The tragic death of River Phoenix: As his mother pays tribute on what would have been his 53rd birthday – how his career was cut short by an overdose outside Johnny Depp’s nightclub

River Phoenix’s death sent shockwaves through Hollywood after the promising actor’s career was suddenly cut short by a devastating drug overdose.

The actor’s mother shared a touching tribute to her son on Thursday, on what would have been his 53rd birthday.

In her post, Arlyn “Heart” Phoenix wrote that despite his death, her son “still lives inside her,” describing his birth as “one of the most amazing days of her life.”

River’s star, famous for his acting talent and good looks, was on the rise before he passed away on October 31, 1993, after a battle with drug addiction.

He collapsed at the age of 23 at Johnny Depp’s Viper Room nightclub in Los Angeles after a drug overdose.

Although his friends knew River was on drugs, his death still came as a huge shock, especially after staying sober for two months while working on the film Dark Blood in Utah and New Mexico.

Upon his return to Los Angeles, River returned to using drugs and went on a “huge” blast of cocaine and heroin, which culminated in his death outside Viper Room.

The venue became a hot spot for Hollywood names despite its grimy appearance, with stars able to let their hair down away from prying eyes, but the title was forever tarnished in the aftermath of River’s death.

On the night of his death, a bouncer had escorted Phoenix outside the nightclub, where he suddenly fell to the floor.

River’s girlfriend, actress Samantha Mathis, and his younger brother, actor Joaquin Phoenix, were among those present at the time of his death.

While his loved ones quickly called 911, it was too late to save him.

Mathis told it before The guard: “I knew something was wrong (the night River died), something I didn’t understand.

“I didn’t see anyone on drugs, but he was high in a way that made me feel uncomfortable; I was way over my head in it. Forty-five minutes later he was dead.’

The 2018 interview with The Guardian was the first time Mathis spoke out publicly about the death of her then-boyfriend. The couple, who worked together on the movie The Thing Called Love, were together for a year until River’s untimely death on Halloween 1993.

Prior to his relationship with Mathis, River previously dated Emmy-winning actress Martha Plimpton from February 1986 to June 1989, whom he met in 1985 during the production of the 1986 film The Mosquito Coast. River and Martha would later team up again in the 1988 film Running on Empty.

During the late River’s 11-year acting career (which spanned from 1982-1993), he starred in numerous films, including the 1985 film The Explorers, the 1986 classic Stand By Me, the 1988 film Running on Empty, and the 1989 movie Indiana Jones. and The Last Crusade, and the 1991 movie My Private Idaho, just to name a few.

He also overcame a troubled childhood in which his parents joined the Children Of God sect, a group that later became infamous for sexual abuse.

River’s performance in Running on Empty earned him his first and only Oscar nomination, which came in the Best Supporting Actor category (he lost the Oscar to Kevin Kline for Kline’s performance in the film A Fish Called Wanda).

As of the 2023 Academy Awards, the late actor is the sixth youngest person ever to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (River was 18 years old when nominated.

At the time of his death in 1993, River was survived by his mother Heart, his father John (died 2015), and four younger siblings (listed from oldest to youngest): sister Rain, brother Joaquin, sister Liberty, and sister Summer. .

River and his younger brother Joaquin remain in charge distinguish of being the only pair of brothers to be nominated for an Academy Award in the acting categories.

The Phoenix brothers bonded closely as Joaquin paid tribute to his late brother in his acceptance speech when he won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the 2019 film Joker at the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony in 2020.

“When he was 17, my brother (River) wrote this text. He said, “running to the rescue with love and peace will follow,” Joaquin said, fighting back tears, in his acceptance speech.

On what would have been his 53rd birthday, Heart shared an emotional tribute to her son, writing, “August 23, 1970…one of the most amazing days of my life…making Earthbound a living being…truly a touch of the most sacred.

“Just as he tried to do with most people, River Jude embraced each of his siblings (who entered through the same portal after him) with his wit, wisdom, authenticity, talent, compassion, vulnerability, and undying love. I would say he was and still is our greatest teacher.

‘The greatest pain I have experienced in my life was the pain of natural childbirth and even completely different: the pain of the death of my son.

“But on both occasions the gifts he brought were imbued into each of us almost immediately and so we continue to celebrate his life during those 23 precious years.”

“There are no guarantees in life and I don’t think any of us were promised that we wouldn’t experience ‘tragic moments’.

“I consider it one of the greatest blessings of living in the moment and using inner knowledge as a sacred path for navigating life’s many challenges. River’s life and death taught me that in no uncertain terms.

“I am impressed by the fact that he is very much alive in me. Thank you for all the valuable messages I have received over the past thirty years.’