Photo Courtesy of All the Classics
Written by Ari Turobiner
River Phoenix. Who do you think of when you hear that name? Some people would say they know him as Chris Chambers in the coming-of-age movie Stand by Me, some people might say they know River Phoenix as the older brother of oscar-winner actor Joaquin Phoenix. Others may say they knew him as the blonde-haired and blue eyed heartthrob. I know him as all of those things as well as one of the most talented actors of all time. I know him as a caring, inspiring, unique, thoughtful, sensitive person and incredibly passionate musician. River has left an important legacy behind for many people including myself. While Phoenix may have been an actor and a musician on the outside, at his core he stood for kindness and wanted to inspire change in humanity.
River Phoenix was one of the most prominent figures in Hollywood during the ‘80s and ‘90s, starring in critically acclaimed films such as Stand by Me, Running on Empty, Dogfight and Indiana Jones. In addition, he has worked with many Hollywood legends including Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Sidney Poiter and Harrison Ford. River is responsible for bringing the grunge music scene aesthetic and indie film environment to new heights. During the ‘90s his influence could be strongly felt in one of the most popular grunge bands Nirvana. River tragically passed away on Halloween night in 1993 due to an accidental drug overdose at The Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard. Shortly after River’s death, Kurt Kobain, lead singer of Nirvana dedicated a song to him. Phoenix had a difficult childhood growing up. Besides moving around a lot, his family was part of a religious cult called “The Children of God.” The cult would perform sexual acts on young children and it scared the Phoenix family so much that eventually they ended up leaving the cult, however with little money. I believe River allowed his characters on-screen to show off parts of himself that may have been hard to confront in real-life. It is almost as if his films stand as memorials in their own way. The Phoenix family were all very close and supported each other emotionally and economically. River and his brother Joaquin performed street acts with their other siblings, acting and singing until River finally got a big breakthrough with Rob Reiner’s Stand by Me. River helped his family out financially, for above all Phoenix deeply loved his family.
River Phoenix allowed himself to shine in his films and his music. He had a sense of maturity and youthfulness to him, evident in his movies where Phoenix becomes the character he plays and allows audiences to experience life from a different person's point of view. Personally, I find his films to be filled with heart and are able to move me to tears. River’s passion for life and wanting the best for others besides himself is really touching. I find myself relating to River in many ways since I am also an older brother, have a love of music and acting and above all I also live my life to be the best person I can be. Outside of acting, River and his sister Rain were a part of a ‘90s indie alternative rock band called Aleka's Attic. Phoenix once stated that music was his “true passion” and had planned to continue possibly pursuing the band more so than acting if he had lived on. River’s middle name is Jude, based upon The Beatles song, Hey Jude. River’s musical influence has always been with him. River was friends with Flea and other prominent band members from Red Hot Chili Peppers as well as Michael Stipe from the band R.E.M.
River was also a vegan and advocate for animal rights groups. River had a dog named Jupiter, and the pair even did a few commercials for PETA. I find it inspiring just how much River cared for animals, the environment and others besides himself. Martha Plimpton, River’s ex-girlfriend said that one time she was eating salmon and River burst out of the restaurant “just crying” seeing her eating the fish. She admired River’s sensitivity and vulnerability despite the situation that may have been deemed silly by others.
River Phoenix was ahead of his time especially when it came to the LGBTQ+ community. In the film, My Own Private Idaho directed by Gus Van Sant, River plays a gay hustler. When asked about his thoughts on the character due to the reception of the film he stated, “It still strikes me as strange that anyone could have any moral objection to someone else’s sexuality. It’s like telling someone how to clean their house.” River also supported feminism and wanted to help bring change to many parts of a broken world. It’s important to know how much of the things River stood for, to me he is so much more than just an actor. River Phoenix really cared about people and it's very heartwarming to see. It really saddens me knowing he is no longer with us in the physical world, but his impact has stood the test of time which is beautiful to see. In 2019, his brother Joaquin Phoenix won the Oscar for the 2019 film Joker. During his acceptance speech he stated, “When my brother was 17, he wrote this lyric, “Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.” I find that very special. Joaquin also went on to state, “humans are at our best when we guide each other.” I’ll never forget that moment when I heard Joaquin say that on TV. I was very proud of how far he had come and enjoyed seeing how his brother River had guided him through his life and seeing River’s impact in front of me was something truly special. River Phoenix had an amazing presence about him and it was clear more than ever to me seeing it in front of my eyes.
I love River Phoenix as a person, actor, musician and activist. He remains one of my favorite actors of all time and an inspiration to myself. I always find joy introducing people to River who may not know who he is. River Phoenix’s legacy is seen in many ways. Many environmental and animal rights groups are still supported by the Phoenix family, as well as through a foundation in River’s name which was established by his mother. River is an easy person for me to relate to and if you ever need to watch a movie that will comfort you and introduce you to River’s talent, Stand by Me will show you a nostalgic look into your childhood. If you want to watch a beautiful coming-of-age tale, Running on Empty will show you River’s sensitivity and love of others. I feel the character River portrays in that film is the closest to himself and that’s what makes the film even more special. I try to live everyday following the words of River, “run to the rescue with love, and peace will follow.” While he may not be alive, River Phoenix to this day will always stand by us through his legacy. River Phoenix shows us the importance of sensitivity, love and being human.
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