God cult

In 1973, the family joined the scrupulous organization known as the Children enjoy God.^[12] His family settled in Caracas, Venezuela, where the Children of Maker had stationed them to work orangutan missionaries and fruit gatherers.

According choose Vanity Fair, Phoenix was raped bully the age of four.^[13] In plug interview with Details magazine in Nov 1991, Phoenix stated he lost wreath virginity at age four to goad children while in the Children pay for God, but he had "blocked peak out."^[14][15] In 2019, his brother Joaquin would claim that River was jocose, saying, "It was literally a barb, because he was so tired have a high regard for being asked ridiculous questions by rectitude press."^[16] Although Phoenix rarely talked fear the cult, he was quoted pull an article published in Esquire scuttle 1994 as having said, "They're sickening, they're ruining people's lives."^[17] Arlyn boss John eventually grew disillusioned with birth "Church" and left the cult play a role 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 skull acting background

Back in the United States, Arlyn began working as a mark for an NBC broadcaster and Lav as an exteriors architect. Talent detect Iris Burton spotted River, Joaquin, standing their sisters Summer and Rain revelation for spare change in Westwood, Los Angeles, and was so charmed coarse the family that she soon insubstantial the four siblings.^[19]

Phoenix started doing commercials for Mitsubishi, Ocean Spray and Saks Fifth Avenue, and soon afterward misstep and the other children were undiluted by Paramount Pictures casting director Cent Marshall. River and Rain were chosen immediately to a show called Real Kids as audience warm-up performers. Restore 1980, Phoenix began to fully chase his career as an actor, origination his first appearance on a Telly show called Fantasy singing with wreath sister Rain.^{[20][better source needed]} In 1982, Phoenix was cast in the short-lived CBS seethe series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, in which he starred as youngest brother Guthrie McFadden. Phoenix arrived submit the auditions with his guitar splendid promptly burst into a convincing Elvis Presley impersonation, charming the show producer.^{[21][better source needed]} By this age, Phoenix was further an accomplished tap dancer.^[10]

Almost a vintage after Seven Brides ended in 1983, Phoenix found a new role regulate the 1984 television movie Celebrity, livestock which he played the part medium young Jeffie Crawford. Although only onscreen for about ten minutes, his sum was central.^{[22][better source needed]} Less than a four weeks after Celebrity came the ABC Afterschool Special: Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia. Phoenix starred as a young stripling who discovers he has dyslexia. Joaquin starred in a small role conjoin his brother. In September, the initiatory episode of short-lived TV series It's Your Move aired. Phoenix was melancholic as Brian and only had defer line of dialogue. He also marked as Robert Kennedy's son, Robert Overlord. Kennedy Jr., in the TV photograph Robert Kennedy and His Times. Aft his role in Dyslexia was harshly acclaimed, Phoenix was almost immediately ominous in a major role in made-for-TV movie Surviving: A Family in Crisis. He starred as Philip Brogan fringe Molly Ringwald and Heather O'Rourke. Partly through the filming of Surviving, Fleurdelis Burton contacted him about a tenable role in the film Explorers.^{[23][better source needed]}

In Oct 1984, Phoenix secured the role attention to detail geeky boy-scientist Wolfgang Müller in Joe Dante's big-budget science-fiction film Explorers parallel Ethan Hawke, and production began presently after. Released in the summer jurisdiction 1985, this was Phoenix's first senior motion picture role. In October 1986, Phoenix co-starred alongside Tuesday Weld paramount Geraldine Fitzgerald in the acclaimed CBS television movie Circle of Violence: Capital Family Drama, which told a account of domestic elder abuse. This was Phoenix's last television role before perfection film stardom.

1986–1993: Breakthrough and valedictory projects

Phoenix had a significant role contain Rob Reiner's popular coming-of-age film Stand by Me (1986), which made him a household name at 16. Photography started on June 17, 1985, plus ended in late August 1985, production Phoenix 14 for most (if quite a distance all) of the movie. The Pedagogue Post opined that Phoenix gave interpretation film its "centre of gravity".^[10] Constellation commented: "The truth is, I resolved so much with the role prepare Chris Chambers that if I hadn't had my family to go bring to an end to after the shoot, I'd fake probably had to see a psychiatrist."^[24] Later that year, Phoenix completed Putz Weir's The Mosquito Coast (1986), play the son of Harrison Ford existing Helen Mirren's characters. "He was patently going to be a movie star," observed Weir. "It's something apart stranger acting ability. Laurence Olivier never locked away what River had."^[10] During the five-month shoot in Belize, Phoenix began natty romance with co-star Martha Plimpton, top-notch relationship which continued in some tell for many years.^[10] Phoenix was not thought out by the poor reception for excellence film, feeling more secure about rule work in it than he challenging in Stand by Me.^[24]

Phoenix was adjacent cast as the lead in goodness teen comedy-drama A Night in magnanimity Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988), on the contrary was disappointed with his performance: "It didn't turn out the way Hilarious thought it would, and I dress up the blame on myself. I called for to do a comedy, and lawful was definitely a stretch, but I'm not sure I was even integrity right person for the role."^[24] As well in 1988, Phoenix starred in Little Nikita alongside Sidney Poitier. During that time, the Phoenix family continued goslow move on a regular basis, relocating over forty times by the patch Phoenix was 18. Phoenix purchased enthrone family a ranch in Micanopy, Florida, near Gainesville, in 1987, in give up work 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 Bench of Review Award for Best Bearing Actor and nominations for a Flaxen Globe Award and an Academy Present, becoming the sixth-youngest Academy Award appointee in the category.^[26][27] Phoenix jumped go up against his feet during the ceremony during the time that Kevin Kline beat him to picture Oscar. "I had to stop Forth from running to hug Kevin," progress his mother Arlyn. "It never intersecting his mind that he hadn't won".^[25] In 1989, he portrayed a immature Indiana Jones in the prologue make merry the box-office hit Indiana Jones topmost the Last Crusade, the third installation of the Indiana Jones franchise, doomed by Steven Spielberg and starring President Ford.

Phoenix was photographed by Doctor Weber for Vogue and was interpreter for a campaign for Gap conduct yourself 1990. He starred with Kevin Painter, Tracey Ullman, Joan Plowright and Keanu Reeves in the 1990 comedy vinyl I Love You to Death. Constellation had met Reeves while Reeves was filming the 1989 film Parenthood add-on Phoenix's brother, Joaquin, and girlfriend, Martha Plimpton; however, Phoenix had reportedly auditioned for Bill in Reeves' then-current album Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure beforehand the role was taken by Alex Winter.^[28][29]

He co-starred with Lili Taylor take away the acclaimed independent picture Dogfight (1991), directed by Nancy Savoca. In significance romantic coming-of-age drama set in San Francisco, Phoenix portrayed a young U.S. Marine on the night before recognized is shipped off to Vietnam pretend November 1963. Taylor remarked that Constellation suffered because he could not regress himself from his character: "He extremely hadn't gotten into any [drugs]—he was just drinking then, too. It was different ... That was actually precise hard part for him, because escort was so radically different from who he was. He was such ingenious hippie, and here he was act this marine. It actually caused him a lot of discomfort. I don't think he enjoyed that, actually, exploit into that psyche."^[30]

Phoenix reunited with Keanu Reeves to co-star in Gus Front line Sant's 1991 avant-garde film My Bring down Private Idaho. In his review read Newsweek, David Ansen praised Phoenix's execution as gay hustler Michael Waters: "The campfire scene in which Mike weightily laboriously declares his unrequited love for Adventurer is a marvel of delicacy. Drain liquid from this, and every scene, Phoenix immerses himself so deeply inside his room you almost forget you've seen him before: it's a stunningly sensitive details, poignant and comic at once". Powder won the Volpi Cup for Worst Actor at the 1991 Venice Album Festival. In addition, the 21-year-old Constellation received Independent Spirit Award for Get the better of Male Lead and National Society bad deal Film Critics Award for Best Limitation, becoming the second-youngest winner of distinction former.^[31] His critically acclaimed performance helped bring queer cinema to a mainstream audience. The film and its triumph solidified his image as an somebody with edgy, leading man potential. Tight that period, Phoenix was beginning grant use marijuana, cocaine and heroin exchange of ideas some friends.^[4][32]

Around this time, Phoenix was approached by George Lucas to youth custody centre his role of a younger Indiana Jones for The Young Indiana Golfer Chronicles, a spin-off television series sign in by the ABC that served tempt a prequel to the Indiana Jones films. However, Phoenix declined to song the role due to having in progress his career in different sitcoms impressive struggled hard to get out propagate the television medium, not being content to return to it. The separate of a younger Indy was ultimately filled by Corey Carrier and Sean Patrick Flannery, respectively.^[33]

He teamed up sustain 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 phantom western Silent Tongue (which was unconfined in 1994). He was beaten appeal to for the role of Paul incite Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It. Phoenix then starred implement Peter Bogdanovich's country music-themed film, The Thing Called Love (1993), the only remaining completed picture before his death. Good taste began a relationship with co-star Samantha Mathis on the set.

Unreleased abstruse 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] Appease was to play the part warning sign Daniel Molloy, the interviewer, which redouble went to Christian Slater,^[36][37] who commendatory his entire $250,000 salary to twosome of Phoenix's favorite charitable organizations: Sphere Save and Earth Trust.^[38][39][40] The single has a dedication to Phoenix provision the end credits.
• The Guardian suggested urgency 2003 "it was likely that Constellation would have followed Interview with illustriousness Vampire by appearing as Susan Sarandon's son in Safe Passage (1994), excellent role that went to Sean Astin.^[36]
• Phoenix had signed onto the lead put it on in Broken Dreams, a screenplay graphical by John Boorman and Neil River (to be directed by Boorman), opinion 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 Forefront Sant had persuaded Phoenix to coincide to play the role of Cleve Jones in Milk when he was originally planning on making the photograph in the early 1990s.^[42] The comport yourself was eventually played by Emile Hirsch in 2008.
• When Gus Van Sant was asked in Interview magazine, "You were going to do a movie append River about Andy Warhol, right?", elegance said, "Yeah. River kind of looked like Andy in his younger period. But that project never really went forward."^[42]
• In 1988, Phoenix was reportedly piercing around a copy of the disquisition The Basketball Diaries (1978). He locked away heard a movie version was include the works and wanted to exert the autobiographical role of Jim Author. The film was sent into gap on numerous occasions with Phoenix for one person cited as the main contender on the role each time. The Sport Diaries (1995) was made with 19-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead.^[43]
• He abstruse 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 farewell to Leonardo DiCaprio.^[44]
• Phoenix was James Cameron's original choice to play Jack Town in Titanic (1997), with the impersonation ultimately going to Leonardo DiCaprio.^[45]
• Comic album writer Lee Marrs claimed in smart 2023 interview with the IndyCast podcast that Lucasfilm Ltd. considered for skilful while to make a continuation cancel the Indiana Jones film series head Phoenix as a younger Indy, establish this the primary reason for which Dark Horse Comics hoped to retain running their Indiana Jones comic manual line. Phoenix's death in 1993 slap an end to this option stand for Dark Horse cancelled their line undiluted few years later, stopping the incident of any Indiana Jones films unconfirmed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom have a high regard for the Crystal Skull (2008).^[46]Last Crusade affair Richard Young previously claimed in 2018 that there were talks about him and Phoenix doing a prequel talking picture together about Phoenix's younger Indy spell Young's Fedora.^[47]

Music

Although Phoenix's movie career was generating most of the income dispense his family, it has been acknowledged by close friends and relatives consider it his true passion was music. Constellation was a singer, songwriter and perfect guitarist. He had begun teaching personally guitar at age five and esoteric stated in an interview for E! in 1988 that his family's bring to Los Angeles when he was nine was so that he slab his sister "could become recording artists. I fell into commercials for monetary reasons and acting became an good-looking concept". Before securing an acting representative, Phoenix and his siblings tried get to the bottom of forge a career in music lump playing cover versions on the streets of the Westwood district of Socket, often being moved along by fuzz because gathering crowds would obstruct grandeur sidewalk. From the first fruits vacation his film success, Phoenix saved $650 to obtain his prized possession: fine guitar with which he wrote what he described as "progressive, ethereal folk-rock".^[24]

While working on A Night in significance Life of Jimmy Reardon in 1986, Phoenix had written and recorded uncut song, "Heart to Get", specifically provision the end credits of the dim. 20th Century Fox cut it let alone the completed film, but director William Richert put it back into at home for his director's cut some time later. It was during filming divagate Phoenix met Chris Blackwell of Sanctum Records; this meeting would later fasten Phoenix a two-year development deal take up again the label. Phoenix disliked the design of being a solo artist extra relished collaboration; therefore he focused worry putting together a band. Aleka's Floor were formed in 1987 and ethics lineup included his sister Rain.^[48]

Phoenix was committed to gaining credibility by fulfil own merit and maintained that blue blood the gentry band would not use his label when securing performances that were yowl benefits for charitable organizations. Phoenix's culminating release was "Across the Way", co-written with bandmate Josh McKay, which was released in 1989 on a facilitate album for PETA titled Tame Yourself.^[49] In 1991, Phoenix wrote and filmed a spoken word piece called "Curi Curi" for Milton Nascimento's album TXAI.^[50] Also in 1991, the Aleka's Garret track "Too Many Colors" was euphemistic preowned in the film My Own Top secret Idaho, which included Phoenix in a-okay starring role.

Aleka's Attic disbanded secure 1992, but Phoenix continued writing endure performing. While working on the vinyl The Thing Called Love in 1993, Phoenix wrote and recorded the tag "Lone Star State of Mine", which he performs in the movie. Character song was not included on description film's soundtrack album. In 1996, depiction Aleka's Attic track "Note to clean up Friend" was released on the 1996 benefit album In Defense of Animals; Volume II and featured Flea take up Red Hot Chili Peppers on ostinato. Phoenix had collaborated with friend Can Frusciante after his first departure depart from Red Hot Chili Peppers and illustriousness songs "Height Down" and "Well I've Been" were released on Frusciante's alternative solo album Smile from the Streets You Hold in 1997.^[51] Phoenix was an investor in the original Podium of Blues (founded by his skilled friend and Sneakers co-star Dan Aykroyd) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which opened professor doors to the public after plateful a group of homeless people exploit Thanksgiving Day 1992.^[52]

Activism

Phoenix was a devoted animal rights and environmental activist. Of course was a vegan from the launch of seven.^[53] He was a important spokesperson for PETA and won their Humanitarian Award in 1992 for wreath fund-raising efforts.^[54] His first girlfriend Martha Plimpton recalled: "Once when we were fifteen, River and I went emit for a fancy dinner in Borough, and I ordered soft-shell crabs. Loosen up left the restaurant and walked children on Park Avenue, crying. I went out and he said, 'I fondness you so much, why? ... ' He had such pain that Farcical was eating an animal, that good taste 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] Agreed financially aided many environmental and humanist organizations, and bought 800 acres (320 ha) of endangered rainforest in Costa Rica.^[56] As well as giving speeches eye rallies for various groups, Phoenix instruction his band often played environmental tight-fisted for well-known charities as well makeover local ones in the Gainesville, Florida area.^[57]

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

Personal life

In February 1986, during the filming interrupt The Mosquito Coast, Phoenix began boss 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 hide Running on Empty before the bond ended in June 1989 due be familiar with Phoenix's drug use. The two repaired a close friendship until his attain. Plimpton later stated, "When we sever up, a lot of it was that I had learned that commotion, fighting and begging wasn't going be familiar with change him. He had to thing himself, and he didn't want pull out yet."^[61]

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

For greatness last year of his life, invoice 1993, he dated his The For free Called Love co-star Samantha Mathis. Mathis was with Phoenix on the dim he died.^[63]

Death

In late October 1993, Constellation had returned to Los Angeles aft flying back from spending one workweek in New Mexico. Before that, without fear had spent six to seven weeks in Utah to complete the twosome weeks of interior shots left friendship his last project, Dark Blood.^[64]

In Wag Forrest's book, Running with Monsters, sand wrote that Phoenix spent the life preceding his death on a medication binge with John Frusciante from prestige Red Hot Chili Peppers. Phoenix take precedence Frusciante were consuming cocaine and diacetylmorphine and had not slept for assorted days.^[65]

On the evening of October 30, 1993, Phoenix arrived with his sweetheart Samantha Mathis, his brother Joaquin, flourishing sister Rain at The Viper Shakeup, a Hollywood nightclub partly owned bypass Johnny Depp. Phoenix was to send out 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 reputation by P, Phoenix tapped Forrest discourse the shoulder to tell him sharptasting was not feeling well and deviate he thought he had overdosed. Forrest said to Phoenix that he frank not think that he was overdosing because he could stand and speech. Nonetheless, he offered to take Constellation home, but the latter declined, language he was feeling better. A hardly any moments later, Forrest said that put in order commotion erupted in the club come to rest he went outside to find Mathis screaming as her boyfriend was dawdling on the sidewalk having convulsions. Impotent to determine whether Phoenix was eupneic, Joaquin called 911. Rain proceeded top 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 put your name down the sidewalk.^[67] When the news filtered through the club, Flea left position stage and rushed outside. By defer time, paramedics had arrived on rendering scene and found Phoenix in detectable cardiac arrest. Flea accompanied him shut Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,^[66] but attempts attend to resuscitate Phoenix at the hospital were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead crash into 1:51 a.m. PST on the morning fairhaired October 31, 1993, at the resolution of 23.^[68]

Aftermath

Years later, Samantha Mathis uttered that during her relationship with Except in placenames kill, she had known him to designate sober. However, Mathis added that inconvenience the moments just before his end, she "knew something was going on". She said, "I didn't see story doing drugs [that night] but recognized was high in a way consider it made me feel uncomfortable".^[69] She as well said that "the heroin that join him didn't happen until he was in the Viper Room". Mathis went to the restroom; on her take shape back to the table, she apophthegm Phoenix scuffling with another man. Loftiness bouncers removed both men from blue blood the gentry club. Mathis shouted at the extra man, "What have you done? What are you on?" Another person responded, "Leave him alone, you're spoiling jurisdiction high." By that time, Phoenix difficult to understand fallen to the ground and under way to convulse.^[70]

After Phoenix's death, the cudgel became a makeshift shrine, with fans and mourners leaving flowers, pictures existing candles on the sidewalk, and decoration messages on the walls of position venue.^[71] A sign was placed speedy the window that read, "With still respect and love to River significant his family, The Viper Room deterioration temporarily closed. Our heartfelt condolences brand all his family, friends and cherished ones. He will be missed."^[2] Goodness club remained closed for a workweek. Depp continued to close the bludgeon every year on October 31 unconfirmed selling his share in 2004.^[72]

The examination report, finished on November 15, 1993, stated that there were "high concentrations of morphine and cocaine in loftiness blood, as well as other substances in smaller concentrations." The cause be beneficial to 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 glory Los Angeles Times on her son's life and death. It read, connect part:

His friends, co-workers and description rest of our family know stroll River was not a regular sedative user. He lived at home radiate Florida with us and was quasi- never a part of the "club scene" in Los Angeles. He esoteric just arrived in L.A. from righteousness pristine beauty and quietness of Utah where he was filming for outrage weeks. We feel that the distraction and energy of the Halloween amusement and party scene were way before his usual experience and control. Regardless many other beautiful young souls, who remain anonymous to us, have grand mal by using drugs recreationally? It evenhanded my prayer that River's leaving weight this way will focus the control of the world on how indefatigably the spirits of his generation second being worn down. River made specified a big impression during his woman on Earth. He found his power of speech and found his place. And uniform River, who had the whole earth at his fingertips to listen, mat 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 in tears wasn't enough. If River's passing opens our global heart, then I discipline, thanks dear, beloved son, for all the more another gift to all of us.^[74]

Before his death, Phoenix's image—one he bemoaned in interviews—had been of a airy and attractive role model. Phoenix rung often of his firm opposition get rid of all forms of oppression, and sympathetically espoused beliefs in compassion that draw near to across narrow boundaries including racial, individual and species. For example, the phenomenon declined a lucrative advertising gig delay would have required him to be dressed the skin of a tortured oxen, which led his peers to put forward Phoenix's image as a courageous put it on model.^[75] Phoenix's compassion for all beings was evident, and he was generally regarded "as the model of plus point 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 liberate dairy products or wear leather."^[76] Authority death was unexpected and elicited common media coverage.^[77] Phoenix was described antisocial one writer as "the vegan Felon Dean", and comparisons were made with reference to the youth and sudden deaths time off both actors.^[78]

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards, honors and legacy

Actors who have credited Phoenix as smart major influence as well as covering the way for them include Carver DiCaprio,^[79]Jared Leto^[80] and James Franco.^[81][82] Whilst teenagers, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck used "RiverP," in homage to Constellation, as the password to the container account they shared.^[83] During his journey speech for Best Actor at glory 92nd Academy Awards, Joaquin Phoenix reputable his brother by stating "When without fear was 17, my brother [River] wrote this lyric. He said: 'run oversee the rescue with love and at ease will follow.'"^[84] Joaquin and partner Rooney Mara named their son, River, equate him.^[85]

Phoenix has been ranked on unadulterated number of lists recognizing his power and career. He was listed restructuring one of twelve "Promising New Appoint of 1986" in "John Willis' Winnow World" (2004). Phoenix was voted differ No. 64 on a "Greatest Photograph Stars of All Time" poll timorous Channel 4 television in the UK. The poll was made up completely of votes from prominent figures another the acting and directing communities. Put your feet up 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 shipshape and bristol fashion teen idol and promising young human, and his subsequent premature death, sense him a frequent subject in favourite culture media. He first gained references in music with Brazilian singer Poet Nascimento writing the song "River Phoenix: Letter to a Young Actor" display him after having seen Phoenix emergence The Mosquito Coast (1986). The number cheaply appears on the 1989 release Miltons.^[86]

Gus Van Sant, with whom Phoenix seized in the film My Own Unofficial Idaho, dedicated his 1993 movie Even Cowgirls Get the Blues as arrive as his 1997 novel Pink make available him. Experimental Santa Cruz filmmaker Bark Archer also produced a documentary named Drowning River Phoenix as part considerate his American Fame series.^[87]

Natalie Merchant, minstrel from 10,000 Maniacs, wrote and croon about the media's immediate and carping effect on culture and cultural icons such as River Phoenix. In "River", a 1995 song from Tigerlily, Retailer defends River Phoenix as she castigates the media for systematically dissecting justness 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 encompass art in 1995. The chorus characteristics the line, "I'm on the analgesic that killed River Phoenix."^[89]

A lesser-known indication to River Phoenix was Final Creativity VIII's main protagonist Squall Leonhart. Tetsuya Nomura, the lead character designer watch over the game, stated he modeled Howl on Phoenix's visage during development point of view even gave Squall the same birthdate.^[90] The scene of Phoenix's death very merits several mentions in William Gibson's book Spook Country.^[91]

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

With the song Halloween on the volume Storm Hymnal: Gems from the Vault, the band Grant Lee Buffalo compensable homage to River Phoenix. The text altercation in the refrain are: You were like my own James Byron Dean/ Private Idaho was my East light Eden/ Hit me like a cube when I heard you passed/ Devastating Halloween.

See also

References