River was the oldest from all five children. He was the first in family who became working on TV. In 1985 he did his first big-screen movie, "Explorers", then "Stand By Me" and "Mosquito Coast" (both movies in 1986).
"Running On Empty" in 1998 brought him Oscar nomination.
And there's no need to tell about how popular was "My Own Private Idaho", which became legendary masterpiece of world cinematography (well, but here in Russia you can hardly get this one, and all other River's movies you can really search for years and not find).
He was very talented, in addition to acting he was interested in music (he had his own band called "Aleka's Attic"), supported animal rights and protected wild nature. Millions of people loved him. Joaquin was inspired by him to acting.
But his life tragically stopped on October 31st, 1993 at LA nightclub "Viper Room". He died from drug overdose. He was only 23 years old.
If you want to know more about this unbelievable person, you can visit this outstanding russian fan-site www.river-phoenix.narod.ru

1994 Silent Tongue
1993 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
1993 The Thing Called Love
1993 Dark Blood
1992 Sneakers
1991 Dogfight
1991 My Own Private Idaho
1990 I Love You to Death
1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1988 Running on Empty
1988 Little Nikita
1988 A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon
1986 The Mosquito Coast
1986 Circle of Violence: A Family Drama (TV)
1986 Stand by Me
1985 Family Ties (TV)
1985 Explorers
1985 Surviving (TV)
1985 Robert Kennedy & His Times (TV series)
1984 Hotel (TV series)
1984 It's Your Move (TV series)
1984 Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (TV)
1984 Celebrity (TV series)
1982 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (TV series)