River Phoenix

Diagnoses

Personal

Vocation

Lifestyle

Family

American actor who had an impressive resume of films by the time he reached his 20s. Phoenix was born in a log cabin to hippie parents who named their kids River, Summer, Rain, Leaf and Liberty. In 1973 his folks became missionaries for the religious cult, Children of God, and they moved to Caracas, Venezuela. River and Rain sang on the streets for food and money. Four year later their parents left the cult and the family went to Florida. River won talent contests with ease and when he was spotted by a Paramount agent and given a screen audition, the family moved to Los Angeles. By 1981, when he was 11, he was a regular on the TV series "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." He won critical raves for "Stand By Me," and at 17, a nomination as Best Supporting Actor for "Running on Empty." On 10/31/ 1993, with his sister and another girl, Phoenix went to the Hollywood club The Viper Room. About 1:15 AM of the next morning, they were outside of the club when he collapsed, flopping on the sidewalk like a landed fish. When the ambulance arrived at 1:34 AM, he was in full cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 1:51 AM. River Phoenix, 23 years old with the world at his feet, was full of heroin, cocaine and over-the-counter drugs mixed with alcohol. Link to Wikipedia biography