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| Birth Name(s) : Joaquin Raphael Phoenix |
Date of Birth: October 28, 1974 |
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| Profession:
Actor |
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Full Joaquin Phoenix Biography
While his other siblings got away with names like River, Summer, Rain and Liberty, Joaquin was stuck with the one hardest to pronounce ("WAA-keen") and at one point even re-named himself Leaf. He was born in Puerto Rico to Children of God missionaries, but his family settled in Los Angeles by the time he was 6.
Joaquin's first real acting gig was a guest appearance on brother River's sitcom "Seven Bridges for Seven Brothers" (1982). The film that confirmed him as a star was the Roman epic "Gladiator" (2000). |
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Additional Joaquin Phoenix Biography
Joaquín Rafael Phoenix (pronounced IPA: ; born October 28, 1974), formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is as a two-time Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe and Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican film actor. He is from a family of performers, most notably his brother, the late actor River Phoenix.
He is best known for his Oscar-nominated portrayals of Commodus in Gladiator, and Johnny Cash in Walk the Line. He has recently ventured behind the camera, directing music videos as well as producing movies and television shows. He has also recorded an album, the Grammy-winning soundtrack Walk The Line. He has long been a social activist, particularly as an advocate for animal welfare.
Phoenix was born in Rio Piedras, located in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to American parents. He is the third of five children, including the late River (1970 – 1993), Rain (1972), Liberty (1976), and Summer (1978). He also has a half-sister named Jodean (1964), from his father's first marriage.
His father, John Lee Bottom, was a lapsed Catholic from Fontana, California. His mother, Arlyn Phoenix (née Dunetz), was born in the Bronx, New York to Jewish parents from Hungary and Russia. In 1968, Arlyn left her family and moved to California, later meeting Phoenix's father while hitch-hiking. They married in 1969, then later joined the religious cult, the Children of God. They began traveling throughout South America.
His parents eventually became disillusioned with the Children of God; they made the decision to leave the cult and returned to the U.S. in 1978. This was also around the time Joaquin had begun calling himself "Leaf," desiring to have a similar nature-related name like his siblings (he was inspired by spending time outdoors raking leaves with his dad). This is the name he would use as a child actor; at fifteen, he changed it back to 'Joaquin'.
In order to provide food and financial support for the family, the Phoenix children performed on the streets and at various talent contests, singing and playing instruments. In Los Angeles his mother started working as a secretary for NBC, and his father worked as a landscaper. His parents hired an agent, Iris Burton, who eventually got the five children acting work.
Phoenix came back into public view under tragic circumstances—on October 31, 1993, his brother River suffered a fatal drug overdose, outside the famed Hollywood nightclub, The Viper Room. Joaquin's call to 911 to save his brother was recorded and repeatedly played over the airwaves and on television. The sudden media intrusion into his life proved to be too overwhelming; once again, he retreated from the public eye. A year later, at the insistence of his friends, Joaquin reluctantly re-entered the world of acting.
Early on in his career, Phoenix had often played supporting roles as conflicted, insecure characters with a darker side. He has earned positive reviews for his portrayals of various individuals: a troubled teen in Gus Van Sant's To Die For (1995) co-starring with Nicole Kidman, a small-town troublemaker in Oliver Stone's U-Turn, the cruel Roman emperor Commodus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) (for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), a conflicted priest in Quills (2000), a washed-up baseball player in M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002), a lovestruck farmer in Shyamalan's The Village (2004), a disillusioned cameraman in Terry George's Hotel Rwanda (2004), and a heroic firefighter in Ladder 49 (2004).
Joaquin and River became the first brothers in Hollywood history to be nominated for an Academy Award in the acting category.
He has directed music videos for the following bands: Ringside, She Wants Revenge, People in Planes, Silversun Pickups Arckid, and Albert Hammond Jr.
Phoenix has long been a social activist, lending his support to a number of charities and humanitarian organizations, notably Amnesty International, The Art of Elysium,HEART . and The Peace Alliance, an organization which campaigns for a United States Department of Peace. Additionally, he serves on the board of directors of The Lunchbox Fund, a charity that provides lunches for poverty-stricken school children in South Africa.
Having been a dedicated vegan since the age of three, one of the primary causes that Phoenix is closely associated with is animal welfare. He is a member of PETA and the organization In Defense of Animals, and has actively campaigned on their behalves. He narrated the film Earthlings for 'Nation Earth' -- a video about the investigation of animal abuse in factory farms, pet mills, in industry and research. In 2005, he was awarded the "Humanitarian Award" at the San Diego Film Festival for his work and contribution to Earthlings.
Phoenix's parents are now divorced; his father lives in Costa Rica and his mother is now re-married to Jeffrey Weisberg, treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of The Peace Alliance Foundation.
The scar above his lip is a microform, almost taking the form of a cleft, as the tissues just reached far enough to join up. Once during his mother's pregnancy, she felt a sharp pain and believes the two events are connected.
Golden Globe - Won, BAFTA nomination, Oscars nomination, Grammy- won, Screen Actors Guild Award - Nomination |
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Joaquin Phoenix Quote(s)
| When I go out with the ladies, I don't force them to pronounce my name. I tell them I like to go by the nickname of Kitten. |
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