Tragic Death
For his last completed film, Phoenix starred
with Alan Bates, Richard Harris, and Dermot Mulroney in director Sam Shepard’s western Silent Tongue (1994). He had started work on Dark Blood with Jonathan Pryce and Judy Davis when tragedy struck. During a break in filming, Phoenix went out to the Viper Room, a popular nightclub that was partly owned by Johnny Depp, with his brother Joaquin, his sister Rain, and his girlfriend Samantha Mathis.
At some point during the evening, Phoenix took some drugs and became ill. He was helped outside and started to have seizures. His brother Joaquin called 911 while his sister Rain tried to help Phoenix who was lying on the sidewalk. When the ambulance arrived, paramedics worked on resuscitating the young actor at the scene. Their efforts failed, and they transported him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was declared dead in the early hours of October 31.According to the coroner's report, had been the victim of an overdose. In his body is found cocaine, heroin, marijuana and Valium.
The public, critics, everyone was shocked. For most, River was a vegetarianand environmentalist activist, not an aimless guy who kept doing drugs.
Yankees general media took unusual attitudes. Take the case of the photographer who, being in the scene of the disaster, had respect enough to not take photos of the dying River. When the topic of overdose came to light, newspapers and magazines are spent writing notes condemning the young actor: said he used his reputation for healthy guy to plug a dual identity of parrandero uncontrollable. On the side of Hollywood, no one took over, andonly a few discussed the issue. Johnny Depp was so upset that he decided toclose the Viper and move to France. On the other hand, his friend and colleague Dermot Mulroney said he was a free spirit misunderstood by the world. And Christian Slater, who replaced him in Interview with the Vampire, donated his salary to the Phoenix family.
With no tanks ultrataquilleros starring ATP or disproportionate amountsreceivable, River Phoenix never became a familiar figure to everyone. Maybe it did not happen to be one of the great legends of cinema. Instead, it is remembered as a cult actor, a marginal adored by a few groups of fans devotespecial pages and discussion forums. Prestigious musicians such as Milton Nascimento and Rufus Wainwright composed themes inspired by her figure.And the term "Generation X icon" became recurring.
Fortunately, many of his films started coming out on DVD, which will allow new generations to enjoy this great who died earlier (much earlier) time.
Family, friends, and fans mourned the untimely passing of the talented young star. He was only 23 years old. After his death, Harrison Ford said “He once played my son, and I came to love him like a son, and was proud to watch grow into a man of such talent and integrity and compassion,” according toThe New York Times. A memorial service was held for Phoenix and his ashes were scattered at the family’s Florida ranch.
