Joaquin Rafael Phoenix (born October 28, 1974), formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an award-winning American and Puerto Rican[1][2] former film actor. He is from a family of performers and is the younger brother of late actor River Phoenix.Phoenix has ventured behind a camera, directing music videos as well as producing movies and television shows, and has recorded an album, the soundtrack to Walk the Line. He is also known for his work as a social activist, particularly as an advocate for animal rights. The actor has recently announced he will end his career in acting to pursue a career in music, as told to E! Online on Wednesday, October 28, 2008 in an interview.
Phoenix was born Joaquin Rafael Bottom in Río Piedras,[3] located in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is the third of five children, including the late River (1970 – 1993), Rain (1972), Liberty (1976), and Summer (1978). He also has a half-sister named Jodean (1964), from his father's first marriage.[4]
His father, John Lee Bottom, was a lapsed Catholic[5] from Fontana, California.[6] His mother, Arlyn Phoenix (née Dunetz), was born in the Bronx, New York to Jewish parents from Hungary and Russia.[5] In 1968, Arlyn left her family and moved to California, later meeting Phoenix's father while hitch-hiking. They married in 1969, then later joined the religious cult the Children of God. They began travelling throughout South America.[6]
His parents eventually became disillusioned with the Children of God; they made the decision to leave the cult and returned to the U.S. in 1978. They changed their last name to "Phoenix" to symbolize a new beginning. This was also around the time Joaquin had begun calling himself "Leaf", desiring to have a similar nature-related name like his siblings (he was inspired by spending time outdoors raking leaves with his dad). This is the name he would use as a child actor; at fifteen, he changed it back to 'Joaquin'.[7]
In order to provide food and financial support for the family, the Phoenix children performed on the streets and at various talent contests, singing and playing instruments. In Los Angeles his mother started working as a secretary for NBC, and his father worked as a landscaper. Joaquin and his siblings were eventually discovered by one of Hollywood's leading children's agents, Iris Burton, who got the five children acting work, mainly doing commercials and television show appearances.[8] Phoenix went on to establish himself a child actor before deciding to withdraw from acting for a while and travel to Mexico and South America with his father.
Phoenix came back into public view under tragic circumstances: on October 31, 1993, his brother, River Phoenix, suffered a fatal drug overdose, outside the famed Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room, which was owned by Johnny Depp. Joaquin's call to 911 to save his brother was recorded and repeatedly played over the airwaves and on television. The sudden media intrusion into his life proved to be too overwhelming; once again, he retreated from the public eye. A year later, at the insistence of his friends, Joaquin reluctantly re-entered the world of acting.
His father, John Lee Bottom, was a lapsed Catholic[5] from Fontana, California.[6] His mother, Arlyn Phoenix (née Dunetz), was born in the Bronx, New York to Jewish parents from Hungary and Russia.[5] In 1968, Arlyn left her family and moved to California, later meeting Phoenix's father while hitch-hiking. They married in 1969, then later joined the religious cult the Children of God. They began travelling throughout South America.[6]
His parents eventually became disillusioned with the Children of God; they made the decision to leave the cult and returned to the U.S. in 1978. They changed their last name to "Phoenix" to symbolize a new beginning. This was also around the time Joaquin had begun calling himself "Leaf", desiring to have a similar nature-related name like his siblings (he was inspired by spending time outdoors raking leaves with his dad). This is the name he would use as a child actor; at fifteen, he changed it back to 'Joaquin'.[7]
In order to provide food and financial support for the family, the Phoenix children performed on the streets and at various talent contests, singing and playing instruments. In Los Angeles his mother started working as a secretary for NBC, and his father worked as a landscaper. Joaquin and his siblings were eventually discovered by one of Hollywood's leading children's agents, Iris Burton, who got the five children acting work, mainly doing commercials and television show appearances.[8] Phoenix went on to establish himself a child actor before deciding to withdraw from acting for a while and travel to Mexico and South America with his father.
Phoenix came back into public view under tragic circumstances: on October 31, 1993, his brother, River Phoenix, suffered a fatal drug overdose, outside the famed Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room, which was owned by Johnny Depp. Joaquin's call to 911 to save his brother was recorded and repeatedly played over the airwaves and on television. The sudden media intrusion into his life proved to be too overwhelming; once again, he retreated from the public eye. A year later, at the insistence of his friends, Joaquin reluctantly re-entered the world of acting.
Phoenix's first acting jobs were guest appearances on two television shows with his brother River: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) and Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984). He made his big-screen debut in Space Camp (1986), playing the role of Max, after starring in an Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode: "A very happy ending" the same year, and his first starring role was in Russkies (1987). He later co-starred in Ron Howard's Parenthood (1989), during which his name was still Leaf Phoenix, as seen in the credits.
Early on in his career, Phoenix had often played supporting roles as conflicted, insecure characters with a darker side. He has earned positive reviews for his portrayals of various individuals: a troubled teen in Gus Van Sant's To Die For (1995) co-starring with Nicole Kidman, a small-town troublemaker in Oliver Stone's U-Turn, the cruel Roman emperor Commodus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) (for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), a conflicted priest in Quills (2000), a washed-up baseball player in M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002), a lovestruck farmer in Shyamalan's The Village (2004), a disillusioned cameraman in Terry George's Hotel Rwanda (2004), and a heroic firefighter in Ladder 49 (2004).[10]
Upon being cast as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line after Cash himself approved, Joaquin responded by buying a guitar and learning how to play. Reese Witherspoon, who portrayed June Carter Cash in the film and won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance, stated during an interview that when they first performed in-character before a live audience, she was so impressed with his impersonation that she knew she "had to step it up a notch". All of Cash and Carter's vocal tracks in the movie and on the accompanying soundtrack are played and sung by Phoenix and Witherspoon. In 2005, he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, and won a Golden Globe in the same category in 2006.
In 2006, Phoenix was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[11]
Joaquin and River became the first brothers in Hollywood history to be nominated for an Academy Award in the acting category.[10]
On October 27, 2008, Phoenix announced his retirement from acting in order to pursue his career in music.[12] Two Lovers will be his final film, which is planned to be released in early 2009.
Early on in his career, Phoenix had often played supporting roles as conflicted, insecure characters with a darker side. He has earned positive reviews for his portrayals of various individuals: a troubled teen in Gus Van Sant's To Die For (1995) co-starring with Nicole Kidman, a small-town troublemaker in Oliver Stone's U-Turn, the cruel Roman emperor Commodus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) (for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), a conflicted priest in Quills (2000), a washed-up baseball player in M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002), a lovestruck farmer in Shyamalan's The Village (2004), a disillusioned cameraman in Terry George's Hotel Rwanda (2004), and a heroic firefighter in Ladder 49 (2004).[10]
Upon being cast as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line after Cash himself approved, Joaquin responded by buying a guitar and learning how to play. Reese Witherspoon, who portrayed June Carter Cash in the film and won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance, stated during an interview that when they first performed in-character before a live audience, she was so impressed with his impersonation that she knew she "had to step it up a notch". All of Cash and Carter's vocal tracks in the movie and on the accompanying soundtrack are played and sung by Phoenix and Witherspoon. In 2005, he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, and won a Golden Globe in the same category in 2006.
In 2006, Phoenix was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[11]
Joaquin and River became the first brothers in Hollywood history to be nominated for an Academy Award in the acting category.[10]
On October 27, 2008, Phoenix announced his retirement from acting in order to pursue his career in music.[12] Two Lovers will be his final film, which is planned to be released in early 2009.
He recorded the soundtrack album Walk the Line and won a Grammy Award at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards for his work on the soundtrack.
Phoenix has long been a social activist, lending his support to a number of charities and humanitarian organizations, notably Amnesty International[22], The Art of Elysium, HEART, and The Peace Alliance, an organization which campaigns for a United States Department of Peace.[23] Additionally, he serves on the board of directors of The Lunchbox Fund, a charity that provides lunches for poverty-stricken school children in South Africa.[24]
Phoenix has been a dedicated vegan since the age of three. He is a member of P.E.T.A. and the organization In Defense of Animals, and has actively campaigned on their behalf.[23] He narrated the film Earthlings for 'Nation Earth' -- a video about the investigation of animal abuse in factory farms, pet mills, in industry and research. In 2005, he was awarded the "Humanitarian Award" at the San Diego Film Festival for his work and contribution to Earthlings.[25]
In 2005, he participated in the documentary I'm Still Here: Real Diaries of Young People Who Lived During the Holocaust.
Phoenix has been a dedicated vegan since the age of three. He is a member of P.E.T.A. and the organization In Defense of Animals, and has actively campaigned on their behalf.[23] He narrated the film Earthlings for 'Nation Earth' -- a video about the investigation of animal abuse in factory farms, pet mills, in industry and research. In 2005, he was awarded the "Humanitarian Award" at the San Diego Film Festival for his work and contribution to Earthlings.[25]
In 2005, he participated in the documentary I'm Still Here: Real Diaries of Young People Who Lived During the Holocaust.
Phoenix's parents are divorced. His mother is now married to Jeffrey Weisberg, treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of The Peace Alliance Foundation.[26]
The scar above his lip is, contrary to popular belief, a birthmark. Once during his mother's pregnancy, she felt a sharp pain and believes the two events are connected.[27] Phoenix has stated on numerous occasions that he does not watch his performances on screen.
The scar above his lip is, contrary to popular belief, a birthmark. Once during his mother's pregnancy, she felt a sharp pain and believes the two events are connected.[27] Phoenix has stated on numerous occasions that he does not watch his performances on screen.
San Juan-ban született, 6 éves koráig élt ott családjával. Szülei tagjai voltak a Children of God nevezetű szektának, és misszionáriusokként beutazták Dél-Amerikát. Miután elhagyták a szektát, a család Los Angelesbe költözött. Joaquin 4 testvérével együtt már gyermekkorában kisebb szerepeket kapott. Gyerekszínészként nemcsak sorozatokban, hanem mozifilmekben is szerepelt. Ezután felhagyott a szerepléssel egy időre, és apjával Dél-Amerikában utazgatott. Egy tragikus esemény miatt került a figyelem középpontjába 1993-ban, amikor bátyja, a sikeres színész, River Phoenix a karjaiban halt meg drog túladagolásban. Szerepei közül az egyik legemlékezetesebb Commodus a Gladiátor című filmben, melyért Oscar-díjra is jelölték. 2005-ben Johnny Cash-t alakította A nyughatatlanban (Walk the Line). A szerep kedvéért Joaquin megtanult énekelni és gitározni, még mélyítette is a hangját, hogy hitelesen alakíthassa a legendás zenészt. Ez olyan jól sikerült, hogy A nyughatatlan filmzenéjéért Grammy-díjat nyert. Ezenkívül Golden Globe-díjat is kapott, és jelölték Oscarra legjobb férfi főszereplő kategóriában. 
.jpg)
Nincsenek megjegyzések:
Megjegyzés küldése