Joaquin Phoenix Opens Up About Death Of Brother River Phoenix [Video]

Joaquin Phoenix admitted that he felt invaded by the media upon the death of his brother, River Phoenix, in 1993. The Stand By Me star passed away of a drug overdose at the age of 23.

Phoenix, 45, made an appearance on 60 minutes Sunday. When his brother fell outside The Viper Room in West Hollywood, Joaquin was only 19. Phoenix admitted to Anderson Cooper that he didn’t know about River’s fame as they “were so removed from kind of the entertainment world.”

“River was a really substantial actor and movie star, and we didn’t really know it,” he said. “So during that time in which you’re most vulnerable, there are helicopters flying over. There are people that are trying to sneak onto your land. Certainly, for me, it felt like it impeded on the mourning process, right?”

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Phoenix’s mother, Heart Phoenix, said that she is still hit with waves of mourning, 26 years after River’s death. “The grieving process happens out of nowhere, you know? I’ll be driving and all of a sudden, I will feel it,” she admitted

Phoenix followed in his older brother’s footsteps and began acting. Even though he has been doing it since childhood, Phoenix admitted he can be “petrified” on set.

With an Oscar nomination for Phoenix this year, it is highly likely that he adds another award to his collection for his role in Joker.

Last week, Phoenix was recognized for his depiction of Arthur Fleck with a Golden Globe for best actor in a drama.

“There were times where I really felt for him,” Phoenix told Cooper of the character. “And there were times where I was disappointed and repulsed by his behavior, right? And I, I liked that.”

Phoenix hasn’t always had success with his films. The 2010 documentary of his attempt to be a rapper in 2010 received an audience score of 38% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Phoenix said that the film actually gave him more confidence.

“There’s something liberating about public humiliation,” he said, “can’t get much worse, right?”

Phoenix was arrested when he accompanied Jane Fonda on Capitol Hill for her weekly climate change protests in Washington last week. Phoenix was next to Grace and Frankie star before being led away by police for Fire Drill on Friday ay a protest that is centered on getting politicians to fight against climate change.