Joaquin Phoenix
Encyclopedia
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an American film actor. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico
, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later. Phoenix is from a family of performers, including his older brother, the late River Phoenix
.
Phoenix has ventured behind the camera, directing music videos as well as producing movies and television shows, and has recorded an album, the soundtrack
to Walk the Line
. He is also known for his work as a social activist, particularly as an advocate for animal rights.
, Puerto Rico
, to American parents. He is the third of five children, including River
(1970–1993), Rain
(1972), Liberty (1976), and Summer
(1978). He also has a half-sister named Jodean (1964) from his father's first marriage.
His father, John Lee Bottom, was a lapsed Catholic
from Fontana, California
. His mother, Arlyn
(née Dunetz), was born in the Bronx, New York to Jewish parents whose families emigrated from Russia
and Hungary
. In 1968, Arlyn left her family and moved to California
, later meeting Phoenix's father while hitch-hiking. They married in 1969, then later joined the religious cult the Children of God. They began travelling throughout South America
.
His parents eventually became disenchanted with the Children of God; they made the decision to leave the cult and returned to the U.S. in 1978. They changed their last name to "Phoenix" to symbolize a new beginning. This was also around the time Joaquin had begun calling himself "Leaf", desiring to have a similar nature-related name like his siblings (he was inspired by spending time outdoors raking leaves with his father). This is the name he would use as a child actor; at fifteen, he changed it back to 'Joaquin'.
In order to provide food and financial support for the family, the children performed on the streets and at various talent contests, singing and playing instruments. In Los Angeles his mother started working as a secretary for NBC
, and his father worked as a landscaper. Phoenix and his siblings were eventually discovered by one of Hollywood's leading children's agents, Iris Burton
, who got the five children acting work, mainly doing commercials and television show appearances. Joaquin went on to establish himself a child actor before deciding to withdraw from acting for a while and travel to Mexico
and South America
with his father.
Phoenix came back into public view under tragic circumstances: on October 31, 1993, his brother, River Phoenix
, suffered a drug overdose and died, outside the famed Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room
, which was co-owned by Johnny Depp
at the time. Joaquin's call to 911
to save his brother was recorded and repeatedly played over the airwaves and on television. The sudden media intrusion into his life proved to be overwhelming; once again, he retreated from the public eye. A year later, at the insistence of his friends, Phoenix reluctantly re-entered the world of acting.
(1982), and Backwards: The Riddle Of Dyslexia
(1984) as well as an episode in the first season of Murder, She Wrote (We're Off to Kill the Wizard) on his own. In 1985, he appeared with JoBeth Williams
in the CBS
television movie Kids Don't Tell. He made his big-screen debut in Space Camp
(1986), playing the role of Max, after starring in an Alfred Hitchcock Presents
episode "A very happy ending" the same year. His first starring role was in Russkies
(1987). He later co-starred in Ron Howard
's Parenthood (1989), in which he was credited as Leaf Phoenix.
During the comeback portion of his career, Phoenix went back to his birth-given name "Joaquin", and was often cast in supporting roles as conflicted, insecure characters with a dark side. He has earned positive reviews for his portrayals of various individuals: a troubled teen in Gus Van Sant
's To Die For
(1995) co-starring with Nicole Kidman
, a small-town troublemaker in Oliver Stone
's U Turn, Inventing the Abbotts
(1997), the cruel Roman
emperor Commodus
in Ridley Scott
's Gladiator (2000) (for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
), a conflicted priest in Quills
(2000), a washed-up baseball player in M. Night Shyamalan
's Signs
(2002), the irresolute husband of a superstar-skater in the widely panned It's All About Love in 2003, a lovestruck farmer in Shyamalan's The Village (2004), a disillusioned cameraman in Terry George
's Hotel Rwanda
(2004), and heroic firefighter in Ladder 49
(2004).
Upon being cast as Johnny Cash
in Walk the Line
after Cash himself approved, Phoenix responded by buying a guitar and learning how to play. Reese Witherspoon
, who portrayed June Carter Cash
in the film and won a Best Actress Oscar
for her performance, stated during an interview that when they first performed in-character before a live audience, she was so impressed with his impersonation that she knew she "had to step it up a notch". All of Cash and Carter's vocal tracks in the movie and on the accompanying soundtrack are played and sung by Phoenix and Witherspoon. In 2006, he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar
, and won a Golden Globe in the same category.
In 2006, Phoenix was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
.
Phoenix's film, I'm Still Here
, debuted at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010.
Phoenix will make his return to acting in the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson
film The Master
.
, She Wants Revenge
, People in Planes
, Arckid
, Albert Hammond Jr., and Silversun Pickups
.
, a half-hour series which showcase celebrity guests on global adventures "in order to connect with young leaders who are creating social and economic change." He is also listed as a producer on the movie We Own the Night
.
, The Art of Elysium, HEART, The Peace Alliance (an organization which campaigns for a United States Department of Peace),. Phoenix is also on the board of directors for The Lunchbox Fund
, a non-profit organization which provides daily meals to students of township schools in Soweto
of South Africa
.
He is a member of P.E.T.A. and the organization In Defense of Animals
, and has actively campaigned on their behalf. He narrated the film Earthlings
for Nation Earth, a video about the investigation of animal abuse in factory farms, pet mills, in industry and research. In 2005, he was awarded the "Humanitarian Award" at the San Diego Film Festival for his work and contribution to Earthlings
.
In 2005, he participated in the documentary I'm Still Here: Real Diaries of Young People Who Lived During the Holocaust.
. While Herzog helped Phoenix out of the wreckage by breaking the back window of the car, bystanders phoned in an ambulance. Phoenix approached Herzog to express gratitude, but Herzog downplayed his heroism and returned to his home nearby.
would be his last film. On February 11, 2009, Phoenix appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman
to promote Two Lovers. He seemed incoherent and was largely unresponsive towards David Letterman
's questions about the film and his career plans. Phoenix appeared on Late Show again on September 22, 2010 and claimed that his "retirement" and eccentric behavior were for a mockumentary
, I'm Still Here
(2010), that he and Casey Affleck
were filming.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later. Phoenix is from a family of performers, including his older brother, the late River Phoenix
River Phoenix
River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials...
.
Phoenix has ventured behind the camera, directing music videos as well as producing movies and television shows, and has recorded an album, the soundtrack
Walk the Line (soundtrack)
Walk the Line is a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack from the movie Walk the Line released November 15, 2005 by Wind-Up Records. There are nine songs performed by Joaquin Phoenix, four songs by Reese Witherspoon, one song by Waylon Payne, one song by Johnathan Rice, two songs by Tyler Hilton, and...
to Walk the Line
Walk the Line
Walk the Line is a 2005 American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and based on the early life and career of country music artist Johnny Cash...
. He is also known for his work as a social activist, particularly as an advocate for animal rights.
Family background and early life
Phoenix was born Joaquín Rafael Bottom in Río Piedras, located in the city of San JuanSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, to American parents. He is the third of five children, including River
River Phoenix
River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials...
(1970–1993), Rain
Rain Phoenix
Rain Phoenix is an American actress, musician, and singer. Phoenix has four siblings: two brothers, actors Joaquin and the late River Phoenix, and two sisters, Summer and Liberty.-Early life:...
(1972), Liberty (1976), and Summer
Summer Phoenix
Summer Joy Phoenix is an American actress and model. She is the youngest sibling of the late River Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, and Liberty Phoenix, and is married to actor Casey Affleck.-Early life:...
(1978). He also has a half-sister named Jodean (1964) from his father's first marriage.
His father, John Lee Bottom, was a lapsed Catholic
Lapsed Catholic
A lapsed Catholic is a person who has ceased practicing the Catholic faith, in the sense of attending Mass. Such a person may still identify as a Catholic.-"Lapsed Catholic" and "ex-Catholic":...
from Fontana, California
Fontana, California
Fontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
. His mother, Arlyn
Arlyn Phoenix
Arlyn Sharon Phoenix , commonly known as Heart Phoenix, is the mother of actors River Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix, and Summer Phoenix. She is on the Board of Directors of , an organization which supports the creation of a United States Department of Peace.-Biography:She...
(née Dunetz), was born in the Bronx, New York to Jewish parents whose families emigrated from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. In 1968, Arlyn left her family and moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, later meeting Phoenix's father while hitch-hiking. They married in 1969, then later joined the religious cult the Children of God. They began travelling throughout South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
His parents eventually became disenchanted with the Children of God; they made the decision to leave the cult and returned to the U.S. in 1978. They changed their last name to "Phoenix" to symbolize a new beginning. This was also around the time Joaquin had begun calling himself "Leaf", desiring to have a similar nature-related name like his siblings (he was inspired by spending time outdoors raking leaves with his father). This is the name he would use as a child actor; at fifteen, he changed it back to 'Joaquin'.
In order to provide food and financial support for the family, the children performed on the streets and at various talent contests, singing and playing instruments. In Los Angeles his mother started working as a secretary for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, and his father worked as a landscaper. Phoenix and his siblings were eventually discovered by one of Hollywood's leading children's agents, Iris Burton
Iris Burton
Iris Burton was an American talent agent and dancer, who discovered and represented many famous child actors during her career.-Personal life and early career:...
, who got the five children acting work, mainly doing commercials and television show appearances. Joaquin went on to establish himself a child actor before deciding to withdraw from acting for a while and travel to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
with his father.
Phoenix came back into public view under tragic circumstances: on October 31, 1993, his brother, River Phoenix
River Phoenix
River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials...
, suffered a drug overdose and died, outside the famed Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room
Viper Room
The Viper Room is a nightclub located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. It was opened in 1993 and was partly owned by actor Johnny Depp until 2004. The club became known for being a hangout of Hollywood elite, and was the site where actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose on...
, which was co-owned by Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
at the time. Joaquin's call to 911
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
to save his brother was recorded and repeatedly played over the airwaves and on television. The sudden media intrusion into his life proved to be overwhelming; once again, he retreated from the public eye. A year later, at the insistence of his friends, Phoenix reluctantly re-entered the world of acting.
Acting
Phoenix's first acting jobs were guest appearances on two television shows with his brother River in Seven Brides for Seven BrothersSeven Brides for Seven Brothers (TV series)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is an American musical television series loosely based on the film, which ran on CBS from September 19, 1982 to March 23, 1983.-Synopsis:...
(1982), and Backwards: The Riddle Of Dyslexia
Backwards: The Riddle Of Dyslexia
Backwards: The Riddle Of Dyslexia is a 1984 ABC Afterschool Special about dyslexia. It stars 13 year old River Phoenix in "one of his first major roles" as Brian Ellsworth. Joaquin Phoenix also stars as his younger brother Robby. According to allmovie, Brian Ellsworth is a junior high student "who...
(1984) as well as an episode in the first season of Murder, She Wrote (We're Off to Kill the Wizard) on his own. In 1985, he appeared with JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams is an American film and television actress and director, and current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.-Early life:...
in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television movie Kids Don't Tell. He made his big-screen debut in Space Camp
SpaceCamp
SpaceCamp is a 1986 American film based on a book by Patrick Bailey and Larry B. Williams and inspired by the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Directed by Harry Winer from a screenplay by Clifford Green and Casey T. Mitchell, the film stars Kate Capshaw, Kelly Preston, Larry B...
(1986), playing the role of Max, after starring in an Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
episode "A very happy ending" the same year. His first starring role was in Russkies
Russkies
Russkies is a 1987 film starring Whip Hubley and Joaquin Phoenix . It was directed by Rick Rosenthal, with cinematography by Reed Smoot...
(1987). He later co-starred in Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
's Parenthood (1989), in which he was credited as Leaf Phoenix.
During the comeback portion of his career, Phoenix went back to his birth-given name "Joaquin", and was often cast in supporting roles as conflicted, insecure characters with a dark side. He has earned positive reviews for his portrayals of various individuals: a troubled teen in Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
's To Die For
To Die For
To Die For is a 1995 dark comedy film, made in a mockumentary format, directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Buck Henry, based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Maynard, which in turn was based on the Pamela Smart story. It stars Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, and Joaquin Phoenix...
(1995) co-starring with Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
, a small-town troublemaker in Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
's U Turn, Inventing the Abbotts
Inventing the Abbotts
Inventing the Abbotts is a 1997 romance film directed by Pat O'Connor, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Crudup, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Connelly, and Michael Keaton. The screenplay by Ken Hixon is based on a short story by Sue Miller. The original music score is composed by Michael Kamen...
(1997), the cruel Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
emperor Commodus
Commodus
Commodus , was Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. He also ruled as co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. His name changed throughout his reign; see changes of name for earlier and later forms. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded...
in Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
's Gladiator (2000) (for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
), a conflicted priest in Quills
Quills
Quills is a 2000 period film directed by Philip Kaufman and adapted from the Obie award-winning play by Doug Wright, who also wrote the original screenplay. Inspired by the life and work of the Marquis de Sade, Quills re-imagines the last years of the Marquis' incarceration in the insane asylum at...
(2000), a washed-up baseball player in M. Night Shyamalan
M. Night Shyamalan
Manoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan,known professionally as M. Night Shyamalan, is an Indian-born American screenwriter, film director, and producer known for making movies with contemporary supernatural plots that climax with a twist ending. He is also known for filming his movies in and around...
's Signs
Signs (film)
Signs is a 2002 American science fiction horror film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It was adapted from a screenplay also written by Shyamalan. Executive producers for the film comprised Shyamalan, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Sam Mercer. The story focuses on a former preacher named Graham...
(2002), the irresolute husband of a superstar-skater in the widely panned It's All About Love in 2003, a lovestruck farmer in Shyamalan's The Village (2004), a disillusioned cameraman in Terry George
Terry George
Terry George is an Irish screenwriter and director. Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland much of his film work involves the Troubles in Northern Ireland...
's Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda is a 2004 American drama film directed by Terry George. It was adapted from a screenplay written by both George and Keir Pearson. Based on real life events which took place in Rwanda during the spring of 1994, the film stars Don Cheadle as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, who attempts to...
(2004), and heroic firefighter in Ladder 49
Ladder 49
Ladder 49 is a 2004 film about the heroics of a Baltimore fireman Jack Morrison, who is trapped inside a warehouse fire and his recollection of the events that got him to that point. The movie is a celebration of the firefighting profession and the life that comes with it...
(2004).
Upon being cast as Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
in Walk the Line
Walk the Line
Walk the Line is a 2005 American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and based on the early life and career of country music artist Johnny Cash...
after Cash himself approved, Phoenix responded by buying a guitar and learning how to play. Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower...
, who portrayed June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash
Valerie June Carter Cash was an American singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedienne and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash...
in the film and won a Best Actress Oscar
Academy Award for Best Actress
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
for her performance, stated during an interview that when they first performed in-character before a live audience, she was so impressed with his impersonation that she knew she "had to step it up a notch". All of Cash and Carter's vocal tracks in the movie and on the accompanying soundtrack are played and sung by Phoenix and Witherspoon. In 2006, he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar
Academy Award for Best Actor
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
, and won a Golden Globe in the same category.
In 2006, Phoenix was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
.
Phoenix's film, I'm Still Here
I'm Still Here (film)
I'm Still Here is a 2010 mockumentary film directed by Casey Affleck, and written by Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix. The film purports to follow the life of Phoenix, from the announcement of his retirement from acting, through his transition into a career as a hip hop artist. Filming officially began...
, debuted at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010.
Phoenix will make his return to acting in the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He has written and directed five feature films: Hard Eight , Boogie Nights , Magnolia , Punch-Drunk Love and There Will Be Blood...
film The Master
The Master (2012 film)
The Master is an upcoming drama film written, directed and co-produced by Paul Thomas Anderson. It was given the green-light in May 2011, and began filming in June. The film will star Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Laura Dern...
.
Directing
He has directed music videos for the following bands: RingsideRingside
Ringside is an indie rock band from Hollywood, California, originally formed in Los Angeles. They specializing in fusing indie rock with electronic beats. The band consists of Scott Thomas, who does the vocals, guitar, and keyboard, Kirk Hellie , Sandy Chila , Max Allyn , and actor Balthazar Getty...
, She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge is an American musical duo, based in San Fernando Valley, California. The group's debut album She Wants Revenge was released in early 2006, with three singles to follow...
, People in Planes
People in Planes
People in Planes are a five piece Indie rock band from Cardiff, Wales. They are signed to Wind-up Records. Prior to 2003 they were known as Tetra Splendour and before that they went by the name of Robots in the Sky...
, Arckid
Arckid
ARCKID was formed mainly of former members of Spacehog, a rock band from the 1990s and 2000s, heavily influenced by David Bowie, Queen and T. Rex...
, Albert Hammond Jr., and Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band comprises Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Christopher Guanlao, and Joe Lester....
.
Producing
Phoenix served as one of the executive producers of a television show called 4Real4Real
4REAL is a series of half-hour episodes hosted by sol Guy as he travels to remote locations with celebrity guests to connect with young leaders who, under extreme circumstances, are affecting real change on some of the most pressing issues of our time.Celebrity guests...
, a half-hour series which showcase celebrity guests on global adventures "in order to connect with young leaders who are creating social and economic change." He is also listed as a producer on the movie We Own the Night
We Own the Night
We Own the Night is a 2007 American crime drama film written and directed by James Gray and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes and Robert Duvall. It is the third film directed by Gray, and the second film to feature Phoenix and Wahlberg together, the first being The Yards...
.
Social initiatives
Phoenix has long been a social activist, lending his support to a number of charities and humanitarian organizations, notably Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, The Art of Elysium, HEART, The Peace Alliance (an organization which campaigns for a United States Department of Peace),. Phoenix is also on the board of directors for The Lunchbox Fund
The Lunchbox Fund
The Lunchbox Fund, founded in 2005, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a daily meal for extremely poor and at-risk students in South African town ship high schools. The daily meal boosts the children’s nutrition and ability to learn...
, a non-profit organization which provides daily meals to students of township schools in Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
He is a member of P.E.T.A. and the organization In Defense of Animals
In Defense of Animals
In Defense of Animals is an animal rights organization founded in 1983 in San Rafael, California, USA. It has 60,000 members and an annual budget of $650,000. The group's slogan is "working to protect the rights, welfare, and habitats of animals"....
, and has actively campaigned on their behalf. He narrated the film Earthlings
Earthlings (documentary)
EARTHLINGS is a 2005 movie about humanity's use of animals as pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and for scientific research. The film is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix features music by Moby, directed by Shaun Monson and co-produced by Maggie Q, all of whom are practicing vegans.-Synopsis:Covering...
for Nation Earth, a video about the investigation of animal abuse in factory farms, pet mills, in industry and research. In 2005, he was awarded the "Humanitarian Award" at the San Diego Film Festival for his work and contribution to Earthlings
Earthlings (documentary)
EARTHLINGS is a 2005 movie about humanity's use of animals as pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and for scientific research. The film is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix features music by Moby, directed by Shaun Monson and co-produced by Maggie Q, all of whom are practicing vegans.-Synopsis:Covering...
.
In 2005, he participated in the documentary I'm Still Here: Real Diaries of Young People Who Lived During the Holocaust.
Personal life
Phoenix checked into rehab to be treated for alcoholism in early April 2005. On January 26, 2006, while driving down a winding canyon road in Hollywood, Phoenix ran off the road and rolled his car. The crash reportedly was caused by brake failure. Shaken and confused, Phoenix heard a tapping on his window and a voice say, "Just relax." Unable to see the man, Phoenix replied, "I'm fine. I am relaxed." The man replied, "No, you're not," and stopped Phoenix from lighting a cigarette while gas was leaking into the car cabin. Phoenix then realized that the man was famed German film director Werner HerzogWerner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
. While Herzog helped Phoenix out of the wreckage by breaking the back window of the car, bystanders phoned in an ambulance. Phoenix approached Herzog to express gratitude, but Herzog downplayed his heroism and returned to his home nearby.
Music career hoax
Phoenix unexpectedly announced in late 2008 that he had retired from acting to pursue a rapping career, and that the forthcoming Two LoversTwo Lovers (film)
Two Lovers is a 2008 American romantic drama film, taking its inspiration from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's short story "White Nights". which was already turned into a film by Luchino Visconti: Le Notti Bianche. The movie is directed by James Gray and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Vinessa...
would be his last film. On February 11, 2009, Phoenix appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
to promote Two Lovers. He seemed incoherent and was largely unresponsive towards David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
's questions about the film and his career plans. Phoenix appeared on Late Show again on September 22, 2010 and claimed that his "retirement" and eccentric behavior were for a mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
, I'm Still Here
I'm Still Here (film)
I'm Still Here is a 2010 mockumentary film directed by Casey Affleck, and written by Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix. The film purports to follow the life of Phoenix, from the announcement of his retirement from acting, through his transition into a career as a hip hop artist. Filming officially began...
(2010), that he and Casey Affleck
Casey Affleck
Caleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt , better known as Casey Affleck, is an American actor and film director. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he played supporting roles in mainstream hits like Good Will Hunting and Ocean's Eleven as well as in critically acclaimed independent films such as...
were filming.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia Backwards: The Riddle Of Dyslexia Backwards: The Riddle Of Dyslexia is a 1984 ABC Afterschool Special about dyslexia. It stars 13 year old River Phoenix in "one of his first major roles" as Brian Ellsworth. Joaquin Phoenix also stars as his younger brother Robby. According to allmovie, Brian Ellsworth is a junior high student "who... |
Robby Ellsworth | Nominated — Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Family Film Made for Television Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist... shared with River Phoenix River Phoenix River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials... As Leaf Phoenix |
| 1985 | Kid's Don't Tell | Frankie | |
| 1986 | SpaceCamp SpaceCamp SpaceCamp is a 1986 American film based on a book by Patrick Bailey and Larry B. Williams and inspired by the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Directed by Harry Winer from a screenplay by Clifford Green and Casey T. Mitchell, the film stars Kate Capshaw, Kelly Preston, Larry B... |
Max | As Leaf Phoenix |
| 1987 | Russkies Russkies Russkies is a 1987 film starring Whip Hubley and Joaquin Phoenix . It was directed by Rick Rosenthal, with cinematography by Reed Smoot... |
Danny | As Leaf Phoenix |
| 1989 | Parenthood | Garry Buckman | Nominated — Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist... as Leaf Phoenix |
| 1995 | To Die For To Die For To Die For is a 1995 dark comedy film, made in a mockumentary format, directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Buck Henry, based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Maynard, which in turn was based on the Pamela Smart story. It stars Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, and Joaquin Phoenix... |
Jimmy Emmett | Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor The Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award given by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film to the actor or actors whose winning performance is voted by participating members. The Chlotrudis Awards is an annual ceremony where the best of the previous year's independent and... |
| 1997 | U Turn | Toby N. Tucker a.k.a. TNT | |
| Inventing the Abbotts Inventing the Abbotts Inventing the Abbotts is a 1997 romance film directed by Pat O'Connor, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Crudup, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Connelly, and Michael Keaton. The screenplay by Ken Hixon is based on a short story by Sue Miller. The original music score is composed by Michael Kamen... |
Doug Holt | ||
| 1998 | 8mm 8mm (film) 8mm is a 1999 mystery/thriller film, directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. It stars Nicolas Cage as a private investigator who delves into the world of snuff films.-Plot:... |
Max California | |
| Clay Pigeons Clay Pigeons Clay Pigeons is a 1998 German/American crime-comedy film written by Matt Healy and directed by David Dobkin. It stars Joaquin Phoenix as Clay Bidwell, Vince Vaughn as Lester Long, and Janeane Garofalo as Agent Shelby.-Plot:... |
Clay Bidwell | ||
| Return to Paradise | Lewis McBride | Nominated — Csapnivalo Award for Best Male Performance | |
| 2000 | The Yards The Yards The Yards is a 2000 American crime film with Mark Wahlberg, James Caan, Joaquin Phoenix, and Charlize Theron, written and directed by James Gray... |
Willie Gutierrez | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor The National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the annual film awards given by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.- 1950s :- 1960s :- 1970s :- 1980s :-1990s:- 2000s :-2010s:... San Diego Film Critics Society - Body of Work Award San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2000 The 5th San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, given by the San Diego Film Critics Society on December 20, 2000, honored the best in film for 2000.-Winners:*Best Actor:**Russell Crowe - Gladiator*Best Actress :... |
| Quills Quills Quills is a 2000 period film directed by Philip Kaufman and adapted from the Obie award-winning play by Doug Wright, who also wrote the original screenplay. Inspired by the life and work of the Marquis de Sade, Quills re-imagines the last years of the Marquis' incarceration in the insane asylum at... |
Abbé de Coulmier Abbé de Coulmier François Simonet de Coulmier was a French Catholic priest and abbot, and the director of the Charenton insane asylum in France in the early 19th century... |
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor The National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the annual film awards given by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.- 1950s :- 1960s :- 1970s :- 1980s :-1990s:- 2000s :-2010s:... San Diego Film Critics Society - Body of Work Award San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2000 The 5th San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, given by the San Diego Film Critics Society on December 20, 2000, honored the best in film for 2000.-Winners:*Best Actor:**Russell Crowe - Gladiator*Best Actress :... Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor The Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award given by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film to the actor or actors whose winning performance is voted by participating members. The Chlotrudis Awards is an annual ceremony where the best of the previous year's independent and... Nominated — Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Las Vegas Film Critics Society The Las Vegas Film Critics Society is a non-profit organization, composed of selected print, television and internet film critics in the Las Vegas metropolitan area.... Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor The Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award given by the Phoenix Film Critics Society to honor the finest achievements in filmmaking.-2000s:-2010s:... |
|
| Gladiator Gladiator (2000 film) Gladiator is a 2000 historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel and Richard Harris. Crowe portrays the loyal Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed... |
Commodus | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor The National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the annual film awards given by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.- 1950s :- 1960s :- 1970s :- 1980s :-1990s:- 2000s :-2010s:... San Diego Film Critics Society - Body of Work Award San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2000 The 5th San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, given by the San Diego Film Critics Society on December 20, 2000, honored the best in film for 2000.-Winners:*Best Actor:**Russell Crowe - Gladiator*Best Actress :... Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the... Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Best Actor in a Supporting Role is a British Academy Film award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding supporting performance in a film... Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Nominated — Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Las Vegas Film Critics Society The Las Vegas Film Critics Society is a non-profit organization, composed of selected print, television and internet film critics in the Las Vegas metropolitan area.... Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor The Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor is an annual film award given by the Online Film Critics Society to honor the best supporting actor of the year.-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:... Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor The Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award given by the Phoenix Film Critics Society to honor the finest achievements in filmmaking.-2000s:-2010s:... Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role |
|
| 2001 | Buffalo Soldiers Buffalo Soldiers (2001 film) Buffalo Soldiers is a 2001 film, based on the 1993 novel by Robert O'Connor, which follows the rogue activities of a group of US soldiers based in West Germany during 1989 when the fall of the Berlin Wall is imminent... |
Ray Elwood | Nominated — British Independent Film Award |
| 2002 | Signs Signs (film) Signs is a 2002 American science fiction horror film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It was adapted from a screenplay also written by Shyamalan. Executive producers for the film comprised Shyamalan, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Sam Mercer. The story focuses on a former preacher named Graham... |
Merrill Hess | |
| 2003 | Brother Bear Brother Bear Brother Bear is a 2003 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures, the forty-fourth animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics. In the film, an Inuit boy pursues a bear in revenge for a battle that he provoked in which... |
Kenai | Voice |
| It's All About Love It's All About Love It's All About Love is a 2003 film written and directed by Thomas Vinterberg. Its narrative can be classified as apocalyptic science fiction, but Vinterberg prefers to call it "a dream". Unlike the director's earlier Danish-language films, It's All About Love is entirely in English and stars... |
John | ||
| 2004 | Ladder 49 Ladder 49 Ladder 49 is a 2004 film about the heroics of a Baltimore fireman Jack Morrison, who is trapped inside a warehouse fire and his recollection of the events that got him to that point. The movie is a celebration of the firefighting profession and the life that comes with it... |
Jack Morrison | Nominated — Movie Guide Award for Most Inspiring Movie Acting Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Movie Actor: Drama |
| The Village The Village (2004 film) The Village is a 2004 American fantasy-thriller film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan about a end-of-the-19th-century village whose inhabitants live in fear of the creatures inhabiting the woods beyond it. The movie was shot in a recreation of a 19th-century village outside Philadelphia,... |
Lucius Hunt | ||
| Hotel Rwanda Hotel Rwanda Hotel Rwanda is a 2004 American drama film directed by Terry George. It was adapted from a screenplay written by both George and Keir Pearson. Based on real life events which took place in Rwanda during the spring of 1994, the film stars Don Cheadle as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, who attempts to... |
Jack Daglish | Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | |
| 2005 | Walk the Line Walk the Line Walk the Line is a 2005 American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and based on the early life and career of country music artist Johnny Cash... |
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century... |
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best Actor Hollywood Film Festival The Hollywood Film Festival is an annual Film festival which is located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Festival was established in 1997 by Carlos de Abreu and his wife, model Janice Pennington.... Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Actor Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry... Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Best Actor in a Leading Role is a British Academy Film award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding leading performance in a film.-Superlatives:... Nominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor The Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor is an annual award given by the Chicago Film Critics Association.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-References:... Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor The Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor is an annual film award given by the Online Film Critics Society to honor the best lead actor of the year.-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:... Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Nominated — St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association The St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association is an organization of film critics operating in metropolitan St. Louis and adjoining areas of Missouri and Illinois which was founded in 2004.... Nominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association The Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association is a group of film critics based out of Washington, D.C., United States that was founded in 2003. WAFCA is composed of 34 DC-based film critics from television, radio, print and the internet... |
| 2006 | Earthlings Earthlings (documentary) EARTHLINGS is a 2005 movie about humanity's use of animals as pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and for scientific research. The film is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix features music by Moby, directed by Shaun Monson and co-produced by Maggie Q, all of whom are practicing vegans.-Synopsis:Covering... |
Narrator | San Diego Film Festival Humanitarian Award |
| 2007 | We Own the Night We Own the Night We Own the Night is a 2007 American crime drama film written and directed by James Gray and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes and Robert Duvall. It is the third film directed by Gray, and the second film to feature Phoenix and Wahlberg together, the first being The Yards... |
Bobby Green | Also Producer People's Choice Award for Favorite Leading Man |
| Reservation Road Reservation Road Reservation Road is a 2007 film directed by Terry George and based on the book of the same title by John Burnham Schwartz, who, along with George, adapted the novel for the screenplay. The film, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo, deals with the aftermath of a tragic car accident... |
Ethan Learner | ||
| 2008 | Two Lovers Two Lovers (film) Two Lovers is a 2008 American romantic drama film, taking its inspiration from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's short story "White Nights". which was already turned into a film by Luchino Visconti: Le Notti Bianche. The movie is directed by James Gray and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Vinessa... |
Leonard | Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor The Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor is an annual film award given by the Online Film Critics Society to honor the best lead actor of the year.-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:... |
| 2010 | I'm Still Here I'm Still Here (film) I'm Still Here is a 2010 mockumentary film directed by Casey Affleck, and written by Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix. The film purports to follow the life of Phoenix, from the announcement of his retirement from acting, through his transition into a career as a hip hop artist. Filming officially began... |
Himself | Mockumentary Mockumentary A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself... Also Producer/Writer |
| 2012 | The Master The Master (2012 film) The Master is an upcoming drama film written, directed and co-produced by Paul Thomas Anderson. It was given the green-light in May 2011, and began filming in June. The film will star Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Laura Dern... |
Freddie Sutton |
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of vegans
- List of Puerto Rican Academy Award winners and nominees