Oct. 31, 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of River Phoenix’s untimely death.
The actor was just 23 when he died outside the Viper Room in West Hollywood due to a drug overdose on Oct. 31, 1993, but made his mark on the world after starring in beloved filmsStand By Me(1986),Running on Empty(1988) andMy Own Private Idaho(1991). His final film,Dark Blood, was completed in 2012.
In Phoenix’s honor, we’re taking a look back at his quick rise to fame and the best work of the gone, but never forgotten star.
An Unusual Childhood
Phoenix was born on August 23, 1970 in Madras, Oregon. His family moved around a bit when Phoenix was a child, living in places such as Texas, Mexico, and Venezuela as missionaries for the religious movement, the Children of God.
It was in Venezuela that River and his sister Rain formed a singing duet to help make ends meet. Sometimes they performed in talent shows and sometimes, asRiver recounted to PEOPLE in 1986, “at airports and in front of hotels—ya know, to eat.”
The family eventually parted ways with Children of God and returned to the United States in 1977.
“We were flower children,” Phoenix’s father, John,told PEOPLE in that same profile. “We were full of faith and we loved everybody. I think the kids have learned that. I don’t think there is any prejudice in their bones.”
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An Early Rise to Fame
By the time the family reached California, River was beginning to evince some acting ability. Some of his first pieces of work included a few commercials and a role on the shorted lived television seriesSeven Bridges for Seven Brothersin 1982. Phoenix made his film debut in 1985’sExplorersalongside Ethan Hawke but his breakout role came in 1986 withStand By Me, a film adapted from a Stephen King novel, where he played one of four friends who set out to find the body of a local missing boy.
Rob Reiner, the film’s director,gushed to PEOPLE in 1986of the actor’s “tremendous warmth.” “He’s obviously been loved quite a bit,” said Reiner. “His parents have somehow managed to maintain what was pure and good about the ’60s morality and make it work. When kids are talented and become successful, you never know if they’re going to make the right judgments. Knowing his family, I give River a good shot.”
An Oscar Nomination and a Blockbuster Role
Two years after his role inStand By Me, Phoenix received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Danny Pope in 1988’sRunning on Empty. He continued to make his impact on Hollywood with roles such as a young Indiana Jones in 1989’s box office hitIndiana Jones and the Last Crusadeand as Carl in 1992’s star-studded featureSneakers.
His Other Passions
In addition to acting, two of Phoenix’sbiggest passions were activism and music. He was a vegetarian from the age of 8 and also supported various organizations such asEarth SaveandEarth Trust. With his sister Rain, he formed and performed in a band called Aleka’s Attic. In 1993’s musical dramaThe Thing Called Love, he got to combine two of his passions playing an aspiring singer.
His Untimely Death
In the early morning hours on Oct. 31, 1993, tragedy struck when Phoenix died of a drug overdose after he collapsed on the sidewalk outside of the Viper Room in Los Angeles. Those present at the scene included his younger brother, Joaquin, and girlfriend, Samantha Mathis.
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His role inInterview With a Vampirewas ultimately never filmed. It went to Christian Slater in the end.
Remembrances
On the 20th anniversary of Phoenix’s death in 2013, a fewfriends and colleagues reminiscedto PEOPLE about some of their favorite memories of the actor.
William Richert, director of 1988’sA Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, called Phoenix “a risk-taker, a guy who constantly astonished you.”
Peter Boganovich, his director on 1993’sThe Thing Called Lovecalled Phoenix “a very sweet, Huckleberry Finn kind of kid.”
Judd Hirsch, the actor’s costar inRunning on Emptyagonized over his passing, saying, “I was witness to the greatness of a personality that never fully got to flourish. I will never see him play Hamlet, and he would have been one of the great ones. I wanted to see him do the most emotional work out there, and it still pains me that I never will.”
His Lasting Impact
Several years after his death, Phoenix still is making an impact. In 2012, Phoenix’s final film,Dark Blood, was finally completed (he filmed about 80 percent before his death). Also, in 2015 the whole Phoenix family united at PETA’s 35th anniversary party to present the first everRiver Phoenix Humanitarian Award.
source: people.com
