Actor Joaquin Phoenix Profile:
Jamie Foxx awards
Profile:
Famous as: Actor
Birth Name: Joaquin Rafael Bottom
Birth Date: October 28, 1974
Birth Place: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Claim to fame: As Commodus in "Gladiator" (2000)
Joaquin Phoenix childhood photo
Biography:
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix play, formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an American film actor. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later. Phoenix is from a family of performers, including his older brother, the late River Phoenix. Phoenix has ventured behind the 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.
Joaquin Phoenix family photo
Family background and early life:
Phoenix (birth name: Joaquín Rafael Bottom) was born in Río Piedras, a sector of the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is the third of five children, including River (1970–1993), Rain (1972), Liberty (1976), and Summer (1978). He also has a half-sister named Jodean (1964) from a previous relationship of his father's. His father, John Lee Bottom, was a lapsed Catholic from Fontana, California. His mother, Arlyn, was born in The Bronx, New York to Jewish parents whose families emigrated from Russia and Hungary. 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. His parents eventually became disenchanted 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 and inspired by spending time outdoors raking leaves with his father. Leaf became the name he would use as a child actor; at fifteen, he changed it back to "Joaquin".
Two Lovers movie still
In order to provide food and financial support for the family, the 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. Phoenix 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. Joaquin 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 drug overdose and died, outside the Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room, which was co-owned by Johnny Depp at the time. Joaquin's call to 911 to save his brother was recorded and repeatedly played over the airwaves and on television.[citation needed] The sudden media intrusion into his life proved to be overwhelming; once again, he retreated from the public eye. A year later, at the insistence of his friends, Phoenix reluctantly re-entered the world of acting.
Film career:
Acting:
Phoenix's first acting jobs were guest appearances on two television shows with his brother River in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982), and Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984) as well as an episode in the first season of Murder, She Wrote (We're Off to Kill the Wizard) with his sister Summer Phoenix. In 1985, he appeared with JoBeth Williams in the CBS television movie Kids Don't Tell. 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. His first starring role was in Russkies (1987). He later co-starred in Ron Howard's Parenthood (1989), in which he was credited as Leaf Phoenix.
We Own the Night movie still
During the comeback portion of his career, Phoenix went back to his birth-given name "Joaquin", and was often cast in supporting roles as conflicted, insecure characters with a dark 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, Inventing the Abbotts (1997), 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), the irresolute husband of a superstar-skater in the widely panned It's All About Love in 2003, a lovestruck farmer in Shyamalan's The Village (2004), a disillusioned cameraman in Terry George's Hotel Rwanda (2004), and heroic firefighter in Ladder 49 (2004).
Joaquin Phoenix at SF Benefit event
Upon being cast as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line after Cash himself approved, Phoenix responded by buying a guitar and learning how to play. Reese Witherspoon, who portrayed June Carter Cash in the film and won a Academy Award for Best Actress 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 Academy Award for Best Actor, and won a Golden Globe in the same category. In 2006, Phoenix was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Phoenix's film, I'm Still Here, debuted at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010. Phoenix will make his return to acting in the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson film The Master.
Joaquin Phoenix arrives to event
Directing:
He has directed music videos for the following bands: Ringside, She Wants Revenge, People in Planes, Arckid, Albert Hammond Jr., and Silversun Pickups.
Producing:
Phoenix served as one of the executive producers of a television show called 4Real, a half-hour series which showcase celebrity guests on global adventures "in order to connect with young leaders who are creating social and economic change." He is also listed as a producer on the movie We Own the Night.
Social initiatives:
Phoenix has long been a social activist, lending his support to a number of charities and humanitarian organizations, notably Amnesty International, The Art of Elysium, HEART, The Peace Alliance. Phoenix is also on the board of directors for The Lunchbox Fund, a non-profit organization which provides daily meals to students of township schools in Soweto of South Africa. He is a member of P.E.T.A. and the organization In Defense of Animals, and has actively campaigned on their behalf. 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.
Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck
Personal life:
Phoenix dated actress Liv Tyler for three years in 1990s. In early April 2005, Phoenix checked into rehab to be treated for alcoholism. On January 26, 2006, while driving down a winding canyon road in Hollywood, Phoenix ran off the road and rolled his car. The crash reportedly was caused by brake failure. Shaken and confused, Phoenix heard a tapping on his window and a voice say, "Just relax." Unable to see the man, Phoenix replied, "I'm fine. I am relaxed." The man replied, "No, you're not," and stopped Phoenix from lighting a cigarette while gas was leaking into the car cabin. Phoenix then realized that the man was famed German film director Werner Herzog. While Herzog helped Phoenix out of the wreckage by breaking the back window of the car, bystanders phoned in an ambulance. Phoenix approached Herzog to express gratitude, but Herzog downplayed his heroism and returned to his home nearby.
Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix
Filmography:
Untitled Spike Jonze Project (2015)
Low Life (2013)
The Master (2012)
Two Lovers (2008)
Reservation Road (2007)
We Own the Night (2007)
Walk the Line (2005)
The Village (2004) aka M. Night Shyamalan's The Village
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Ladder 49 InfoLadder 49 (2004)
Brother Bear (2003) aka Tierra de osos (USA: Spanish title)
It's All About Love (2003)
Signs (2002) aka M. Night Shyamalan's Signs
Buffalo Soldiers (2001) aka Army Go Home
The Yards (2000)
Gladiator (2000)
Quills (2000) aka Quills – Macht der Besessenheit (Germany)
8MM (1999) aka 8mm – Acht Millimeter (Germany)
Clay Pigeons (1998) aka Lebende Ziele (Germany)
Return to Paradise (1998) aka All for One
Inventing the Abbotts (1997)
U Turn (1997) aka U Turn – Ici commence l'enfer (France)
To Die For (1995)
Dark Blood (1993)
Walking the Dog (1991)
Parenthood (1989)
Parenthood (1989)
Secret Witness (1988) – TM
Russkies (1987)
SpaceCamp (1986)
Morningstar/Eveningstar (1986) – TV
Kids Don't Tell (1985) – TM
Anything for Love (1985) – TM
Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984) – TM
Six Pack (1983) – TM
Joaquin Phoenix awards
Awards:
Academy Awards, USA
2006
Got nomination for Oscar
category Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Walk the Line (2005)
2001
Got nomination for Oscar
category Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Gladiator (2000)
ALMA Awards
2009
Got nomination for ALMA Award
category Best of the Year in Film – Actor for Two Lovers (2009)
BAFTA Awards
2006
Got nomination for BAFTA Film Award
category Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Walk the Line (2005)
2001
Got nomination for BAFTA Film Award
category Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Gladiator (2000)
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
2001
Won Blockbuster Entertainment Award
category Favorite Villain (Internet Only) for Gladiator (2000)
British Independent Film Awards
2003
Got nomination for British Independent Film Award
category Best Actor for Buffalo Soldiers (2001)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
2006
Got nomination for BFCA Award
category Best Actor for Walk the Line (2005)
2001
Won BFCA Award
category Best Supporting Actor for Quills (2000)
Chlotrudis Awards
1996
Got nomination for Chlotrudis Award
category Best Supporting Actor for To Die For (1995)
CMT Music Awards
2006
Got nomination for CMT Music Award
category Collaborative Video of the Year for "Jackson"
shared with Reese Witherspoon
Csapnivalo Awards
2000
Got nomination for Golden Slate
category Best Male Performance for Return to Paradise (1998)
Golden Globes, USA
2006
Won Golden Globe
category Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Walk the Line (2005)
2001
Got nomination for Golden Globe
category Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Gladiator (2000)
Grammy Awards
2007
Won Grammy Award
category Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for " Walk the Line"
shared with T-Bone Burnett (producer); Various Artists
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
2000
Got nomination for Sierra Award
category Best Supporting Actor for Gladiator (2000)
MovieGuide Awards
2005
Got nomination for Grace Award
category Most Inspiring Movie Acting for Ladder 49 (2004)
MTV Movie Awards
2006
Got nomination for MTV Movie Award
category Best Performance for Walk the Line (2005)
2001
Got nomination for MTV Movie Award
category Best Line from a Movie (For "It vexes me, I am terribly vexed!") for Gladiator (2000)
2001
Got nomination for MTV Movie Award
category Best Villain for Gladiator (2000)
National Board of Review, USA
2000
Won NBR Award
category Best Supporting Actor for Gladiator (2000)
Online Film Critics Society Awards
2010
Got nomination for OFCS Award
category Best Actor for Two Lovers (2009)
2006
Got nomination for OFCS Award
category Best Actor for Walk the Line (2005)
2001
Got nomination for OFCS Award
category Best Supporting Actor for Gladiator (2000)
People's Choice Awards, USA
2008
Won People's Choice Award
category Favorite Leading Man
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
2000
Won Special Award
category Body of Work for Quills (2000)
Satellite Awards
2005
Got nomination for Satellite Award
category Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for Walk the Line (2005)
2001
Got nomination for Golden Satellite Award
category Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama for Gladiator (2000)
Screen Actors Guild Awards
2006
Got nomination for Actor Award
category Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for Walk the Line (2005)
2005
Got nomination for Actor Award
category Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Hotel Rwanda (2004)
shared with Don Cheadle; Nick Nolte; Sophie Okonedo
2001
Got nomination for Actor Award
category Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Gladiator (2000)
2001
Got nomination for Actor Award
category Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture for Gladiator (2000)
shared with Russell Crowe; Richard Harris; Djimon Hounsou
Teen Choice Awards
2005
Got nomination for Teen Choice Award
category Choice Movie Actor: Drama for Ladder 49 (2004)
Young Artist Awards
1990
Got nomination for Young Artist Award
category Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture for Parenthood (1989)
1985
Got nomination for Young Artist Award
category Best Young Actor in a Family Film Made for Television for Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984) (TV)
shared with River Phoenix
