Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin is nominated for The Joker in this year’s Oscar run (Picture: Getty Images)

Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix has given a rare interview about his late brother River Phoenix.

Actor River, whose most famous role was in 1986 coming of age film Stand By Me, died from a drug overdose outside the Viper Room club in Hollywood in 1993, when he was just 23.

His brother Joaquin has gone on to have huge success on the big screen with movies such as Walk The Line, Gladiator and most recently dark thriller Joker, for which he has just won a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for Best Actor.

Joaquin is a notoriously private person but during a special episode of 60 Minutes with US journalist Anderson Cooper, the actor spoke about his brother.

River Phoenix
River Phoenix tragically died in 1993 (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I feel like in virtually every movie that I made, there was a connection to River in some way,’ Joaquin said.


Joaquin, who was nominated for an Academy Award on Monday for his leading role in Joker, added: ‘And I think that we’ve all felt his presence and guidance in our lives in numerous ways,’ referring to his family.

Joaquin, 45, who is reportedly engaged to fellow actor Rooney Mara, shared an anecdote about River inspiring him to go into acting:

’He came home and very excitedly say, here’s this movie,’ said the star, referring to the 1980 Martin Scorsese classic Raging Bull.

‘I think it just… awakened something in me,’ said Joaquin.

He said of River’s passing: ‘You know, River was a really substantial actor and movie star and we didn’t really know it.

‘And having the passing be so public crippled the family in a way they found too challenging. 

‘During that time in which you’re most vulnerable, there are helicopters flying over, there are people that are trying to sneak onto your land,’ he added. ‘Certainly, for me it felt like it impeded on the mourning process.’

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