Yes, that's right, you've reached my River Phoenix page, because he is one of my favourite things, as listed on my webjournal. I'm assuming you got here from my journal link, because I think that's really the only way to get here! This page is like a small door hidden in cyberspace, and you can only get here one way, and that's via my journal
River Phoenix is one of my absolute favourite people. He's obviously one of the most beautiful people that has ever lived, but I love him not just for his stunning beauty, but for his great talent and 'certain something' that he had that no one else can even come close to. River had an air about him that people were drawn to. He seemed to have a very mature quality to him, even as a child. He was wise beyond his years, an old soul.
River was born August 23rd, 1970 near Madras Oregon. His hippy parents named him River Jude Phoenix after the river of life in the novel 'Siddhartha'. His middle name came from the Beatles song, 'Hey Jude'. River was the oldest of a family of 5, which included his mother Heart, father John, sisters Liberty, Rain and Summer and his younger brother Joaquin.
River grew up in poverty, and often resorted to busking to help the family make ends meet. While River was just a young boy, the entire family joined the infamous cult, 'Children of God' and became missionaries in Venezuela. Unhappy with the bizarre turn of events regarding the Children of God cult, the Phoenix family fled to Florida via fishing boat. It was watching the fishermen that made River and Joaquin realize the cruelty behind eating meat, and the importance of the environment around them. The entire family became vegans and animal rights activists. When River became famous, he lent his face and voice to PETA for many years, doing commercials and publicity events to help raise awareness for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
River's first film was 'Explorers' in 1985, starring opposite of Ethan Hawke. The following year, River's life was to change forever when he starred in Rob Reiner's sleeper hit, 'Stand By Me'. River recieved critical acclaim for his superb acting as he brought Stephen King's character, 'Chris Chambers' to life. We all watched River grow the next few years. He tried to stay true to himself and refused to take empty roles that were simply there to catapult him into infamy. Throughout his career he would chose his roles carefully and often ended up playing small parts in even smaller films.
After 'Stand By Me' came 'The Mosquito Coast' starring Harrison Ford and his soon to be girlfriend, Martha Plimpton. Harrison Ford became a father figure to River, and when Ford was set to star in the third installment of the Indiana Jones trilogy, the role of Young Indy needed to be filled. Immediately Ford recommended his good friend River. River took the part and did a fabulous job. Watching him in those first few minutes of 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' is really my favourite part of the movie.
After The Mosquito Coast came the following films;
Little Nikita (1988)-with Sidney Poitier
Running on Empty(1988)-with Martha Plimpton and Christine Lahti, a film which he was nominated for Best Supporting actor at the Oscars
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988)-The one film that River deeply regretting doing. This was the kind of role that he never wanted to resort to playing, and never did again.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)-with Harrison Ford and Sean Connery
I love you to Death (1990)-with Kevin Kline, who beat River out for best supporting actor just 2 years prior at the Oscars
My Own Private Idaho (1991)-with Keanu Reeves. In my opinion River's finest performance.
Dogfight (1991)
Sneakers (1992)-with Robert Redford
The Thing Called Love (1993)-with his then girlfriend, Samantha Mathis. This is my least favourite film of River's. You can see in his face that he is on drugs...this film is sad for me to watch as you can see that he has lost his shine.
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues(1993)-Cameo appearance
Dark Blood(1993)-River died before this film was completed.
Silent Tongue (1994)
River spent his entire life fighting for animal rights, and trying to save the environment. He was well known for his innocence and good boy image. River was known by his fans for being 'straight edge'...however there was a side to River that his fans and surprisingly even the media knew nothing about. It wasn't until after he died that we realized the secrets that River hid behind his squeaky clean exterior.
River died on October 31st, 1993 on the sidewalk outside the popular night club, 'The Viper Room'. He died of an accidental drug overdose. His last words were, "No Paparrazi...I want anonymity". His brothers desperate 911 call could be heard every 15 minutes on the news for the next month or so. Everyone was so confused as to what happened. I remember the night River died like it happened yesterday. I was at a bar in my hometown for a Halloween party. There was a TV behind the bar, and I saw River's picture on the news. I couldn't hear what they were saying because the music was so loud, but then I read the teleprompter at the bottom of the screen. It read, "23 Year old actor River Phoenix dies of drug overdose outside popular Hollywood club." I couldn't believe it. I felt as though I lost a friend. River's death was a devestating and shocking blow to everyone of my generation. He was our hero from Stand By Me, the friend everyone wanted. We watched him grow from a pudgy young boy to a devestatingly beautiful young man. He had so much promise. He had such a bright future ahead of him. He stood for everything I believed in, and then in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
There will never be anyone else like River Phoenix, that I am sure of. I miss him often...I know that sounds silly because I didn't know him, but I miss being able to see his talent in film. I miss being able to follow his career and watch him grow. I just miss him as a person and an activist and one of the leading faces of my generation.
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