River Phoenix Bio
River Phoenix was an American actor, musician, and activist. He was well known as the older brother of Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix, and Summer Phoenix.
River Phoenix Early Life
River Phoenix often played guitar while he and his sister sang on street corners for money and food to support their ever-growing family. He never attended formal school.
A screenwriter, Naomi, said, “He was totally, totally without education…
I mean, he could read and write, and he had an appetite for it, but he had no deep roots into any kind of sense of history or literature.”
River Phoenix Career
Phoenix’s work included 24 films and television appearances, and his rise to fame led to his status as a “teen idol”.
He began his acting career in TV commercials at the age of 10. The late actor appeared in the science fiction adventure film Explorers (1985) and played his first notable role in the 1986 movie Stand by Me, based on Stephen King’s novel The Body.
River Phoenix made a transition into more adult-oriented roles with Running on Empty in 1988, playing the son of fugitive parents in a well-received performance.
He is also featured in My Own Private Idaho in 1991, playing a gay hustler in search of his estranged mother.
River Phoenix Age
Phoenix was born on August 23, 1970, in Madras, Oregon, United States of America. He celebrated his birthday on August 23rd every year.
River Phoenix Family
Parents
In an interview with People, Phoenix described his parents as “hippieish”. His father was a lapsed Catholic from Fontana, California, of English, German, and French ancestry.
In 1968, Phoenix’s mother left her family in New York City and traveled across the United States. She met John Lee Bottom while hitchhiking in northern California.
They married less than a year after meeting on September 13, 1969. Phoenix grew up in a small suburb of Gainesville, Micanopy, Florida, where they lived in poverty. Phoenix has stated that they lived in a “desperate situation.”
Siblings
River Phoenix had five siblings; one Brother Joaquin Phoenix and four sisters Rain Phoenix, Summer Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix and Jodean Bottom.
River Phoenix Wife
The late actor liked to keep his personal life private hence information about his dating life is not available.
It is therefore not known whether he was married or had any children. However, this information will be updated as soon as it is available.
River Phoenix Body Measurements
- Height: Not Available
- Weight: Not Available
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Body Shape: Not Available
- Hair Colour: Not Available
River Phoenix Net Worth
Working as an actor, there is no doubt Phoenix earned a good salary and was able to accumulate good net worth. However, his exact net worth has not yet been revealed but the information will be updated as soon as it is available.
River Phoenix Movies
» Stand By Me
» M Own Private Idaho
» Dark Blood
» Running On Empty
» Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
» The Thing Called Love
» Explorers
» The Mosquito
» Sneakers
» A Night in the Life of Jimmy
» Dog right
» I love You to Death
» Little Nikita
» Silent Tongue
» Circle of Violence: A Family Drama
» Backward: The Riddle of Dyslexia
» Surviving: A Family In Crisis
» Backward: The Riddle of Dyslexia
River Phoenix Stand By Me
After learning that a stranger has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four Oregon boys opt to check out who it was.
On the way, Gordie Lachance as Wil Wheaton, Vern Tessio as Jerry O’Connell, Chris Chambers as River Phoenix and Teddy Duchamp as Corey Feldman.
They come across a mean man and in the event, get to know about each other more learning that they have different cultures and homes.
River Phoenix Death
On the evening of October 30, 1993, Phoenix was to perform with his close friend Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on stage at The Viper Room, a Hollywood nightclub partly owned at the time by actor Johnny Depp.
His younger sister Rain and brother Joaquin joined him at the Hotel Nikko (now the SLS Hotel) on La Cienega Boulevard. Phoenix’s girlfriend Samantha Mathis also had come to meet him.
During the early morning hours of October 31, Phoenix suffered a drug overdose, and collapsed outside and convulsed for over five minutes.
Samantha Mathis stated in 2018 that the two had originally only intended to drop off Phoenix’s siblings at the Viper Room on the way to her house, but Phoenix decided to stay for a while after he was asked to perform with the band.
During the episode, Johnny Depp and his band P were onstage. According to Haynes, the band was performing their song “Michael Stipe” while Phoenix was outside the venue having seizures on the sidewalk.
By that time, paramedics had arrived on the scene and found Phoenix turning dark blue, in full cardiac arrest and in a flatline state. They administered medication in an attempt to restart his heart.
He was hurriedly taken to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Further attempts to resuscitate Phoenix were unsuccessful.
The actor quit fighting for his life at 1:51 a.m PST on the morning of October 31, 1993, at the age of 23.
The club became a blessed shrine on the next day with fans and mourners leaving flowers, pictures and candles on the sidewalk and graffiti messages on the venue’s walls.
A sign was posted in the window reading, “The Viper Room is temporarily closed with deep respect and love to River Phoenix and his parents. Our heartfelt condolences to all his relatives, friends and loved ones.
He is going to be missed. Every October 31 each year, Depp decided to close the club until he sold his interest in 2004.
His death resulted in a huge amount of media coverage. Phoenix was described by one writer as “the vegan James Dean,” and comparisons were made regarding the youth and sudden deaths of both actors.
The November 15, 1993 autopsy found that “Toxicology studies showed high concentrations of morphine and cocaine in the blood, as well as other substances in smaller concentrations.”
The cause of death was “acute multiple drug intoxication”, including cocaine and morphine.
It is my prayer that Phoenix’s leaving in this way will focus the attention of the world on how painfully the spirits of his generation are being worn down. River Phoenix made such a big impression during his life on Earth.
If Phoenix’s passing opens our global heart, then I say, thanks dear, beloved son, for yet another gift to all of us.
Phoenix was cremated and his ashes were scattered at his family ranch in Micanopy, Florida. Following his death, Aleka’s Attic disbanded.
River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves
River Phoenix and Reeves met on the film I Love You to Death and quickly became best friends. They had each others back and did all the things that best friends do together.
When Reeves saw the script for “My Own Private Idaho”, he knew Phoenix was perfect for the role. In December 1989, Keanu Reeves rode more than 1,000 miles on his motorcycle to hand-deliver the film’s treatment to River Phoenix and persuade him to take the role.
It was during the filming of “My Own Private Idaho” that Phoenix developed a drug addiction that would later claim his life.
Just five years after the death of his best friend, Keanu Reeves met David Lynch’s assistant, Jennifer Syme, in 1998. The pair “fell instantly in love,” according to Reeves, and conceived a child one year later.
River Phoenix Awards and Achievements
His legacy ranged from acting to music and to activism. He was undoubtedly, a fine actor as outlined in the following awards and accomplishments:
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
- Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival
- Best Actor from the National Society of Film Critics
Frequently Asked Questions About River Phoenix
Who is Phoenix?
River Phoenix was one of the American best-known and loved actors.
How old is Phoenix?
He died at the age of 23. Phoenix was born in 1970.
How tall is Phoenix?
Not Available.
Is Phoenix married?
He was neither married nor dating.
How much is Phoenix worth?
Not Available.
How much does Phoenix make?
Not Available.
Where does Phoenix live?
Not Available.
Is Phoenix dead or alive?
He died of combined drug intoxication on October 31, 1993.
Where is Phoenix now?
The actor passed away and was cremated.
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