Editing River Phoenix (section)

==Acting career==
===1980–1985: Early work and acting background ===

Back in the United States, Arlyn began working as a secretary for an [[NBC]] broadcaster and John as an exteriors architect. Talent agent [[Iris Burton]] spotted River, Joaquin, and their sisters Summer and Rain singing for spare change in [[Westwood, Los Angeles]], and was so charmed by the family that she soon represented the four siblings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obituary: Iris Burton, Hollywood agent|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/obituary-iris-burton-hollywood-agent/2008/04/16/1208025282822.html|access-date=July 4, 2014|work=[[The Age]]|date=April 17, 2008|location=Melbourne}}</ref>

Phoenix started doing commercials for [[Mitsubishi]], [[Ocean Spray (cooperative)|Ocean Spray]] and [[Saks Fifth Avenue]], and soon afterward he and the other children were signed by [[Paramount Pictures]] casting director [[Penny Marshall]]. River and Rain were assigned immediately to a show called ''Real Kids'' as audience warm-up performers. In 1980, Phoenix began to fully pursue his career as an actor, making his first appearance on a TV show called ''Fantasy'' singing with his sister Rain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://river-phoenix.org/timeline/|title=Rio's Attic - Timeline of a Phoenix|website=river-phoenix.org|access-date=February 21, 2010|archive-date=February 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207112936/http://river-phoenix.org/timeline/|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2021}} In 1982, Phoenix was cast in the short-lived CBS television series ''[[Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (TV series)|Seven Brides for Seven Brothers]]'', in which he starred as youngest brother Guthrie McFadden. Phoenix arrived at the auditions with his guitar and promptly burst into a convincing [[Elvis Presley]] impersonation, charming the show producer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio's Attic - Phoenix TV |url=http://www.river-phoenix.org/tv/seven-brides/ |website=river-phoenix.org}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2021}} By this age, Phoenix was also an accomplished tap dancer.<ref name="The Independent"/>

Almost a year after ''Seven Brides'' ended in 1983, Phoenix found a new role in the 1984 television movie ''Celebrity'', in which he played the part of young Jeffie Crawford. Although only onscreen for about ten minutes, his character was central.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio's Attic - Phoenix TV |url=http://www.river-phoenix.org/tv/celebrity/ |website=river-phoenix.org}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2021}} Less than a month after ''Celebrity'' came the ''[[ABC Afterschool Special]]'': ''[[Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia]]''. Phoenix starred as a young boy who discovers he has [[dyslexia]]. Joaquin starred in a small role alongside his brother. In September, the pilot episode of short-lived TV series ''[[It's Your Move]]'' aired. Phoenix was cast as Brian and only had one line of dialogue. He also starred as [[Robert F. Kennedy|Robert Kennedy's]] son, [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]], in the TV movie ''[[Robert Kennedy and His Times]]''. After his role in ''Dyslexia'' was critically acclaimed, Phoenix was almost immediately cast in a major role in made-for-TV movie ''[[Surviving: A Family in Crisis]]''. He starred as Philip Brogan alongside [[Molly Ringwald]] and [[Heather O'Rourke]]. Halfway through the filming of ''Surviving'', Iris Burton contacted him about a possible role in the film ''[[Explorers (film)|Explorers]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio's Attic - Phoenix TV |url=http://www.river-phoenix.org/tv/surviving/ |website=river-phoenix.org}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2021}}

In October 1984, Phoenix secured the role of geeky boy-scientist Wolfgang Müller in [[Joe Dante]]'s big-budget science-fiction film ''[[Explorers (film)|Explorers]]'' alongside [[Ethan Hawke]], and production began soon after. Released in the summer of 1985, this was Phoenix's first major motion picture role. In October 1986, Phoenix co-starred alongside [[Tuesday Weld]] and [[Geraldine Fitzgerald]] in the acclaimed [[CBS]] television movie ''[[Circle of Violence: A Family Drama]]'', which told a story of domestic [[elder abuse]]. This was Phoenix's last television role before achieving film stardom.

===1986–1993: Breakthrough and final projects===
[[File:River Phoenix and Martha Plimpton.jpg|thumb|left|Phoenix and [[Martha Plimpton]] on the red carpet at the [[61st Academy Awards]] in 1989|upright=1]]

Phoenix had a significant role in [[Rob Reiner]]'s popular coming-of-age film ''[[Stand by Me (film)|Stand by Me]]'' (1986), which made him a household name at 16. Filming started on June 17, 1985, and ended in late August 1985, making Phoenix 14 for most (if not all) of the movie. ''[[The Washington Post]]'' opined that Phoenix gave the film its "centre of gravity".<ref name="The Independent"/> Phoenix commented: "The truth is, I identified so much with the role of Chris Chambers that if I hadn't had my family to go back to after the shoot, I'd have probably had to see a psychiatrist."<ref name=Tribune/> Later that year, Phoenix completed [[Peter Weir]]'s ''[[The Mosquito Coast (film)|The Mosquito Coast]]'' (1986), playing the son of [[Harrison Ford]] and [[Helen Mirren]]'s characters. "He was obviously going to be a movie star," observed Weir. "It's something apart from acting ability. [[Laurence Olivier]] never had what River had."<ref name="The Independent"/> During the five-month shoot in [[Belize]], Phoenix began a romance with co-star [[Martha Plimpton]], a relationship which continued in some form for many years.<ref name="The Independent"/> Phoenix was surprised by the poor reception for the film, feeling more secure about his work in it than he had in ''Stand by Me''.<ref name=Tribune/>

Phoenix was next cast as the lead in the teen comedy-drama ''[[A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon]]'' (1988), but was disappointed with his performance: "It didn't turn out the way I thought it would, and I put the blame on myself. I wanted to do a comedy, and it was definitely a stretch, but I'm not sure I was even the right person for the role."<ref name=Tribune>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-03-27-8803040033-story.html|title=The Rise of River Phoenix|first=Iain|last=Blair|website=Chicago Tribune |date=March 27, 1988 |access-date=July 22, 2013}}</ref> Also in 1988, Phoenix starred in ''[[Little Nikita]]'' alongside [[Sidney Poitier]]. During this time, the Phoenix family continued to move on a regular basis, relocating over forty times by the time Phoenix was 18. Phoenix purchased his family a ranch in [[Micanopy, Florida]], near [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]], in 1987, in addition to a spread in Costa Rica.<ref name=Esquire/>

[[File:River Phoenix.jpg|thumb|150px|Phoenix at the [[61st Academy Awards]]' Governor's Ball, March 1989]]

His sixth feature film was [[Sidney Lumet]]'s ''[[Running on Empty (1988 film)|Running on Empty]]'' (1988), for which the 18-year-old Phoenix received [[National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor]] and nominations for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Golden Globe Award]] and an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Academy Award]], becoming the [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Youngest nominees 4|sixth-youngest]] Academy Award nominee in the category.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Renfro|first=Kim|title=The 31 youngest Oscar nominees of all time|url=https://www.insider.com/youngest-oscar-nominees-2018-2|access-date=April 17, 2021|website=Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Evry|first=Max|title=The 25 Youngest Oscar Nominees of All Time|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/2802405/youngest-oscar-nominees-winners-of-all-time/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301024436/http://www.mtv.com/news/2802405/youngest-oscar-nominees-winners-of-all-time/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 1, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2021|website=MTV News}}</ref> Phoenix jumped to his feet during the ceremony when [[Kevin Kline]] beat him to the Oscar. "I had to stop River from running to hug Kevin," recalled his mother Arlyn. "It never crossed his mind that he hadn't won".<ref name=Esquire/> In 1989, he portrayed a young [[Indiana Jones (character)|Indiana Jones]] in the prologue of the box-office hit ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'', the third installment of the ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' franchise, directed by [[Steven Spielberg]] and starring Harrison Ford.

Phoenix was photographed by [[Bruce Weber (photographer)|Bruce Weber]] for ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'' and was spokesperson for a campaign for [[Gap Inc.|Gap]] in 1990. He starred with Kevin Kline, [[Tracey Ullman]], [[Joan Plowright]] and [[Keanu Reeves]] in the 1990 comedy film ''[[I Love You to Death]]''. Phoenix had met Reeves while Reeves was filming the 1989 film ''[[Parenthood (film)|Parenthood]]'' with Phoenix's brother, [[Joaquin Phoenix|Joaquin]], and girlfriend, [[Martha Plimpton]]; however, Phoenix had reportedly auditioned for Bill in Reeves' then-current film ''[[Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'' before the role was taken by [[Alex Winter]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_random_lists/bill-teds-excellent-adventure-movie-facts.php |title='Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' Movie Facts |newspaper=Pajiba |date=May 8, 2018 |access-date=March 13, 2019 |last1=Smith |first1=Jodi }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Kat |date=March 4, 2019 |title=Ten Things You Never Knew About 'Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure' |url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2019/03/04/ten-things-you-never-knew-about-bill-and-teds-excellent-adventure/ |access-date=March 13, 2019 |publisher=The Hollywood News}}</ref>

He co-starred with [[Lili Taylor]] in the acclaimed independent picture ''[[Dogfight (film)|Dogfight]]'' (1991), directed by [[Nancy Savoca]]. In the romantic coming-of-age drama set in San Francisco, Phoenix portrayed a young U.S. Marine on the night before he is shipped off to Vietnam in November 1963. Taylor remarked that Phoenix suffered because he could not distance himself from his character: "He also hadn't gotten into any [drugs]—he was just drinking then, too. It was different... That was actually a hard part for him, because it was so radically different from who he was. He was such a hippie, and here he was playing this marine. It actually caused him a lot of discomfort. I don't think he enjoyed that, actually, getting into that psyche."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/lili-taylor-1798219253 |title=Lili Taylor |newspaper=The A.V. Club |date=March 10, 2010 |access-date=April 19, 2022 |first=Kyle| last=Ryan}}</ref>

Phoenix reunited with Keanu Reeves to co-star in [[Gus Van Sant]]'s 1991 avant-garde film ''[[My Own Private Idaho]]''. In his review for ''[[Newsweek]]'', David Ansen praised Phoenix's performance as gay hustler [[Mikey Waters|Michael Waters]]: "The campfire scene in which Mike awkwardly declares his unrequited love for Scott is a marvel of delicacy. In this, and every scene, Phoenix immerses himself so deeply inside his character you almost forget you've seen him before: it's a stunningly sensitive performance, poignant and comic at once". He won the [[Volpi Cup for Best Actor]] at the [[1991 Venice Film Festival]]. In addition, the 21-year-old Phoenix received [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead]] and [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor]], becoming the second-youngest winner of the former.<ref name="Sharf"/> His critically acclaimed performance helped bring [[queer cinema]] to a mainstream audience. The film and its success solidified his image as an actor with edgy, leading man potential. In that period, Phoenix was beginning to use [[marijuana]], [[cocaine]] and [[heroin]] with some friends.<ref name="people"/><ref name="High Life">{{cite journal |last1=Schindehette |first1=Susan |last2=Stambler |first2=Lyndon |last3=Dodd |first3=Johnny |last4=Benet |first4=Lorenzo |last5=Stone |first5=Joanna |name-list-style=and |date=January 17, 1994 |title=High Life |url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-high-life-vol-41-no-2/ |journal=People |volume=41 |issue=2 |access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref>

Around this time, Phoenix was approached by [[George Lucas]] to reprise his role of a younger Indiana Jones for ''[[The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles]]'', a spin-off television series produced by the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] that served as a prequel to the ''Indiana Jones'' films. However, Phoenix declined to reprise the role due to having started his career in different sitcoms and struggled hard to get out from the television medium, not being willing to return to it. The role of a younger Indy was eventually filled by [[Corey Carrier]] and [[Sean Patrick Flannery]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theraider.net/films/young_indy/making_2_casting.php |title=The Making of ''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'' - Chapter 2: Casting |publisher=TheRaider.net |access-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116105011/http://www.theraider.net/films/young_indy/making_2_casting.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

He teamed up with [[Robert Redford]] and again with Sidney Poitier for the conspiracy/espionage thriller ''[[Sneakers (1992 film)|Sneakers]]'' (1992). A month later, he began production on [[Sam Shepard]]'s art-house ghost western ''[[Silent Tongue]]'' (which was released in 1994). He was beaten out for the role of Paul by [[Brad Pitt]] in ''[[A River Runs Through It (film)|A River Runs Through It]]''. Phoenix then starred in [[Peter Bogdanovich]]'s country music-themed film, ''[[The Thing Called Love]]'' (1993), the last completed picture before his death. He began a relationship with co-star [[Samantha Mathis]] on the set.

===Unreleased and unfilmed projects===
Phoenix's sudden death prevented him from playing various roles:
*Phoenix was due to begin work on [[Neil Jordan]]'s ''[[Interview with the Vampire (film)|Interview with the Vampire]]'' (1994) two weeks after his death.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/article_d2d2ee99-8e86-512d-999f-97e7e8955478.html |title=Brad Pitt says 'Interview with the Vampire' was a 'miserable' experience |date=September 24, 2011 |access-date=April 19, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]] |last=Scott |first=Mike}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=See the Cast of 'Interview with the Vampire' Then and Now |url=http://screencrush.com/interview-with-the-vampire-then-and-now/ |last=Hayes |first=Britt |date=January 12, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2018 |work=[[ScreenCrush]]}}</ref> He was to play the part of [[Daniel Molloy]], the interviewer, which then went to [[Christian Slater]],<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news|first=Ryan |last=Gilbey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/oct/24/1 |title=Ryan Gilbey on the legacy of River Phoenix|newspaper=The Guardian |date= November 5, 2003|access-date=December 16, 2011 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Chan |first=Vera H-C |date=September 15, 2011 |title=The Misery of Brad Pitt |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/misery-brad-pitt-235500314.html |access-date=December 16, 2011 |publisher=Yahoo! Movies}}</ref> who donated his entire $250,000 salary to two of Phoenix's favorite charitable organizations: Earth Save and Earth Trust.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 18, 1993 |title=Christian Slater |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Sb4fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QdgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4230,2278705&dq=christian+slater+river+phoenix+salary&hl=en |access-date=2025-02-11 |publisher=[[Gadsden Times]] |via=news.google.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news-article/slaters-mother-makes-emotional-appeal-to-press |title=Christian Slater – Slater's Mother Makes Emotional Appeal To Press |magazine=Contact Music |access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Lloyd Grove">{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/plea-christian-charity-article-1.649224 |title=Plea For Christian Charity |last=Grove, Lloyd |website=[[New York Daily News]] |date=December 1999 | access-date = February 7, 2015}}</ref> The film has a dedication to Phoenix after the end credits.
*''[[The Guardian]]'' suggested in 2003 "it was likely that Phoenix would have followed ''Interview with the Vampire'' by appearing as [[Susan Sarandon]]'s son in ''[[Safe Passage (film)|Safe Passage]]'' (1994), a role that went to [[Sean Astin]].<ref name=autogenerated1/> 
* Phoenix had signed onto the lead role in ''Broken Dreams'', a screenplay written by [[John Boorman]] and [[Neil Jordan]] (to be directed by Boorman), and co-starring [[Winona Ryder]]. The film was put on hold due to Phoenix's death. In June 2012, it was announced that [[Caleb Landry Jones]] had been cast in the role.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 22, 2012 |title=Caleb Landry Jones Leading John Boorman's Resurrected 'Broken Dream'; John Hurt Takes Supporting Role |url=http://thefilmstage.com/news/caleb-landry-jones-starring-in-john-boormans-resurrected-broken-dream-john-hurt-takes-supporting-role/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415011252/https://thefilmstage.com/news/caleb-landry-jones-starring-in-john-boormans-resurrected-broken-dream-john-hurt-takes-supporting-role/ |archive-date=April 15, 2019 |access-date=July 3, 2012 |website=thefilmstage.com}}</ref>
* [[Gus Van Sant]] had persuaded Phoenix to agree to play the role of [[Cleve Jones]] in ''[[Milk (2008 American film)|Milk]]'' when he was originally planning on making the movie in the early 1990s.<ref name=InterviewJF/> The role was eventually played by [[Emile Hirsch]] in 2008.
* When Gus Van Sant was asked in ''[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]'' magazine, "You were going to do a movie with River about [[Andy Warhol]], right?", he said, "Yeah. River kind of looked like Andy in his younger days. But that project never really went forward."<ref name="InterviewJF">{{cite magazine |date=<!-- line version undated --> |title=James Franco |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/topshop/james-franco-1/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822034750/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/topshop/james-franco-1/ |archive-date=August 22, 2010 |access-date=December 13, 2022 |magazine=Interview Magazine}} Only first of four pages archived; ''Milk'' comment appears on non-archived page.</ref>
*In 1988, Phoenix was reportedly carrying around a copy of the memoir ''[[The Basketball Diaries (book)|The Basketball Diaries]]'' (1978). He had heard a movie version was in the works and wanted to play the autobiographical role of [[Jim Carroll]]. The film was sent into hiatus on numerous occasions with Phoenix being cited as the main contender for the role each time. ''[[The Basketball Diaries (film)|The Basketball Diaries]]'' (1995) was made with 19-year-old [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] in the lead.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 5, 2016|title=7 Movies That Might Have Starred River Phoenix|url=https://www.goliath.com/movies/7-movies-that-might-have-starred-river-phoenix/|access-date=April 30, 2021|website=Goliath|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117123529/https://www.goliath.com/movies/7-movies-that-might-have-starred-river-phoenix/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*He had expressed interest in playing the 19th-century poet [[Arthur Rimbaud]] in ''[[Total Eclipse (film)|Total Eclipse]]'' (1995) by Polish director [[Agnieszka Holland]].<ref name=autogenerated1/> Phoenix died before the movie was cast, with the role eventually going to Leonardo DiCaprio.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/11121170/Leonardo-DiCaprio-in-pictures.html?frame=3051381 |title=Total Eclipse (1996) - Leonardo DiCaprio: his career in pictures |access-date=February 11, 2020 |newspaper=[[Telegraph (newspaper)|Telegraph]]}}</ref>
*Phoenix was [[James Cameron]]'s original choice to play Jack Dawson in ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' (1997), with the role ultimately going to Leonardo DiCaprio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2494354/actors-who-couldve-been-cast-in-titanic|title=12 Actors Who Could've Been Cast In Titanic|last=Ashton|first=Will|date=September 15, 2022|website=CinemaBlend|publisher=[[Future plc]]|access-date=December 13, 2022|quote=James Cameron had originally considered River Phoenix for the role, but the young actor tragically passed away before he could be asked to play the leading man part.}}</ref>
*[[Comic book]] writer [[Lee Marrs]] claimed in a 2023 interview with the IndyCast podcast that [[Lucasfilm Ltd.]] considered for a while to make a continuation to the ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' film series starring Phoenix as a younger Indy, being this the primary reason for which [[Dark Horse Comics]] hoped to keep running their [[Indiana Jones (comics)|''Indiana Jones'' comic book line]]. Phoenix's death in 1993 put an end to this option and Dark Horse cancelled their line a few years later, stopping the development of any ''Indiana Jones'' films until ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]'' (2008).<ref>{{Cite podcast |url=https://www.theindycast.com/indycast-episode-330/ |title=Indycast: Episode 330 |website=IndyCast |publisher=IndyCast |date=February 20, 2023 |time= |access-date=April 29, 2023 |last=Dolista |first=Ed}}</ref> ''Last Crusade'' actor [[Richard Young (actor)|Richard Young]] previously claimed in 2018 that there were talks about him and Phoenix doing a prequel movie together about Phoenix's younger Indy and Young's Fedora.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indymag issue 14 - interview with Junior Jones - March 2018|url=https://issuu.com/indymag/docs/indymag_14_-_march_2018_-_print|website=Isssu|date=March 30, 2018 |access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>