River Phoenix, 1970
Actors · August 23, 1970
River Phoenix
★ HOW OLD IS RIVER PHOENIX?
River Phoenix is 55 years old, born August 23, 1970 in United States · Virgo.
#24816of 35,276 Actors on HotBirthdays
★ LEDE
About
River Phoenix was a US actor and musician whose intensity in indie and prestige films made him a defining talent of the late 1980s before his death at 23. Born August 23, 1970, he transitioned from child TV roles to critically acclaimed work, earning an Academy Award nomination for Running on Empty (1988) and the Volpi Cup for My Own Private Idaho (1991). The older brother of actor Joaquin Phoenix, he brought vulnerability and edge to every role. As a Virgo, Phoenix channeled meticulous craft into complex characters.
★ FEATURE
Biography
River Phoenix brought raw intensity to prestige cinema in his brief career. Born August 23, 1970, in the US, he started acting at age 10 in television commercials before landing early film roles in Explorers (1985), Stand by Me (1986), and The Mosquito Coast (1986). He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Sidney Lumet's Running on Empty (1988), a pivotal moment signaling his shift into adult roles. Phoenix then delivered one of his most acclaimed performances as Michael Waters, a gay hustler in Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho (1991), winning both the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. The older brother of Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix, he grew up in an itinerant family that shaped his restless energy on screen. As an actor, Phoenix combined technical precision with emotional rawness—a hallmark of serious dramatic work. His Virgo nature reflected in meticulous character study and vulnerability. Phoenix died October 31, 1993, at age 23 from acute multiple drug intoxication at The Viper Room in West Hollywood while filming Dark Blood.
★ ORIGIN
Before Fame
Phoenix began his career at age 10 in television commercials. His early film roles in Explorers (1985), Stand by Me (1986), and The Mosquito Coast (1986) established him as a promising child and teen actor before his transition into more demanding adult-oriented cinema. He grew up in an itinerant family as the older brother of Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.
★ SIDEBAR
Trivia
- Phoenix earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Running on Empty (1988), directed by Sidney Lumet.
- He won both the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for My Own Private Idaho (1991).
- His younger brother is actor Joaquin Phoenix.
- Phoenix died on October 31, 1993, at The Viper Room in West Hollywood while filming Dark Blood.
★ SIDEBAR
Numerology
LIFE-PATH NUMBER
The Communicator
Expressive and creative. River Phoenix gravitate to performance, writing, and social platforms where personality compounds the work.
★ ALL LIFE-PATH 3 CELEBS →★ ASTROLOGY
Birthday compatibility
By Chinese zodiac — san-he trine for best matches, opposing pair for the most friction-prone.
HIGHLY COMPATIBLE
- Hunter SchaferTiger · 1998
- Dylan WangTiger · 1998
- Kerris DorseyTiger · 1998
- Emily FairnTiger · 1998
- AlexandraTiger · 1998
CHALLENGING
- Griffin GluckDragon · 2000
- Jade Pettyjohn
★ FAQ
Frequently asked
- How old is River Phoenix?
- River Phoenix is 55 years old (born August 23, 1970).
- When is River Phoenix's birthday?
- River Phoenix was born on August 23, 1970.
- What is River Phoenix's zodiac sign?
- River Phoenix is a Virgo, born August 23, 1970.
- What is River Phoenix's Chinese zodiac sign?
- River Phoenix was born in 1970, the year of the Metal Dog.
- Where is River Phoenix from?
- River Phoenix is from United States.
- What does River Phoenix do?
- River Phoenix is a actor.
- Is River Phoenix still alive?
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