Joaquin Phoenix is one of the many eccentric actors in Hollywood. There are many Joaquin Phoenix stories, from the Academy Award-nominated actor and wannabe rapper to his crazy antics. Explore more Facts about Joaquin Phoenix below!
Even though he is often described as nuttiness, idiocy, and insane, the actor’s extraordinary talent is widely recognized. Let’s look at some amazing facts about Joaquin Phoenix and his incredible acting career.
Facts about Joaquin Phoenix
1. Missionary Parents
Joaquin’s parents were missionaries to a cult. In the 1970s, they joined the controversial Christian group called the Children of God.
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2. Hitchhiking Mother
Well! Arlyn met John Bottom, his father and Joaquin’s mother. His parents married in 1969 and traveled through South America to serve the missionary cult of the Children of God.
3. Variable Birthplaces for His Siblings
His siblings were born in different locations: Joaquin was born in Puerto Rico, River and Rain in Oregon, and Rain and Liberty, his elder siblings, were both born in Texas and Texas, respectively. Little sister Liberty is from Venezuela.
4. Rises from its Ashes
Well! Well!
He changed his name from “Leaf” to “Leaf” in 1978 because he wanted a nature-related name, just like his siblings, River, Rain, and Summer. He said, “Leaf” while talking about it.
I CHANGED MY NAMES BECAUSE NO ONE IN UNITED STATES CAN PRONOUNCE “JOAQUIN,” AND I USED to get upset about it as a kid. ALL THE KIDS IN MY FAMILY HAD GORGEOUS NAMES, AND I GOT JOAQUIN. I SAID, ‘THIS IS NOT GOOD. I DON’T GET IT.
6. I want to Get Back My Previous Name
He kept the name “Leaf” until 1991, when he changed it to Joaquin after filming “Walking the Dog.”
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7. Busking in L.A.
Joaquin and his sibling’s River, Rain, and Summer were discovered by an agent named Iris Burton as they walked the streets of L.A. looking for their tofu-based dinner. They were connected to a director who made a documentary on the family by the agent. Joaquin and his siblings were offered other opportunities through the documentary.
8. Christmas Song: Acting Debut
Joaquin was eight when he made his acting debut with River, his older brother, on the short-lived 1980s T.V. series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
9. First major role
His first major role was when he starred alongside River in an ABC Afterschool Special called ‘Backwards, The Riddle Of Dyslexia (1984).
Joaquin’s theatrical film debut was with SpaceCamp, a 1986 film. He played Max, a 12-year-old who is given a chance to embark on an interstellar journey.
11. First Starring Role
His first major role was in Russkies, an American comedy-drama film. It is about a group of friends who become close friends with a Russian soldier during World War II.
12. First Critical Acclaim
Phoenix was the first actor to receive critical acclaim for his performance in the 1989 film Parenthood. He played the role of the shy teenage nephew of Steve Martin. For his performance in the film, he was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film.
13. Hiatus Acting
Joaquin Phoenix, a well-known child actor, took a break from acting to travel to South America and Mexico with his father.
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14. A Big Brother Ideal
Joaquin’s brother River was the one who convinced him to go back to acting. Joaquin stated that River was the reason River made his comeback at a film festival.
WHEN I WAS 15 OR 16, MY BROTHER RIVER CAME HOME FROM WORK, AND HE HAD A VHS COPY OF A MOVIE CALLED RAGING BULL. HE SAT ME DOWN AND MADE ME WATCH IT. THEN HE BROKE ME UP AND MADE ME WATCH IT AGAIN. He said, “YOU’RE GONNA START ACTING AGAIN. THIS IS WHAT YOU’RE DOING.”
15. When he placed the 911 call
After River’s death, Joaquin was forced to withdraw from the media when he called 911. His call was recorded by police and broadcast over radio and television worldwide. Joaquin and Rain witnessed River’s passing outside The Viper Room nightclub.
16. Typecast: Conflicted and insecure characters
After his return, he was offered many supporting roles as a conflicted, insecure character with a dark side.
17. The Breakthrough
After starring in supporting roles in various films, his breakthrough came when he starred in “To Die For” in 1995. He played the role of Jimmy, a troubled young man who is seduced and murdered by Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman). It was a critical and financial success that made Phoenix an artist to be admired.
18. Nomination for the First Academy Award
Phoenix was nominated for his Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actor category for Gladiator, his historical epic film. He was highly praised for his portrayal of the fictionalized Roman Emperor Commodus. He was nominated again for the award for Walk the Line (2005) and The Master (2012).
19. The Only Brothers are Nominated for Acting Oscars
Joaquin, his brother River, and River are the first and only brothers to be nominated for the Academy Awards for Acting.
19. Rehab for Alcoholism
Joaquin Phoenix was 30 years old when he checked into rehabilitation to address his alcohol abuse issues. He spoke about the experience in an interview.
I WAS BEING AN IDIOT, RUNNING AROUND, DRINKING, TRYING TO SCREW PEOPLE, GOING TO STUPID CLUBS.”
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20. Official retirement from acting
Joaquin Phoenix retired from acting to pursue a career as a hip-hop artist in 2008. He grew a beard and was a frequent fixture at the Hollywood party scene.
21. Joaquin Phoenix ReturnsHe shaved his face and removed his sunglasses after releasing his mockumentary “I’m Still Here.”
22. The One Girl He Ever Seemed Up to on the Internet
He got engaged to Rooney Mara, his ‘Here’ costar, in July 2019. He spoke about her in an interview and said:
SHE’S THE ONLY GIRL I HAVE EVER LOOKED AT ON THE INTERNET.”
23. A Super Vegan
Joaquin Phoenix is a committed vegan. The actor is also a vocal advocate for animal rights. His compassion for animals can be seen when he went to Los Angeles to comfort pigs being killed after receiving the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) in January 2020. He joined an activist group that meets there twice per week. The “Joker” star told Jane Velez-Mitchell that Jane Velez Mitchell, an ex-LA T.V. reporter, had said so.
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT TORTURE AND MURDER IN MEAT AND DAIRY. We have moral obligations to talk about it and expose it for what it is. We are so enslaved by these happy images of ANIMALS on FARMS, ON COVERS OF MEAT CONTAINERS, and in RESTAURANTS. I.T.’S A LIE.
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24. Joker’s Weight Loss Caused Him to Develop a “Disorder.”
For the role of Arthur Fleck in 2019’s film Joker, the actor had to lose 52 pounds. He told the Associated Press that he was a worldwide star for his portrayal of the Joker character.
