River Phoenix
Biography
River Jude Phoenix was an American actor, musician, and activist born on August 23, 1970, in Metolius, Oregon. He grew up in an itinerant family as the oldest brother to Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix, and he had no formal schooling. He showed an instinctive talent for the guitar and played and sang on the streets for money. Phoenix began his acting career at age ten in a handful of television commercials. He starred in the science fiction adventure film Explorers in 1985 and achieved his breakthrough role in the 1986 coming-of-age film Stand by Me, which was based on the novella The Body by Stephen King. Later, he made a transition into more adult-oriented roles. Phoenix died on October 31, 1993.
Career overview
River Jude Phoenix was an American actor, musician, and activist who was born on August 23, 1970, and died on October 31, 1993. Growing up in an itinerant family as the oldest brother to Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix, he had no formal schooling. He showed an instinctive talent for the guitar and played and sang on the streets for money before beginning his acting career at age ten in a handful of television commercials.
Phoenix starred in the 1985 science fiction adventure film Explorers. He achieved his breakthrough role in the 1986 coming-of-age film Stand by Me, which was based on the novella The Body by Stephen King. Following these early appearances, Phoenix later made a transition into more adult-oriented roles.
According to archival data from the Movie Database, Phoenix amassed 39 known acting credits during his career. He passed away at the age of 23 in Metolius, Oregon.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Joaquin Phoenix: An Actor of Extremes (2024) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Showbiz Kids (2020) as Self
- Too Young to Die (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- My Own Private River (2012) as Michael "Mike" Waters (archive footage)
- Dark Blood (2012) as Boy
- Final 24: River Phoenix (2006) as Self (archive footage)
- The Phoenix Portal (2005) as Wolfgang Müller / Michael "Mike" Waters (archive footage)
- Indiana Jones: Making the Trilogy (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- The Making of ‘Sneakers’ (2003) as Self
- 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Walking the Tracks: The Summer of Stand by Me (2000) as Self (archive footage)
- This Road Will Never End (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- Interview with the Vampire (1994) In Memory Of
- Truth or Dairy (1994) as Self (archive footage)
- Silent Tongue (1994) as Talbot Roe
- The Thing Called Love (1993) as James Wright
- Sneakers (1992) as Carl
- Flea Master Session (1992) as Self
- My Own Private Idaho (1991) as Mike Waters
- Evolution's End? (1991) as Self
- Dogfight (1991) as Eddie Birdlace
- I Love You to Death (1990) as Devo Nod
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) as Young Indy
- Running on Empty (1988) as Danny Pope
- Little Nikita (1988) as Jeff Grant
- A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988) as Jimmy Reardon
- Stand by Me (1986) as Chris Chambers
- The Mosquito Coast (1986) as Charlie Fox
- Circle of Violence: A Family Drama (1986) as Chris Benfield
- Explorers (1985) as Wolfgang Müller
- Robert Kennedy & His Times (1985) as Robert Kennedy Jr.
- Surviving (1985) as Philip Brogan
- It's Your Move (1984) as Brian
- Celebrity (1984) as Young Jeffie Crawford
- Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984) as Brian Ellsworth
- Family Ties (1982) as Eugene Forbes
- Hotel (1982)
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) as Guthrie McFadden