River Phoenix

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River Phoenix

River Jude Phoenix (1970-08-23 – 1993-10-31), born in Madras, Oregon, USA, was one of the most promising movie actors of his generation.

It is reported by People magazine (Nov. 15, 1993 and Jan. 17, 1994) that in an interview with River Phoenix he admitted he had "lost his virginity" at age four as a result of abuse in the Children of God.

In May 1999 the Family International (as the Children of God group is now known), in an internal publication for young teens, published a so-called "prophecy interview" with River Phoenix from beyond the grave (see Free Zine 31, pp. 4-5 "Dead Men Talking: River Bares All").

River grew up in a very poor family. He and his sister often had to busk to make money for their family. It was only after Stand By Me that River's family was able to buy a car that was not secondhand.

Phoenix was one of five siblings who pursued careers in show business, encouraged by their parents, after leaving the Children of God. He had significant juvenile roles in several movies and was nominated in 1988, at the age of 17, for an Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in Running on Empty. He met Keanu Reeves while filming I Love You to Death and later went on to star opposite Reeves in Gus van Sant's My Own Private Idaho. His friendship with both Reeves and van Sant continued beyond the movie.

River disliked being seen as just a sex symbol.

He died at age 23 of a drug overdose and was cremated in Gainesville, Florida.

So far, of his siblings, his younger brother Joaquin Phoenix has achieved the greatest success, with his first major role coming in another Gus van Sant movie To Die For, opposite Nicole Kidman. His sister, Rain Phoenix, appeared in van Sant's adaptation of Tom Robbins's story Even Cowgirls Get the Blues alongside many other well-known personalities.

Filmography

  • Silent Tongue (1994)
  • Dark Blood (1993)
  • Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993)
  • Thing Called Love (1993)
  • Sneakers (1992)
  • Dogfight (1991)
  • My Own Private Idaho (1991)
  • I Love You to Death (1990)
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
  • Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, A
  • Running on Empty (1988)
  • Little Nikita (1988)
  • The Mosquito Coast (1986)
  • Circle of Violence: A Family Drama (1986) (TV)
  • Stand by Me (1986)
  • Explorers (1985)
  • Surviving (1985) (TV)