The brother of Joaquin Phoenix was one of the most beloved movie stars of the early 1990s. River Phoenix was well known for both his acting prowess and charming appearance and was destined for greatness. Sadly, his dream was wrecked by hard drugs and the wild Hollywood nightlife, which resulted in his untimely death in 1993 at the age of just 23.
In an interview, Leonardo DiCaprio talked about seeing River Phoenix the night before the actor passed away. Leonardo DiCaprio was one of the last people in Hollywood to see River Phoenix alive. It was bittersweet for the Titanic actor who was a huge fan of his acting.
Leonardo Dicaprio Recalls Seeing River Phoenix on the Night He Died
In an interview with Esquire, Leonardo Dicaprio was asked what “six degrees of weirdness” he has in Hollywood. The star replied: “I have one – one of the most ominous and sad ones.”
“I grew up revering River Phoenix as the great actor of my generation, and all I ever wanted was to have just an opportunity to shake his hand,” DiCaprio told Esquire magazine.
The star of The Revenant stated that he saw the ’90s teen hero River Phoenix outside a Hollywood nightclub on the day he died of drug intoxication.
“When I was eighteen, River Phoenix was far and away my hero. Think of all those early great performances — My Own Private Idaho. Stand by Me. I always wanted to meet him. One night, I was at this Halloween party, and he passed me. He was beyond pale — he looked white. Before I got a chance to say hello, he was gone, driving off to the Viper Room, where he fell over and died.”
River Phoenix, who was most known for appearing in films including 1986’s Stand By Me, Explorers, and Running On Empty, which garnered him an Oscar nomination for the best-supporting actor, was the brother of Hollywood actor Joaquin Phoenix.
The Tragic Story of River Phoenix’s Death
On the night of October 31, 1993, tragedy struck when River Phoenix’s life was cut short at the age of 23. He was in Los Angeles, outside the Viper Room, a nightclub partly owned by Johnny Depp.
Joaquin Phoenix and Rain Phoenix, two of Phoenix’s siblings, were also present. Although they didn’t notice anything odd, River Phoenix’s girlfriend Samantha Mathis sensed something wasn’t right.
Phoenix’s condition gradually deteriorated as the night went on. He started to show signs of distress and discomfort. That night, he reportedly struggled with a combination of drugs, including cocaine and heroin, which ultimately proved fatal.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital despite frantic efforts to save him.
The Viper Room briefly shut down in River Phoenix’s memory following his death.
Source: Esquire
