From cult to Hollywood royalty: Joaquin Phoenix, the star who overcame it all | Culture

The life of Joaquin Phoenix has always been unconventional. Born in Puerto Rico, the 50-year-old actor was raised by parents Arlene and John Lee Bottom, who shared a strong counterculture spirit. The couple met while hitchhiking, soon married and, disillusioned with American politics, left California to explore South America. There they raised their five children – Rivera, Rayna, Joaquin, Liberty and Summer – led a traveling lifestyle, caring little for material goods. Their search for purpose led them to join the Children of God, a religious group where they spent years preaching while living in extreme poverty. They eventually cut ties with the group after receiving a letter from its leader, David Berg, who urged members to engage in sexual relations with as many people as possible in order to recruit followers.

It was the first time the Bottoms learned what had been an open secret to the rest of the world: The Children of God were a dangerous sect wanted by Interpol and led by a man—David Berg—who was accused of murder. “I think my parents thought they had found a community that shared their ideals. Cults rarely advertise themselves as such. Usually someone says, “We’re like-minded.” It’s a community, but I think the moment my parents realized there was more to it, they got out,” Phoenix said. Playboy magazine in 2014.

After this letter, the Bottoms changed their last name to Phoenix, after the mythological bird, and returned to the United States. Phoenix never judged them and doesn’t think they were “negligent”. “They were idealists and believed they belonged to a group that shared their beliefs and their values. I think they must have been looking for safety and family. Leaving a country that has killed a president and many civil rights activists for a few freaking years is so hard for me to imagine, isn’t it?” he said Vanity Fair in 2019.

During their stay in South America, the children earned a living by singing and dancing, which led their mother to contact an NBC agent, who saw their appeal. Joaquin, then called “Letter” to match his siblings’ earthly names, joined his brother River for his on-screen debut on the TV show Seven brides for seven brothers. Joaquin described this first experience on camera as “instant joy”. “Some children hit the ball or score a goal for the first time. That’s what it was for me.” he said The Guardian. “I knew I liked it—the physical sensation; how powerful it was. It’s a feeling I’ve been chasing ever since.

After this debut, Joaquin had minor roles in such shows Murder, she wrote and Hill Street Bluesas well as a few youth-oriented films that failed to gain traction. His first major role came with Ron Howard Paternity (1989), which would later feature his character Leonardo DiCaprio in the TV adaptation. However, as River’s fame grew, Joaquin was sometimes referred to as “the second most famous Phoenix”, which made him feel that his own career was stalling. Frustrated, he took a break and spent time in Mexico with his father. After returning to Los Angeles, River encouraged him to return to acting, telling him with what would become a prophetic statement, “You’re going to be a more successful actor than I am.”

By the early 1990s, River Phoenix was already a star, known for his role as a young Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and for his stunning performance as a narcoleptic swindler in Gus Van Sant’s My private Idaho (1991), for which he won the Volpi Cup in Venice. In 1993, a few days after Joaquin’s 19th birthday, River died of a drug overdose outside The Viper Room in Los Angeles. He was only 23 years old, but he had already become an icon. The family moved to Costa Rica to get away from intense media scrutiny after Rivera’s death. For the first time, Joaquin returned to the United States to take part in the casting To die (1995). The film’s director, Gus Van Sant, a close friend of River’s, reportedly broke down in tears when he saw him.

His role along with Nicole Kidman in to die The adaptation of the crime drama “Pamela Smart” attracted the attention of director James Gray, who will become a key figure in Phoenix’s career. Gray even wrote an essay The New York Times declaring him one of the best actors of the 21st century, stating that he is “unbelievably good at conveying his inner life without dialogue”.

Phoenix’s depiction of the sinister Emperor Commodus c Gladiator (2000) eventually won over even its skeptics. The film’s runaway success—grossing more than $400 million—made him a favorite of filmmakers looking for someone with a dark magnetic edge. Among his admirers was none other than Johnny Cashwho Phoenix would later portray in the biopic Cross the line (2005), which tells about the singer’s whirlwind romance with June Carter.

At the time, Phoenix was also going through a tumultuous period in his life: “I wasn’t communicating with the world or myself the way I wanted to. I was an idiot, running around, drinking, trying to screw people over, going to stupid clubs.” he admitted.

In 2005, Phoenix entered a rehabilitation center, and a few months later he was involved in a freak car accident in Los Angeles, from which he was rescued by German director Werner Herzog. Strange stories began to follow him. There were rumors that he was going to quit acting, and few were surprised. Then came his most eccentric period, when he announced plans to become a hip-hop artist under the guidance of the unpredictable Diddy. When he appeared, the industry remained in disbelief The David Letterman Show looks disheveled, has a long unruly beard, appears disoriented or even tall.

Speculation ran wild — had he lost his grip on reality, or was this his best performance yet? His friend and then son-in-law Casey Affleck, who was constantly filming him, gave him the tip. It was all part of a project, but which one? I’m still here (2010) documented Phoenix as he plunged into apparent chaos—sniffing drugs, engaging in violent bombings, and employing prostitutes.

What could make a two-time Oscar-nominated actor risk his career so much? According to Phoenix, I’m still here was intended to be “a film that explored celebrity, that explored the relationship between media and consumers and celebrities themselves”. This odd endeavor, which he now calls “the best thing I’ve done to help me grow as an actor and gain a deeper appreciation for acting,” not only didn’t derail his career, but it led to two of his greatest accolades roles: Master (2012) and its (2013). Phoenix believes that after watching the documentary, director Paul Thomas Anderson realized that he was ready to do anything for his craft. And he was. Master earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

After his widely parodied appearance on LettermanPhoenix returned to the show to apologize, and the vulnerable moment caught the attention of Spike Jonze, who was then casting the timid Theodore Twombly for its.

Considered one of the best actors of his generation, Phoenix continued to prove that he could handle any role. He sought intensity by playing a series of unforgettable characters: Woody Allen’s philosopher in the rough Irrational person (2015), a stoner detective born from the imagination of Thomas Pynchon Congenital defect (2014), tortured cop v You’ve never been here (2017), and the drunken cowboy is an understatement Sisters Brothers (2018).

Just when it seemed that his career would not reach new heights, Phoenix took on the most important role of his life: Arthur Fleck v Joker (2019), a box office sensation that earned him his first Oscar. Phoenix didn’t need elaborate make-up to portray a distraught Fleck—just his watchful gaze and a wry smile that crossed his scarred face. Unlike the drama surrounding many events in his life, the scar doesn’t have a complicated backstory: it’s just a birth defect.

Winning an Oscar did little to dampen Phoenix’s bold choice. He continued to play challenging roles, including his surreal role Because he is afraid (2023) Ari Aster, with whom he collaborated again Eddington (2025). But there were also failures. His performance in Napoleon (2023) Ridley Scott was not met by critics and was long-awaited Joker the sequel — a musical subtly promoted to avoid alienating Fleck’s fans — became one of 2024’s most talked-about flops.

Phoenix has been tight-lipped about these recent projects, which is not surprising for an actor who rarely gives interviews. The media uproar surrounding his brother River’s death has left a lasting scar that keeps him out of social media and Hollywood gatherings. However, last week he surprised the public with rare photos at a charity gala with his wife. Rooney Marawhom he met on the set its.

“She’s the only girl I’ve ever looked up on the Internet,” he said Variety in 2019. “We were just friends, email friends. I never did that. Never looked for a girl on the Internet.”

Although they rarely appear in public together, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara share a commitment to animal rights that has gone viral in memorable moments, such as their celebration after Phoenix won an Oscar for Joker — a night under the sign of vegan burgers. Both are active supporters of the ethical treatment of animals, and Phoenix is ​​particularly driven by this cause.

He talked about an impressive documentary Earthlings (2005), vividly exposes speciesism and consistently emphasizes animal rights. “I don’t want to hurt another living sentient being.” he said Brute. “I don’t want to take the babies away from him, I don’t want to make him sit at home and fatten just for slaughter. It’s absurd and barbaric, and I don’t understand how you can witness it and not be affected by it.”

Phoenix is ​​aware that his outspoken views may be contradictory, but this does not faze him. “It’s always been difficult for me,” he said Vanity Fair in 2019. “And I guess it’s just recently, when you get older or whatever, you’re okay. You say, “Maybe this will be a bad experience.” (…) Because I know that I matter in other parts of my life. And that’s really what keeps me going. I like it. I love my life. I love the hell out of my life.”

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