Editing River Phoenix (section)

===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.