Actor River Phoenix would have turned 50 on August 23. The Hollywood star, who died young, will remain unforgettable forever.
What his younger brother Joaquin Phoenix (45, "Joker") did this year, River Phoenix (1970-1993) could have achieved: win an Oscar. But it should never come to that. The talented actor died at the age of 23. He would have turned 50 today on August 23rd.
River Phoenix shaped his younger brother, Joaquin
River Phoenix's influence on his younger brother Joaquin was enormous, the Oscar winner said in an interview with "60 Minutes". Because one day River Phoenix showed his brother one of his favorite films: the black and white drama "Wie ein Wilder Stier" from 1980, for which lead actor Robert De Niro (77) was awarded the golden boy.
"He came in, was really excited and said to me, 'You have to see this movie!' My brother and his view of the acting in this film awakened something in me. And suddenly I could see through his eyes what he was talking about. I saw incredibly beautiful details in the film, "recalled Joaquin Phoenix. Since then, the two brothers have shared a passion for acting. But they couldn't share it for a long time.
Disturbing media hype surrounding River Phoenix's death
When the Phoenix brothers visited the Hollywood club Viper Room on October 31, 1993, together with their sister Rain (47) and Rivers friend, the actress Samantha Mathis (50, "The Thing Called Love") the drama took its course. The then 23-year-old River Phoenix died after the night of partying in front of the club that Hollywood star Johnny Depp (57, "Pirates of the Caribbean") had only recently opened. The cause of death: River Phoenix had consumed a drug cocktail. He died on the sidewalk in the arms of his 19-year-old brother Joaquin.
At that time, helicopters circled over the family's property for days and some even tried to sneak into the property, reported Joaquin Phoenix about the time after his brother's death. That made mourning particularly difficult. "We weren't very aware of his fame back then because we didn't watch TV shows or buy gossip magazines. We didn't realize what a great actor and great movie star River really was," said the 45-year-old .
This is how the family will remember him
"My mother and sisters in particular, manage to keep the spirit of River alive," said Joaquin Phoenix. In one of her songs Rain Phoenix sings: "In my mind, I still see your light. I keep it alive." (In German: "In my mind I can still see your light. I keep it alive.") She even named one of her albums after her brother, it is simply called "River".
Joaquin Phoenix said he had found it difficult to pronounce his brother's name for years. "But in everything we've done in the years since his death, his presence can be felt. In every movie I've made, there has been a connection to River in one way or another." He led the family through life in a variety of ways.
The short, prosperous life of River Phoenix
River Phoenix, who was called River Bottom until the family changed their surname, played in numerous US commercials as a child and was able to attract the attention of film producers. At the age of 15 he made his film debut in "Explorers – A Fantastic Adventure" (1985). He became better known with "Stand by Me – The Secret of a Summer" (1986), which is based on the classic book "Die Leiche" by Stephen King (72). This was followed by a few films in which he worked alongside well-known actors. In "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989) he slipped into the role of young Indiana Jones alongside Harrison Ford (78).
In 1989 River Phoenix was nominated for an Oscar in the category "Best Supporting Actor" for his performance in the drama "Escape into the Unknown" (1988) – and that at the age of 18. His career continued to take off. In "My Private Idaho – The End of Innocence" (1991) he played a homosexual prostitute at the side of Keanu Reeves (55), for which Phoenix received numerous awards, including the award for best actor at the Venice International Film Festival.
River Phoenix made his last film in 1993: the love drama "The Thing Called Love". Two more of his films have been released posthumously: "Silent Tongue – The Revenge of the Gods" (1993) and "Dark Blood", which was only released in 2012. Phoenix was already scheduled for the next Hollywood flick. He was supposed to play the role of the journalist in "Interview with a Vampire" (1994). After his unexpected death, Christian Slater (51) took over the part. In the credits of the film, the dead star was remembered with "In Memory of River Phoenix".