River Phoenix facts for kids

Quick facts for kids River Phoenix
Phoenix in 1989
Born	River Jude Bottom (1970-08-23)August 23, 1970 Madras, Oregon, U.S.
Died	October 31, 1993(1993-10-31) (aged 23) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Cremated; ashes scattered at family ranch in Micanopy, Florida
Occupation	Actor musician songwriter activist
Years active	1982–1993
Parent(s)	Arlyn Phoenix (mother)
Relatives	Rain Phoenix (sister) Joaquin Phoenix (brother) Liberty Phoenix (sister) Summer Phoenix (sister)
Musical career
Genres	Alternative rock folk rock
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Associated acts	Aleka's Attic

River Jude Phoenix (born Bottom; August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993) was a talented American actor and musician. He was known for his strong performances and his dedication to helping animals and the environment.

River grew up in a family that moved around a lot. He was the older brother of Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix, and Summer Phoenix. He didn't go to a regular school, but he was very good at playing the guitar. He started acting in TV commercials when he was 10 years old.

He starred in the science fiction adventure movie Explorers (1985). His first big role was in 1986's Stand by Me, a movie about growing up, based on a story by Stephen King.

River then took on more grown-up roles. In Running on Empty (1988), he played Danny Pope, whose parents were on the run. His performance was praised and he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at just 18 years old. He also starred in My Own Private Idaho (1991), playing a character named Michael Waters. For this role, River received many awards, including the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 1991 Venice Film Festival.

Early Life and Family

River Phoenix was born on August 23, 1970, in Madras, Oregon. He was the first child of Arlyn Dunetz and John Lee Bottom. He had four younger siblings: Rain (born 1972), Joaquin (born 1974), Liberty (born 1976), and Summer (born 1978). He also had an older half-sister named Jodean.

River's parents chose his name from the "river of life" in the book Siddhartha. His middle name came from the Beatles' song "Hey Jude". River once described his parents as "hippie-ish." His mother's family was Jewish and came from Russia and Hungary. His father had English, German, and French roots.

River's family moved many times when he was young. He and his sister often sang and played guitar on street corners to help their family. River did not attend traditional school. He learned to read and write and loved to learn, but he didn't have a formal education in history or literature. He also had dyslexia, which is a learning difference that can make reading harder.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out in Television

When River's family moved to Los Angeles, his mother worked as a secretary for a TV company. A talent agent named Iris Burton saw River and his siblings singing in Westwood, Los Angeles. She was so impressed that she decided to represent them.

River began acting in commercials for companies like Mitsubishi and Ocean Spray. Soon, he and his siblings were signed by a casting director at Paramount Pictures. River and Rain even worked as audience warm-up performers for a show called Real Kids.

In 1980, River started acting more seriously. He appeared on a TV show called Fantasy with his sister Rain. In 1982, he got a role in the CBS TV series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He played the youngest brother, Guthrie McFadden. River charmed the show's producer at his audition by playing guitar and doing an Elvis Presley impression. He was also a skilled tap dancer.

After Seven Brides ended, River continued to act in TV movies. In 1984, he played young Jeffie Crawford in Celebrity. He also starred in an ABC Afterschool Special called Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia, where he played a boy who discovers he has dyslexia. His brother Joaquin had a small role in this show too. River's performance in Dyslexia was highly praised.

Becoming a Film Star

Phoenix and Martha Plimpton at the 61st Academy Awards, March 1989

In 1984, River got a big role in Joe Dante's science-fiction film Explorers with Ethan Hawke. This was his first major movie. In 1986, he starred in the TV movie Circle of Violence: A Family Drama. This was his last TV role before he became a big movie star.

River had a very important role in Rob Reiner's popular movie Stand by Me (1986). This movie made him famous when he was 16. River said he felt a strong connection to his character, Chris Chambers. Later that year, he filmed The Mosquito Coast (1986), playing the son of characters played by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. The director, Peter Weir, noticed River's special talent. During filming, River became close friends with his co-star Martha Plimpton.

In 1988, River starred in the teen comedy-drama A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon. He also appeared in Little Nikita with Sidney Poitier. By the time River was 18, his family had moved over forty times. River bought his family a ranch in Micanopy, Florida, in 1987.

Phoenix at the 61st Academy Awards's Governor's Ball, March 1989

His sixth movie was Running on Empty (1988). For this film, 18-year-old River was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. He was one of the youngest people ever nominated in that category. In 1989, he played a young Indiana Jones in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Harrison Ford.

River was featured in Vogue magazine and was a spokesperson for Gap in 1990. He starred with Kevin Kline and Keanu Reeves in the 1990 comedy I Love You to Death. He had met Keanu Reeves through his brother Joaquin and Martha Plimpton.

He then starred with Lili Taylor in the independent film Dogfight (1991). In this romantic drama, River played a young U.S. Marine before he was sent to Vietnam in 1963.

River Phoenix, Dan Aykroyd, and Sky Phoenix on the set of the movie Sneakers in 1991

River worked with Keanu Reeves again in Gus Van Sant's 1991 film My Own Private Idaho. For his role, he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 1991 Venice Film Festival. He also won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. This movie helped establish him as a serious and talented actor.

He later worked with Robert Redford and Sidney Poitier in the thriller Sneakers (1992). He also filmed Silent Tongue (released in 1994). River then starred in The Thing Called Love (1993), a country music-themed film. This was the last movie he completed before he passed away. He became close with his co-star Samantha Mathis during filming.

Music Career

Phoenix (middle) with Aleka's Attic.

Even though his acting career brought in most of the money for his family, River's true passion was music. He was a singer, songwriter, and a very good guitarist. He started teaching himself guitar at age five. He once said that his family moved to Los Angeles so that he and his sister could become recording artists. He started acting for money, but music was always his main dream.

Phoenix in 1991 playing with Aleka's Attic at The Cubby Bear.

River didn't want to be a solo artist; he loved working with others. So, he formed a band called Aleka's Attic in 1987 with his sister Rain. River wanted the band to succeed on its own, without using his fame from acting.

His first song release was "Across the Way," which he co-wrote. It was released in 1989 on an album to benefit PETA. In 1991, a song by Aleka's Attic called "Too Many Colors" was used in his movie My Own Private Idaho.

Aleka's Attic stopped performing together in 1992, but River kept writing and playing music. While working on The Thing Called Love in 1993, he wrote and recorded the song "Lone Star State of Mine", which he performs in the movie. After his passing, some of his music was released on other albums.

Activism and Causes

River Phoenix was very dedicated to animal rights and protecting the environment. He became a vegan at age seven, meaning he did not eat any animal products. He was a well-known spokesperson for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). In 1992, he received their Humanitarian Award for his efforts to raise money for their cause.

His friend Martha Plimpton once shared a story about how much he cared. When they were fifteen, she ordered soft-shell crabs at a restaurant. River was so upset that he left the restaurant and cried, asking her why she would eat an animal.

In 1990, River wrote an essay about Earth Day for Seventeen magazine, encouraging his young fans to care about the environment. He gave money to many environmental and humanitarian groups. He even bought 800 acres (320 ha) of endangered rainforest in Costa Rica to help protect it. River and his band often played at benefit concerts to support charities working for the environment.

Personal Life

River Phoenix was known for being a kind and caring person. During the filming of The Mosquito Coast in 1986, he became close with his co-star Martha Plimpton. They also starred together in Running on Empty. They remained good friends even after their relationship ended.

In the last year of his life, in 1993, he had a relationship with his The Thing Called Love co-star Samantha Mathis. Samantha Mathis was with River on the night he passed away.

Death

The Viper Room in Los Angeles.

River Phoenix passed away on October 31, 1993, in West Hollywood, at the age of 23. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at his family's ranch in Micanopy, Florida.

Honors and Recognition

River Phoenix has been recognized many times for his talent and career.

• He was named one of "Promising New Actors of 1986" by "John Willis' Screen World."
• Channel 4 television in the UK ranked him No. 64 on a "Greatest Movie Stars of All Time" poll.
• Empire magazine listed him at No. 86 in their "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" in 1997.
• His life and passing have been featured in TV shows like E! True Hollywood Story and A&E Biography.
• In 2010, GQ magazine named him one of the "50 Most Stylish Men of the Past Half Century."

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

See also

In Spanish: River Phoenix para niños

• List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees – Youngest nominees for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• List of actors with Academy Award nominations