River Phoenix

River Jude Phoenix, (August 23 1970 – October 31 1993; legally changed name from River Jude Bottom) was an American movie actor. He was listed on John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 38 as one of twelve "Promising new actors of 1986."

Related Topics:
August 23 - 1970 - October 31 - 1993 - American - Movie - Actor

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Phoenix's Irish-Spanish father, John Bottom, and Bronx-born Jewish mother, Arlyn Dunitz, joined the Children of God cult in the late 60's and became missionaries, traveling throughout South America and adopting the surname "Phoenix". River Phoenix was born in Madras, Oregon and grew up in poverty. He and his sister often had to busk to make money for the family. It was only after his starring role in the movie Stand By Me that River's family was able to buy a car that was not secondhand.

Related Topics:
Irish - Spanish - Bronx - Jewish - Children of God - Madras, Oregon - Busk - Stand By Me

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He and his family were all vegetarians. He believed that eating animals was wrong and was the one who, as a child, convinced his family to become vegans. His opinions on the issue were so strong that when his actress girlfriend, Martha Plimpton, ordered soft-shell crab at a restaurant, he was reported to have begun to cry in disappointment.

Related Topics:
Vegetarian - Vegan - Martha Plimpton

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Phoenix was one of five siblings who pursued careers in show business, encouraged by their parents. He had significant juvenile roles in Stand by Me, The Mosquito Coast, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, and Little Nikita, 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 also portrayed a teenage Indiana Jones. 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 was also a friend of John Frusciante (guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and appeared on his debut album on the song Soul Removal. He had a band called Aleka's Attic before he died.

Related Topics:
Stand by Me - The Mosquito Coast - A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon - Little Nikita - 1988 - Oscar - Best supporting actor - Running on Empty - Indiana Jones - Keanu Reeves - I Love You to Death - Gus van Sant - My Own Private Idaho - John Frusciante - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Aleka's Attic

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Phoenix disliked being seen as just a sex symbol and usually refused to smile for photographs.

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Phoenix died at age 23 from a drug overdose of heroin and cocaine (speedball) outside the Viper Room, a Hollywood night club partly owned by actor Johnny Depp. At the time of his death, Phoenix was acting in the starring role of the movie Dark Blood, which was never completed. He was cremated in Gainesville, Florida a few days later.

Related Topics:
Overdose - Heroin - Cocaine - Speedball - Viper Room - Hollywood - Night club - Johnny Depp - Dark Blood - Cremated - Gainesville, Florida

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Phoenix has four siblings, a brother, Joaquin (who is also an actor), and 3 sisters, Rain, Summer (who are actresses) and Liberty.

Related Topics:
Joaquin - Rain - Summer

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In 1996, Australian alternative rock band TISM released a song named "(He'll Never Be an) Ol' Man River", the main lyrics of the chorus being "I'm on the drug that killed River Phoenix." It came in at #2 in the Triple J Hottest 100 for that year.

Related Topics:
Australia - Alternative rock - TISM - Triple J

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