River Phoenix: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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'''River Jude Phoenix''' ({{né |'''Bottom'''}}; August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993) was an American actor. Phoenix was known as a [[teen actor]] before taking on [[lead role|leading roles]] in critically acclaimed films. He received numerous accolades including the [[Volpi Cup for Best Actor|Volpi Cup]] and the [[Independent Spirit Award]] as well as nominations for an [[Academy Award]], and [[Golden Globe Award]].

Phoenix grew up in an [[Wikt:itinerant|itinerant]] family, as the older brother of [[Rain Phoenix]], [[Joaquin Phoenix]], [[Liberty Phoenix]], and [[Summer Phoenix]]. He began his acting career at age 10 in television commercials.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|last1=Weinraub|first1=Bernard|date=November 2, 1993|title=Death of River Phoenix Jolts the Movie Industry|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/02/us/death-of-river-phoenix-jolts-the-movie-industry.html|access-date=July 4, 2014}}</ref> His early film roles include ''[[Explorers (film)|Explorers]]'' (1985), ''[[Stand by Me (film)|Stand by Me]]'' (1986), and ''[[The Mosquito Coast (film)|The Mosquito Coast]]'' (1986). Phoenix made a transition into more adult-oriented roles earning a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for his role in the [[Sidney Lumet]] drama ''[[Running on Empty (1988 film)|Running on Empty]]'' (1988). He earned the [[Volpi Cup for Best Actor]] and the [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead]] for his performance as [[Mikey Waters|Michael Waters]], a gay [[Male prostitution|hustler]] in search of his estranged mother in the [[Gus Van Sant]] drama ''[[My Own Private Idaho]]'' (1991).

Phoenix died at age 23 from [[combined drug intoxication]] in [[West Hollywood]] in the early hours of [[Halloween]], 1993, having overdosed on [[cocaine]] and [[heroin]] (a mixture commonly known as [[Speedball (drug)|speedball]]) at [[The Viper Room]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Edwards |first1=Gavin |title=River Phoenix's Tragic Overdose: Dan Aykroyd Warned Him About Heroin Dependency |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/scandal/2013/10/river-phoenix-overdose-dan-aykroyd |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=April 19, 2022 |date=October 17, 2013}}</ref>

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Phoenix was born on August 23, 1970, in [[Madras, Oregon]], the first child of [[Arlyn Sharon Dunetz|Arlyn Dunetz]] and John Lee Bottom.<ref name="people">{{cite journal|last1=Levitt|first1=Shelley|last2=Benet|first2=Lorenzo|last3=Stambler|first3=Lyndon|last4=Dodd|first4=Johnny|last5=Stone|first5=Joanna|last6=Sider|first6=Don|title=River's End|journal=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=November 15, 1993|volume=40|issue=20|pages=127–133|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-rivers-end-vol-40-no-20/|access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> He had four younger siblings, [[Rain Phoenix|Rain]] (born 1972), [[Joaquin Phoenix|Joaquin]] (born 1974), [[Liberty Phoenix|Liberty]] (born 1976) and [[Summer Phoenix|Summer]] (born 1978), as well as a paternal half-sister, Jodean (born 1964).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=icv_AQAAQBAJ&q=jodean+bottom+joaquin&pg=PT6| title=He's Still Here: The Biography of Joaquin Phoenix| accessdate=June 17, 2017| isbn=9781843584308| last1=Howden| first1=Martin| date=January 10, 2011| publisher=John Blake}}</ref> Phoenix's parents named him after the ''river of life'' from the [[Hermann Hesse]] novel ''[[Siddhartha (novel)|Siddhartha]]'',<ref name=NYTimes/> and he received his middle name from [[the Beatles]]' song "[[Hey Jude]]". In an interview with ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'', Phoenix described his parents as "[[hippie]]ish".<ref name="people"/>

His mother, [[Arlyn Phoenix]], was born in New York to [[Jewish]] parents whose families had emigrated from [[History of the Jews in Russia|Russia]] and [[History of the Jews in Hungary|Hungary]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-river-phoenix-1501412.html|title=Obituary: River Phoenix|last=Turner|first=Adrian|date=November 1, 1993|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/5788/|title=The Days of Summer|last=Pfefferman|first=Naomi|date=April 11, 2002|work=[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles|Jewish Journal]]|access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="jjournal"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.pravda.ru/news/russia/23-08-2002/16489-0/ |title=Ten American showbiz celebrities of Russian descent |publisher=Pravda.Ru |date=November 18, 2005 |access-date=August 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/09/rain-phoenix-river-joaquin-family|title=Rain Phoenix's unusual childhood|last=Corner|first=Lena|date=July 9, 2011|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref>

His father, John Lee Bottom, was a [[lapsed Catholic]] from [[Fontana, California]], of English, German, and French ancestry.<ref name="jjournal">{{cite web|last=Pfefferman |first=Naomi |url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/5788/ |title=The Days of Summer |date=April 11, 2002 |website=[[Jewish Journal]]|access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> In 1968, Phoenix's mother travelled across the United States.

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=== Children of God cult ===

In 1973, the family joined the religious organization known as the [[The Family International|Children of God]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Corner |first=Lena |date= July 8, 2011 |title=Rain Phoenix's unusual childhood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/09/rain-phoenix-river-joaquin-family |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=February 11, 2020}}</ref> His family settled in [[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]], where the Children of God had stationed them to work as missionaries and fruit gatherers.

According to ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'', Phoenix was raped at the age of four.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Micah |last=Nathan |title=Remembering River Phoenix, 23 Years After His Death |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/10/remembering-river-phoenix-23-years-after-his-death |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=October 31, 2016 |access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Details Magazine|Details]]'' magazine in November 1991, Phoenix stated he lost his virginity at age four to other children while in the Children of God, but he had "blocked it out".<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=4174733&page=1 "Gone Before 30: Stars Who Died Young"] January 29, 2008. ABC News.</ref><ref name=Another2018/> In 2019, his brother [[Joaquin Phoenix|Joaquin]] would claim that River was joking, saying, "It was literally a joke, because he was so tired of being asked ridiculous questions by the press."<ref>{{cite web|last=Hagen|first=Joe|title="I Fucking Love My Life": Joaquin Phoenix on Joker, Why River Is His Rosebud, His Rooney Research, and His "Prenatal" Gift for Dark Characters|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joaquin-phoenix-cover-story?inline|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=November 2019|access-date=July 17, 2021}}</ref> Although Phoenix rarely talked about the cult, he was quoted in an article published in ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'' in 1994 as having said, "They're disgusting, they're ruining people's lives."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Friend |first=Tad |url=http://www.aleka.org/phoenix/zines/phoenix7.html |title=River, with love and anger |magazine=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |issue=March 1, 1994 }}</ref> Arlyn and John eventually grew disillusioned with the "Church" and left the cult in 1977.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bruney|first=Gabrielle|date=October 5, 2019|title=Joaquin Phoenix and Rose McGowan Spent Their Early Years in a Religious Cult. Then it Became Infamous.|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a29374581/children-of-god-cult-joaquin-phoenix-rose-mcgowan/|url-status=live|magazine=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211205050039/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a29374581/children-of-god-cult-joaquin-phoenix-rose-mcgowan/|archive-date=December 5, 2021|access-date=December 14, 2022}}</ref>

In the aforementioned interview with ''Details'' magazine, Phoenix said he was "completely celibate" between the ages of 10 and 14.<ref name=Another2018>{{cite magazine|last=Taylor|first=Trey|date=October 31, 2018|title=River Phoenix's Insatiable Appetite for Sex|url=https://www.anothermag.com/another-man/12561/river-phoenix-s-insatiable-appetite-for-sex-deadline-interview|url-status=live|website=[[Another Magazine]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221214005754/https://www.anothermag.com/another-man/12561/river-phoenix-s-insatiable-appetite-for-sex-deadline-interview|archive-date=December 14, 2022|access-date=December 14, 2022}}</ref>

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*He had expressed interest in playing the 19th-century poet [[Arthur Rimbaud]] in ''[[Total Eclipse (film)|Total Eclipse]]'' (1995) by Polish director [[Agnieszka Holland]].<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Phoenix died before the movie was cast, with the role eventually going to Leonardo DiCaprio.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/11121170/Leonardo-DiCaprio-in-pictures.html?frame=3051381 |title=Total Eclipse (1996) - Leonardo DiCaprio: his career in pictures |access-date=February 11, 2020 |newspaper=[[Telegraph (newspaper)|Telegraph]]}}</ref>

*Phoenix was [[James Cameron]]'s original choice to play Jack Dawson in ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' (1997), with the role ultimately going to Leonardo DiCaprio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2494354/actors-who-couldve-been-cast-in-titanic|title=12 Actors Who Could've Been Cast In Titanic|last=Ashton|first=Will|date=September 15, 2022|website=CinemaBlend|publisher=[[Future plc]]|access-date=December 13, 2022|quote=James Cameron had originally considered River Phoenix for the role, but the young actor tragically passed away before he could be asked to play the leading man part.}}</ref>

*[[Comic book]] writer [[Lee Marrs]] claimed in a 2023 interview with the IndyCast podcast that [[Lucasfilm Ltd.]] considered for a while to make a continuation to the ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' film series starring Phoenix as a younger Indy, being this the primary reason for which [[Dark Horse Comics]] hoped to keep running their [[Indiana Jones (comics)|''Indiana Jones'' comic book line]]. Phoenix's death in 1993 put an end to this option and Dark Horse cancelled their line a few years later, stopping the development of any ''Indiana Jones'' films until ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]'' came out in 2008.<ref>{{Cite podcast |url= https://www.theindycast.com/indycast-episode-330/ |title= INDYCASTIndycast: EPISODEEpisode 330 |website= IndyCast |publisher= IndyCast |host= Ed Dolista |date= February 20, 2023 |time= |access-date= April 29, 2023}}</ref>

==Music==

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According to [[Bob Forrest]], during the performance by P, Phoenix tapped Forrest on the shoulder to tell him he was not feeling well and that he thought he had overdosed. Forrest said to Phoenix that he did not think that he was overdosing because he could stand and talk. Nonetheless, he offered to take Phoenix home, but the latter declined, saying he was feeling better. A few moments later, Forrest said that a commotion erupted in the club and he went outside to find Mathis screaming as her boyfriend was lying on the sidewalk having convulsions. Unable to determine whether Phoenix was breathing, Joaquin called 911. Rain proceeded to give Phoenix mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine|last1=Grisolia|first1=Cynthia|last2=Davidson|first2=Casey|date= November 12, 1993 |url= http://ew.com/article/1993/11/12/passing-river-phoenix-scene/|title=The passing of River Phoenix: at the scene|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref>

According to Gibby Haynes, the band was performing their song "[[P (album)|Michael Stipe]]" while Phoenix was outside the venue having seizures on the sidewalk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2007/07/they-came-hollywood// |title=They Came from Hollywood |date=July 30, 2007 |publisher=SPIN.com |access-date=December 16, 2011}}</ref> When the news filtered through the club, Flea left the stage and rushed outside. By that time, paramedics had arrived on the scene and found Phoenix in apparent [[cardiac arrest]]. Flea accompanied him to [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]].,<ref name="EW"/> but attempts to resuscitate Phoenix at the hospital were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 1:51&nbsp;a.m. PST on the morning of October 31, 1993, at the age of 23.<ref>"Autopsy: The Last Hours of River Phoenix." ''Autopsy: The Last Hours of...''. Narrated by Eric Meyers, executive produced by Suzy Davis, Michael Kelpie, Phil Mount, and Ed Taylor. Reelz, 13 Jun. 2020.</ref>

===Aftermath===

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River made such a big impression during his life on Earth. He found his voice and found his place. And even River, who had the whole world at his fingertips to listen, felt deep frustration that no one heard. What is it going to take? [[Chernobyl disaster|Chernobyl]] wasn't enough. ''[[Exxon Valdez oil spill|Exxon Valdez]]'' wasn't enough. A [[Gulf War|bloody war over oil]] wasn't enough. If River's passing opens our global heart, then I say, thanks dear, beloved son, for yet another gift to all of us.<ref name="Mother's quote">{{cite news|title=A Mother's Note on Her Son's Life and Death|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-24-ca-60381-story.html|work=The Los Angeles Times |date=November 4, 1993 |access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref>}}

Before his death, Phoenix's image—one he bemoaned in interviews—had been of a clean. Thisand likelyattractive aroserole frommodel. hisPhoenix openspoke committmentoften toof speakinghis outfirm againstopposition to all forms of oppression, and hisaffirmatively espousal ofespoused beliefs thatin compassion mustthat extendreach across narrow boundaries including racial, national, and species. boundaries—includingFor example, the actor declined a lucrative advertising gig that would have required him to wear the skin of a tortured cow, which led his peers to endorse Phoenix's image as a courageous role model.<ref>{{cite news| title=River Phoenix Ranks Acting Below Animal Rights and Music| newspaper=The New York Times| date=January 5, 1989| first=Aljean| last=Harmetz| quote=His attitudes and ethics obviously echo the 60's sensibilities of his parents, but it was the 8-year-old River who persuaded his parents to give up milk and eggs. ''The chickens that lay eggs are so frustrated,'' he said. ''There's no sunlight in egg farms. It's like a concentration camp. Just the squealing of thousands of birds.''| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/05/movies/river-phoenix-ranks-acting-below-animal-rights-and-music.html}}</ref> Phoenix's image as clean and "goody goody" was noteworthy also for his adherence to a healthy, plant-based diet, which promotes a healthy appearance that was uncommon, in an era when moral consideration of others was extremely limited and prejudice against low-status groups was not considered immoral; in other words, Phoenix's relatively enlightened ethical stance resulted in aseveral crucial biochemical reinforcementprocesses ofthat thisboth reinforced an image of healthhealthiness (thanks to the positive qualities of a plant-based diet) as well as his freedom from an image of compromised moral and physical well-being synonymous with the deleterious health effects caused byof consuming dairy, meat, and eggs.<ref>{{cite journal| title=Beneficial Effects of Plant-Based Diets on Skin Health and Inflammatory Skin Diseases| journal=Nutrients| date=2023-06-22 |volume=15(13): 2842 |doi=10.3390/nu15132842 |first1=Ximena |last1=Flores-Balderas, X|first2=Mario |last2=Peña-Peña |first3=Karla M., et|last3=Rada |first4=Yamnia alQ. Nutrients|last4=Alvarez-Alvarez |first5=Carlos A. 2023|last5=Guzmán-Martín Jul;|first6=José 15(L. |last6=Sánchez-Gloria |first7=Fengyang |last7=Huang |first8=Dayanara |last8=Ruiz-Ojeda |first9=Sofía |last9=Morán-Ramos |first10=Rashidi |last10=Springall |first11=Fausto |last11=Sánchez-Muñoz | issue=13):| page=2842.| https://wwwdoi-access=free| pmid=37447169| pmc=10343921|display-authors=3 | quote=Plant-based diets have beneficial effects modulating inflammatory and oxidative processes, which are the main mechanisms in inflammatory skin diseases [10].ncbi Additionally, they encompass a variety of fruits and vegetables classified as plant-based functional foods, which harbor additional components that can potentially contribute to overall health benefits [11,12,13].nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10343921/}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| title=Diet and Dermatology: The Role of a Whole-food, Plant-based Diet in Preventing and Reversing Skin Aging—A Review.| J.journal=Journal Clin.of Aesthet.Clinical Dermatol.and Aesthetic Dermatology | date=2020 | volume=13 | issue=5 | pages=38–43 | first1=Jason |last1=Solway J.,|first2=Michael |last2=McBride M.,|first3=Furqan |last3=Haq F.,|first4=Waheed |last4=Abdul W.,|first5=Richard |last5=Miller| Rdoi=10.3390/nu15132842 2020;13:38.| doi-access=free | pmid=37447169 | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7380694/=10343921 | quote= A [vegan] diet maximizes the antioxidant potential within our cells by providing essential vitamins, including vitamins A, C, and E. It also helps to eliminate harmful carcinogens and gerontotoxins within our bloodstream and has been shown to lengthen telomeres, which prevents cellular damage}}</ref> Phoenix's compassion for all beings was evident, and he was widely regarded "as the model of good health, clean living, and professional dedication--a cleaned-up '90s James Dean. He was known as a vegan, or ultra-vegetarian, who would not eat meat or dairy products or wear leather."<ref>{{cite news| title=River Phoenix Collapses, Dies; Actor Was 23| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=November 1, 1993| firstfirst1=Carla |last1=Hall and| lastfirst2=Richard |last2=Simon| pmc=7380694| quote=Phoenix was described as the model of good health, clean living, and professional dedication--a cleaned-up ‘90s James Dean. He was known as a vegan, or ultra-vegetarian, who would not eat meat or dairy products or wear leather.| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-01-mn-51981-story.html}}</ref> His death was unexpected and elicited widespread media coverage.<ref>{{cite news| title=Autopsy Shatters Phoenix's Image| newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times| date=November 14, 1993| first=Christine| last=Spolar| quote=The image of actor River Phoenix as a quiet, clean-cut member of Hollywood's youth fraternity has been shattered by autopsy results that showed he died from a mix of cocaine and heroin.| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4216413198EF0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D}}{{deadlinkdead link|date=September 2023}}</ref> Phoenix was described by one writer as "the vegan [[James Dean]]", and comparisons were made regarding the youth and sudden deaths of both actors.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rose |last=Rouse |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/where-were-you-when-river-phoenix-died-the-vegan-james-dean-is-being-mourned-by-teenagers-from-ilkley-to-bristol-says-rose-rouse-1502720.html |title=Where were you when River Phoenix died?: The vegan James Dean is being mourned by teenagers from Ilkley to Bristol | work=The Independent |date=November 7, 1993 |access-date=December 16, 2011 |location=London}}</ref>

Phoenix was [[Cremation|cremated]] and his ashes were scattered at the family ranch in [[Micanopy, Florida]].

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==Awards, honors, and legacy ==

Actors who have credited Phoenix as a major influence as well as paving the way for them include [[Leonardo DiCaprio]],<ref>Hainey, Michael (May 21, 2019). [https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a27458589/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-leonardo-dicaprio-brad-pitt-quentin-tarantino-interview/ "Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio Take You Inside 'Once Upon a Time{{nbsp}}... In Hollywood'."] ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]''. Retrieved June 29, 2023.</ref> [[Jared Leto]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-77981|title=What We Lost When We Lost River Phoenix|first=Gavin|last=Edwards|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=October 31, 2013}}</ref> and [[James Franco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/james-franco-on-getting-in-trouble-in-high-school-for-graffiti-stealing-cologne/|title=James Franco Opens Up About His Bad Boy Days as a Graffiti-Spraying Cologne Thief|date=October 30, 2015 |website=People|access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/how-river-phoenix-inspired-a-generation/|title=How River Phoenix Inspired a Generation|first=Patrick Range|last=McDonald|date=October 30, 2013 |website=LA Weekly|access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> As teenagers, [[Matt Damon]] and [[Ben Affleck]] used "RiverP," in homage to Phoenix, as the password to the bank account they shared.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Topel |first=Fred |date=2020-10-13 |title=Matt Damon Says He And Ben Affleck Almost Got Cast In This Classic '80s Movie |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/matt-damon-says-he-and-ben-affleck-almost-got-cast-in-this-classic-80s-movie.html/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Showbiz Cheat Sheet |language=en-US}}</ref> During his acceptance speech for Best Actor at the [[92nd Academy Awards]], Joaquin Phoenix honored his brother by stating "When he was 17, my brother [River] wrote this lyric. He said: 'run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.{{' "}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Joaquin Phoenix's Oscars speech in full: 'We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/10/joaquin-phoenixs-oscars-speech-in-full |date=February 10, 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |department=Guardian Film |access-date=December 5, 2020}}</ref> Joaquin and partner [[Rooney Mara]] named their son, River, after him.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara name their baby son River |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/sep/28/joaquin-phoenix-rooney-mara-name-baby-son-river-brother-river-phoenix |date=September 28, 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |department=Guardian Film |access-date=December 5, 2020}}</ref>

Phoenix has been ranked on a number of lists recognizing his talent and career. He was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1986" in "John Willis' Screen World" (2004). Phoenix was voted at No. 64 on a "Greatest Movie Stars of All Time" poll by [[Channel 4]] television in the UK. The poll was made up wholly of votes from prominent figures of the acting and directing communities. He was ranked No. 86 in ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list in 1997.