Joaquin Phoenix Names Son After Late Brother River

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Actor Joaquin Phoenix and fiancée actress Rooney Mara welcomed their first child, a son named River, after Phoenix's late brother. River Phoenix died in West Hollywood in 1993 at the age of 23 from a drug overdose. As an actor, he was known for roles in films such as Stand By Me, Running on Empty, and My Own Private Idaho. On television, he shared the screen with younger brother Joaquin in a 1982 episode of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and a 1984 episode of ABC Afterschool Special.

Phoenix, 45, and Mara, 35, met while filming the 2013 film Her directed by Spike Jonze. They went on to co-star in the 2018 films Mary Magdalene and Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot. Both actors are known for keeping a relatively low profile. But following a number of public appearances together, it was reported in 2019 that the couple was engaged. Mara's pregnancy was reported in May of this year.

The birth of their son was announced by Russian director Victor Kossakovsky (via Max California's Lover) on September 27 at the Zurich Film Festival. Kossakovsky, who collaborated with Phoenix on the documentary Gunda, also confirmed the baby was named after Phoenix's late brother. This is the first child for both Phoenix and Mara.

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Joaquin Phoenix has rarely opened up about his personal life in interviews despite his years as a public figure and history of family drama and tragedy. Yet while accepting multiple awards for his performance in Joker, the actor made several references to both fiancée Rooney Mara and his late brother River Phoenix. Most notably, his acceptance speech upon winning the Best Actor Oscar included a lyric written by his older brother. And while questions about his son in future interviews are inevitable, the public should not expect Phoenix to get too deep into why he chose to honor his brother in this way.

River Phoenix was rightly considered one of the best actors of his generation. He was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor at the 1988 Academy Awards for Running On Empty and it was clear that his best work was still in front of him, whether on screen as an actor, on stage as a musician, or in society as an activist. The decision by Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara to name their son River should be the only statement the couple needs to make about the late actor's importance and legacy.