His father John had been a carpenter, his mother Arlyn a secretary in the Bronx. They met in California in 1968 where they worked as itinerant fruit pickers. By the time River was two they were members of the Children of God, living in South America, where John was the sect's "Archbishop of Venezuela". In 1977 they moved to Los Angeles and changed their name to Phoenix. His parents encouraged all their children to get into movies, and by age ten River was acting professionally on TV. His film debut was in "Explorers" (1985), followed rapidly by box-office successes with "Stand by Me" and "The Mosquito Coast" (1986) and as young Indiana in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989). His role as Danny Pope in "Running on Empty" (1988) earned him an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor. His best role was probably Mike, the hustler in "My Own Private Idaho" (1991). He died aged 23 outside Johnny Depp's Los Angeles club, the Viper Room.

A dedicated animal rights activist and environmentalist, River was a strict vegetarian and a member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). River was a talented musician as well as an actor and he played Aniguitar, sang, and wrote songs for his band, Aleka's Attic, which also included his sister Rain. While living in Gainsville, Florida, he formed a band with his friends called "Aleka's Attic". Although they never released their own album, their song "Across The Way" can be found on PETA's Tame Yourself album, used to fight animal abuse. (Also a charity River was a dedicated member of.) River was in the middle of filming "Dark Blood", playing the character "Boy" when he died. The film couldn't have been finished due to too many unfilmed crucial scenes. His mother was later sued.

The song "Transcending" on The Red Hot Chili Peppers album "One Hot Minute" is dedicated to River Phoenix.

Sings a song on John Frusciante's album "Smile from the Streets You Hold."

Said in interviews that he lost his virginity at 14 years of age, but that he later refrained from sex until a more appropriate age.

Ranked #86 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

The 1994 R.E.M. album "Monster" is dedicated "for River" in the liner notes (lead singer Michael Stipe was friends with him).

Born at 12.10 pm-PDT

He was supposed to be the interviewer in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) but died. Christian Slater took his place, and donated his entire paycheck from the movie to all of River's favorite charities.

He was almost defintely set to star as Izzy Singer in Safe Passage. Sean Astin got the part after River's death.

Brother of Joaquin Phoenix, Summer Phoenix, Rain Phoenix and Liberty Phoenix.

Was a vegan.

Dated actresses Martha Plimpton and Samantha Mathis and dated Suzanne Solgot.

Natalie Merchant wrote a song, "River", which is in memory of him.

Was set to star in Total Eclipse (1995), the story of a young gay poet. After River died the part was given to Leonardo DiCaprio.

His date to Johnny Depp's club the evening he died was actress Samantha Mathis.

Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1986" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 38.

Ashes scattered at family's Florida Ranch.

The famous Brazilian singer and song writer Milton Nascimento wrote a song called "River Phoenix," years before River's death. Milton was quite impressed with his performance in Stand by Me and decided to write a song in reverence of River's talent. When he got to know about the song, he came to Brazil and spent some days in Milton Nascimento's country home. After that first contact, they became good friends.

Born in a log cabin in Oregon.

He disliked flying and traveled everywhere by car or train.

Nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work in Sidney Lumet's Running on Empty (1988), Phoenix lost out to Kevin Kline for his performance in Fish Called Wanda, A (1988). Kline and Phoenix would work together two years later in the film I Love You to Death (1990).

Phoenix, who'd been playing the guitar since childhood, had his own band with his sister Rain called Aleka's Attic.

My Own Private Idaho (1991) director (and close friend of River) Gus Van Sant published a novel in 1997 titled 'Pink' which is a loosely disguised fantasy homage to his late friend. Van Sant's movie Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) also includes a dedication of "For River" during the opening credits.

River recorded an album the summer before his death titled 'Never Odd Or Even' (the title is a palindrome) which has never been released. A friend of his named Sasa Raphael (who worked with River on the album and played bass in River's band Aleka's Attic) almost succeeded in making the album available for free download on the internet in the summer of 2000 (on the anniversary of what would've been River's 30th birthday), but was later sued by the River Phoenix Estate for copyright reasons.

His parents named him River after the river of life in Hermann Hesse's classic spiritual novel 'Siddhartha', and Jude (his middle name) after the Beatles song 'Hey Jude'.

Ranked #69 on '100 Greatest Movie Stars' on Channel 4 (UK)

River's last words (to the reporter trying to help him outside the Viper Room) were 'no paparazzi, I want anonymity'. His last request was not granted. The day before his cremation in Florida, a reporter broke into the funeral home, rearranged the body, and took a picture. This picture was later to be sold to the National Enquirer for $5,000.

Was an involved environmentalist and bought up several hundred acres of rain forest in Costa Rica and Brazil, not to develop them, but to just keep them so they would not be cut down.

Rufus Wainwright's song "Matinee Idol" is about him.

Died on the same day as Frederico Fellini.

Collected baseball jerseys

Claimed he had a vision of his future wife, and would meet and marry her in 2002. He carried a composite sketch of what he thought she'd look like.

Often drank warm soda, such as Coke or Dr. Pepper, before going on camera.

He was a very talented writer, songwriter and sketch artist. Often wrote songs when he was driving to work.

Was a classmate of singer Anastacia

Is one of only two actors to have played the son of, and the younger version of the same actor, by playing Harrison Ford's son and playing Indiana Jones. The other is Bruno Kirby, who played Richard Castellano's son on The Super, and the young Clemenza in The Godfather Part II.

Two of his nephews have been posthumously named for him. His sister Liberty gave birth to a son named Rio Everest Phoenix. Rio is spanish for River. His other sister, Summer, gave birth to a son, Indiana Affleck. River played Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

"I would rather quit while I was ahead. There's no need in overstaying your welcome."

"I would just look at Harrison: he would do stuff and I would not mimic it, but interpret it younger. Mimicking is a terrible mistake that many people make when they play someone younger, or with an age difference. Mimicking doesn't interpret true because you can't just edit it around." - on his interpretation of a young Indiana Jones in 'Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade'

"I feel that there are great minds up there who would like to see what I can do with an Oscar nomination. I guess many people would change after a nomination in the way they see things. In my case it's really irrelevant in terms of what I do. Still, it was an incredible experience which I will put in my memories, like everything else." (on his Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for 'Running On Empty' in 1989.)

"If I have some celebrity, I hope I can use it to make a difference. The true social reward is that I can speak my mind and share my thoughts about the enviroment and civilisation itself. There's so much shit happening with people who are exploiting their positions and creating a lot of negativity."

"Everyday of my life since I finished 'My Own Private Iadho', at some point in the day, I find the conversation somehow goes back to that film, because it was just such a great experience. I just start getting all joyous and start babbling about it.." (on his feelings about 'My Own Private Idaho' just after the films release in 1991.)

"He was my brother and I loved him a great deal. It was just an awful, awful mistake. We fed off each other and learned a lot from each other." (R.E.M singer Michael Stipe, speaking soon after River's death. He later called River's passing "The most shattering experience of my life.")

"I wish sometimes I wasn't as conscientious as I am."

"I just always loved the names Helen or Ashley, I don't know, they seem familar to me, like I need to be with them..."

"I love Sam Shepard, he is like a father to me. We don't even have to talk, we communicate without words"

"Animals are not our playthings. We are on this earth to protect them. It's our duty."