Editing River Phoenix (section)

== Death ==
[[File:Viper Room.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|[[The Viper Room]] on [[Sunset Strip]] in Los Angeles, where Phoenix died]]
In late October 1993, Phoenix had returned to [[Los Angeles]] after flying back from spending one week in New Mexico. Before that, he had spent six to seven weeks in Utah to complete the three weeks of interior shots left on his last project, ''[[Dark Blood]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Actor River Phoenix dies |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/actor-river-phoenix-dies-115499/ |date=October 31, 1993 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref>

In [[Bob Forrest]]'s book, ''Running with Monsters'', he wrote that Phoenix spent the days preceding his death on a drug binge with [[John Frusciante]] from the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]. Phoenix and Frusciante were consuming cocaine and heroin and had not slept for several days.<ref>{{cite news |last= Callahan|first= Maureen |date=September 22, 2013 |title= River Phoenix's final hours |url= https://nypost.com/2013/09/22/river-phoenixs-final-hours/|work= New York Post|location= |access-date=June 10, 2022}}</ref>
 
On the evening of October 30, 1993, Phoenix arrived with his girlfriend [[Samantha Mathis]], his brother [[Joaquin Phoenix|Joaquin]], and sister [[Rain Phoenix|Rain]] at [[The Viper Room]], a Hollywood nightclub partly owned by [[Johnny Depp]]. Phoenix was to perform with the band [[P (band)|P]], which featured Phoenix's friends [[Flea (musician)|Flea]] and [[John Frusciante]] from the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]], [[Gibby Haynes]] of the [[Butthole Surfers]], [[Al Jourgensen]] of [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]], and Depp.<ref name="High Life"/>

According to [[Bob Forrest]], during the performance by P, Phoenix tapped Forrest on the shoulder to tell him he was not feeling well and that he thought he had overdosed. Forrest said to Phoenix that he did not think that he was overdosing because he could stand and talk. Nonetheless, he offered to take Phoenix home, but the latter declined, saying he was feeling better. A few moments later, Forrest said that a commotion erupted in the club and he went outside to find Mathis screaming as her boyfriend was lying on the sidewalk having convulsions. Unable to determine whether or not his older brother was breathing, Joaquin called 911. Rain proceeded to give her brother mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |last1=Grisolia |first1=Cynthia |last2=Davidson |first2=Casey |name-list-style=and |date=November 12, 1993 |title=The passing of River Phoenix: at the scene |url=http://ew.com/article/1993/11/12/passing-river-phoenix-scene/ |access-date=April 19, 2022 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>

According to Gibby Haynes, the band was performing their song "[[P (album)|Michael Stipe]]" while Phoenix was outside the venue having seizures on the sidewalk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2007/07/they-came-hollywood// |title=They Came from Hollywood |date=July 30, 2007 |publisher=SPIN.com |access-date=December 16, 2011}}</ref> When the news filtered through the club, Flea left the stage and rushed outside. By that time, paramedics had arrived on the scene and found Phoenix in apparent [[cardiac arrest]]. Flea accompanied him to [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]],<ref name="EW"/> but attempts to resuscitate Phoenix at the hospital were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 1:51&nbsp;a.m. PST on the morning of October 31, 1993, at the age of 23.<ref>"Autopsy: The Last Hours of River Phoenix." ''Autopsy: The Last Hours of...''. Narrated by Eric Meyers, executive produced by Suzy Davis, Michael Kelpie, Phil Mount and Ed Taylor. Reelz. June 13, 2020.</ref>

===Aftermath===
Years later, Samantha Mathis said that during her relationship with Phoenix, she had known him to be sober. However, Mathis added that in the moments just before his death, she "knew something was going on." She said, "I didn't see anyone doing drugs [that night] but he was high in a way that made me feel uncomfortable".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/10/26/river-phoenixs-death-samantha-mathis-breaks-silence-25-years-later/1770566002/| title=River Phoenix's death: Samantha Mathis breaks silence about the tragic night 25 years ago| first=Bryan| last=Alexander| newspaper=USA Today| date=October 26, 2018| access-date=October 27, 2018}}</ref> She also said that "the heroin that killed him didn't happen until he was in the Viper Room." Mathis went to the restroom; on her way back to the table, she saw Phoenix scuffling with another man. The bouncers removed both men from the club. Mathis shouted at the other man, "What have you done? What are you on?" Another person responded, "Leave him alone, you're spoiling his high." By that time, Phoenix had fallen to the ground and begun to convulse.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/oct/25/the-untold-story-of-lost-star-river-phoenix-25-years-after-his-death|title=The untold story of lost star River Phoenix – 25 years after his death| first=Hadley| last=Freeman| newspaper=The Guardian| date=October 25, 2018| access-date=October 25, 2018}}</ref>

After Phoenix's death, the club became a makeshift shrine with fans and mourners leaving flowers, pictures, and candles on the sidewalk and graffiti messages on the walls of the venue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Braxton |first=Greg |date=November 9, 1993 |title=The Club Scene, Running on Full After Phoenix's Death, It's Business (Almost) as Usual at L.A. Hot Spots |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-09-ca-55058-story.html |access-date=April 19, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> A sign was placed in the window that read, "With much respect and love to River and his family, The Viper Room is temporarily closed. Our heartfelt condolences to all his family, friends and loved ones. He will be missed."<ref name="NYTimes"/> The club remained closed for a week. Depp continued to close the club every year on October 31 until selling his share in 2004.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news-article/depp-sells-his-share-of-viper-room |title=Johnny Depp – Depp Sells His Share of Viper Room |magazine=Contactmusic |access-date=August 24, 2010}}</ref>

The autopsy report, finished on November 15, 1993, stated that there were "high concentrations of morphine and cocaine in the blood, as well as other substances in smaller concentrations." The cause of death was "acute multiple drug intoxication."<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/13/us/death-of-river-phoenix-is-linked-to-use-of-cocaine-and-morphine.html | title = Death of River Phoenix Is Linked To Use of Cocaine and Morphine | first= Seth| last= Mydans | work =[[The New York Times]] | date= November 13, 1993 | access-date= March 1, 2014 }}</ref>

On November 24, 1993, Arlyn Phoenix (who later changed her name to Heart) published an open letter in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' on her son's life and death. It read, in part:

{{blockquote|His friends, co-workers and the rest of our family know that River was not a regular drug user. He lived at home in Florida with us and was almost never a part of the "club scene" in Los Angeles. He had just arrived in L.A. from the pristine beauty and quietness of Utah where he was filming for six weeks. We feel that the excitement and energy of the Halloween nightclub and party scene were way beyond his usual experience and control. How many other beautiful young souls, who remain anonymous to us, have died by using drugs recreationally? It is my prayer that River's leaving in this way will focus the attention of the world on how painfully the spirits of his generation are being worn down.
River made such a big impression during his life on Earth. He found his voice and found his place. And even River, who had the whole world at his fingertips to listen, felt deep frustration that no one heard. What is it going to take? [[Chernobyl disaster|Chernobyl]] wasn't enough. ''[[Exxon Valdez oil spill|Exxon Valdez]]'' wasn't enough. A [[Gulf War|bloody war over oil]] wasn't enough. If River's passing opens our global heart, then I say, thanks dear, beloved son, for yet another gift to all of us.<ref name="Mother's quote">{{cite news|title=A Mother's Note on Her Son's Life and Death|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-24-ca-60381-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 4, 1993 |access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref>}}

Before his death, Phoenix's image—one he bemoaned in interviews—had been of a clean and attractive role model. Phoenix spoke often of his firm opposition to all forms of oppression and affirmatively espoused beliefs in compassion that reach across narrow boundaries including racial, national, and species. For example, the actor declined a lucrative advertising gig that would have required him to wear the skin of a tortured cow which led his peers to endorse Phoenix's image as a courageous role model.<ref>{{cite news| title=River Phoenix Ranks Acting Below Animal Rights and Music| newspaper=The New York Times| date=January 5, 1989| first=Aljean| last=Harmetz| quote=His attitudes and ethics obviously echo the 60's sensibilities of his parents, but it was the eight-year-old River who persuaded his parents to give up milk and eggs. ''The chickens that lay eggs are so frustrated,'' he said. ''There's no sunlight in egg farms. It's like a concentration camp. Just the squealing of thousands of birds.''| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/05/movies/river-phoenix-ranks-acting-below-animal-rights-and-music.html}}</ref> Phoenix's compassion for all beings was evident, and he was widely regarded "as the model of good health, clean living, and professional dedication—a cleaned-up '90s [[James Dean]]. He was known as a vegan, or ultra-vegetarian, who would not eat meat or dairy products or wear leather."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Carla |last2=Simon |first2=Richard |date=November 1, 1993 |title=River Phoenix Collapses, Dies; Actor Was 23 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |quote=Phoenix was described as the model of good health, clean living, and professional dedication—a cleaned-up '90s James Dean. He was known as a vegan, or ultra-vegetarian, who would not eat meat or dairy products or wear leather.}}</ref> His death was unexpected and elicited widespread media coverage.<ref>{{cite news| title=Autopsy Shatters Phoenix's Image| newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times| date=November 14, 1993| first=Christine| last=Spolar| quote=The image of actor River Phoenix as a quiet, clean-cut member of Hollywood's youth fraternity has been shattered by autopsy results that showed he died from a mix of cocaine and heroin.| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4216413198EF0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D}}{{dead link|date=September 2023}}</ref> Phoenix was described by one writer as "the vegan James Dean", and comparisons were made regarding the youth and sudden deaths of both actors.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rose |last=Rouse |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/where-were-you-when-river-phoenix-died-the-vegan-james-dean-is-being-mourned-by-teenagers-from-ilkley-to-bristol-says-rose-rouse-1502720.html |title=Where were you when River Phoenix died?: The vegan James Dean is being mourned by teenagers from Ilkley to Bristol | work=The Independent |date=November 7, 1993 |access-date=December 16, 2011 |location=London}}</ref>