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In the early hours of Halloween morning 1993, highly acclaimed and much beloved actor River Phoenix collapsed and died from a drug overdose, outside LA’s Viper Room.

He was just 23.

Twenty-five years later, his death still haunts many: his family, fans, the industry, those who followed or admired his passion for veganism, environmental and social issues. In the immediate aftermath of his demise, fans congregated outside the now infamous club to light candles, write tributes, and mourn. And just as quickly, anger and blame began to swirl regarding the why and how of River’s demise. How could such a promising young man, not yet even in the prime of his career, have fallen so brutally?

Before I address these questions, let’s start with how I became fascinated by one of the most famous icons of Generation X.

Discovering River

Growing up, I was familiar with the name River Phoenix and how “he died from drugs outside the Viper Room.” I knew he was the brother of Joaquin Phoenix. Yet I’m sad to say I could not match a face to the very name of River Phoenix. It wasn’t until February 2013 when I came across an online article that I truly discovered River. The piece detailed how River’s last, as of until then uncompleted film Dark Blood, was finally being released.

The article provided a brief biography, and named his most famous works, such as Stand by Me. Now that movie I had seen before, and absolutely loved. And I learned that River is the actor who portrays young Indy in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: the hot young  guy with Leo-like hair? I thought. Aha! Now the name finally had a face. And one good looking visage too.

The article further discussed how Dark Blood, directed by George Sluizer, had ceased production upon River’s death; it was never released. The plot revolves around a distant Hollywood couple, played by Jonathan Pryce and Judy Davis, desperate to rekindle their relationship; they embark on a second honeymoon trip, driving through the desert southwest. However, when their Bentley breaks down, they become stranded. They soon encounter the young, mysterious loner Boy, who forges a barren existence off the land. What follows is a clash of cultures and ideology: who will emerge unscathed?

Upon finishing the article, I wanted to know more: about River, his life and times, his movies. In the following months I began to watch his films, available on YouTube at the time (such is no longer the case). I rewatched Stand By Me, and immediately saw how his performance as the tough, yet brooding Gordie, launched his career. I rewatched the scenes of him as Young Indy. And I watched My Own Private Idaho, in which he plays a narcoleptic, gay hustler alongside Keanu Reeves: wow. Just wow. What a film. It is so bizarre and yet so perfectly stitched together it is like a piece of art. You don’t have to be gay to love this film. River’s character Mike is so achingly real—sensitive, sweet, so vulnerable—that I literally want to hug him. That River and Keanu portayed gay characters, very taboo even 30 years ago, says a lot. It is no wonder that this film, and especially River, are held in high esteem by the LGBTQ community.

That summer, 2013, was my River Phoenix summer. I truly came to know more about him and his work. When I watched Dogfight, a touching love story set in 1963 San Francisco, that was it. I was and will forever be an “RP” fan for life. That River—the son of 60’s hippies, and he himself an earthy, pacifist,vegan guy—portrayed a Marine, and convincingly so, attests to his true talent as an actor. He fully immersed himself into every character. And it felt genuine every time. Yet, this very immersion proved to be his Achilles heel. At some point, River began doing drugs during his early career. When filming for MOPI began, River wanted to study real life gay hustlers: he talked with, interviewed them, and was even mistaken as the real thing; he was flagged down by a potential client. He talked with them, but did not pursue anything further. Yet in preparing for the role, he went all out in one tragic aspect: the heavy drug abuse present among the hustling demographic. Even family, friends, and others on set suspected that River was more than acting.

Just two years after the release of MOPI, River was gone. The golden boy, the “vegan James Dean,” died on a dirty sidewalk in Hollywood. His very life and death are contradictions. How could someone who seemed so pure and genuine, who followed veganism in the extreme, just as easily abuse drugs? I had to find out; I needed to learn more, so I read In Search of River Phoenix: The Truth Behind the Myth.

Book Synopsis & Review

Written by Barry C. Lawrence, In Search of River Phoenix is an exhaustive, comprehensive biography. At more than 400 pages, the book is filled with both previously published and new interviews, and dozens of photographs. The book begins with a forward by William Richert, Hollywood producer, MOPI castmate, and one of River’s closest confidantes. Lawrence then explains in his introduction about his fascination with River, and his quest to further learn and understand the actor’s life. Lawrence writes chronologically, starting with the origins of River’s parents, John Bottom and Arlyn Dunetz, and how they became real life hippies. River was born in rural Oregon, but the Bottom family never stayed in one place for long; in his adolescence, River and his family moved well over one hundred times. River’s parents and their experiences alone well illuminate the times in which they lived; they refused to conform, lived a nomadic existence, and experimented with drugs. During two particularly powerful hallucinogenic trips, both Arlyn and John claimed that God spoke directly to them: it was a “religious reawakening.” Before long they  joined the evangelical group “The Children of God,” and followed the group to South America to help proselytize.

Known as COG, the group is nothing more than a sick, demented sex cult; Lawrence rightfully and scathingly reveals the group for what they are. He exposes the prevalent child sex abuse practiced by the group, as encouraged by COG founder David Berg, known as “Mo.” Lawrence includes excerpts of “Mo Letters,” in which Berg blatantly instructs his followers to basically sexually abuse children; he also encourages incest. Included in this section are several COG “comic book” illustrations and pamphlets which further reveal how twisted the group is.

Chapter 4, in which all this is discussed, is a truly key component of this biography. I had read briefly online how River and his family lived in a “sex cult” for a time, but that was about it. Lawrence doesn’t beat around the bush: he wants readers to know how COG ruined so many lives, and how River was one of its many victims. Several of River’s friends attest that he was severely sexually abused as a child, not just by other cult members, but possibly by his own parents. Regardless, River was an abused child. I am glad that Lawrence exposes COG and explores this period of River’s life, but it is such an upsetting and emotionally depleting chapter that I had to take a break from the book for a few days. Lawrence concludes that, due to such traumatic experiences, “River’s demons were planted.”

The book continues on how little River and his sister Rain (and eventually his siblings Joaquin, Summer, and Liberty) would sing on street corners. Wielding a guitar much larger than him, River and his singing siblings were essentially helping to provide for their family; one could easily argue that John and Arlyn were exploiting their children. Eventually disillusioned with COG, River’s parents planned their exodus back to the US, in 1976. Enroute on a cargo ship, the children witnessed how the crew caught and killed fish; it proved the impetus for the kids to swear off eating meat. In time, the family became vegan, eschewing eggs, dairy, and honey. Further change occurred when John legally changed the family’s last name to Phoenix, to symbolize new beginnings in life.

Lawrence then details River’s rough adjustment to living in the US; having spent years in South America, Spanish was his native tongue, and he never received a formal education. The author highlights how “Hollywood was Arlyn’s idea,” in that she capitalized on her childrens’ talent. Her persistence paid off, and soon River was starring in commercials, TV shows, and eventually movies. With plenty of excerpts and interviews, Lawrence paints a detailed view of his subject as he ascended quickly into the limelight. Every project and film River starred in is given much the same detail. He also dedicates a good portion of the book in examining River’s mucical talents, and his band, Aleka’s Attic, quest for a record deal.

Throughout the book Lawrence keeps present these themes of duality: “hippy” v. Hollywood, veganism v. drugs, authenticity v. reputation/ appearance, dedication v. recklessness. For much of his career, River is very conscious of his image: promoting pacifist ideals, veganism, and animal rights. That he felt very genuine about these, there is no doubt. Yet in time, like any young individual, he tired of his squeaky clean image and began seeking “edgier” roles. Many would argue that MOPI was the point of no return. Lawrence traces River’s drug use and how it destroyed his relationships with his girlfriends, despite their pleas that he get help. His drug abuse escalated to the point in that even in his last films, he physically looks different: gaunt, exhausted, ashen faced, suddenly older than his young twenties.

Yet, for the longest time, River was the consummate actor: he hid his drugs problems well, and manipulated many into thinking that he was just fine. As Lawrence argues, this also led to his undoing. Surrounded by a seedy Hollywood crowd and refusing to seek help, this proved deadly. The highly detailed chapter “River Falls,” examines the timeline and circumstances leading up to and surrounding his demise. What is made clear via many witnesses at the club, is that no one stepped in to help River, when it was obvious that he was overdosing from a speedball—a deadly combination of cocaine and heroin. Even when the actor stepped outside and experienced several seizures, those with him—his sister, brother, and girlfriend—were paralyzed in what to do. To the very last, people were afraid in exposing the truth of River’s habits; his reputation proved more important than the person. Yes, River was the one who chose to abuse drugs, there is no denying that. But, as Lawrence includes this quote from Richert: “[River] died in the midst of all these people, and nobody would touch him, because he was a celebrity.” Had someone, anyone, intervened sooner, River may very well be alive today.

*****

In Search of River Phoenix is a work of love. Six years of research makes for a highly detailed, revealing book. Lawrence contacted and interviewed as many people—family, friends, actors, etc.—as he could. Not surprisingly, Lawrence never heard back from River’s immediate family, in his requests for interviews; the family has been very quiet regarding River’s death.

Some drawbacks of the work are that Lawrence does tend to repeat information or points, but for me this did not detract too much from my reading experience. The author leaves no stone unturned, and even goes so far as to include a chapter that discusses River’s horoscope, name and numerology, apparent chats with psychics, etc. Many readers will find such information as filler material or downright fluff, but this is a tiny section of the book. True River fans are further rewarded with the last chapter dedicated to trivia tidbits. The book even includes a complete nomination and filmography list, and in depth timeline. Published in 2004, the book is not up to date in that it does not discuss the 2013 release of Dark Blood; I honestly would be interested to see what Lawrence would write and further learn about the film.

For the truly dedicated River Phoenix fans, this is a book for you. Even those mildly interested in the actor will be amazed by the uniquenss of River’s life, career, and talents. For those looking for a more direct, quick read, I recommended Last Night at the Viper Room: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind by Gavin Edwards. Half the length of Lawrence’s book with twice as many chapters, Edwards examines River’s life and death via the lens of 1980s and 1990s Hollywood culture. The book includes several color photographs and several tales and anecdotes not found in In Search Of. But for those seeking a more encyclopedic biography, pick up Lawrence’s work.

Final Thoughts

River has been gone now longer than he lived. Of course, one wonders what he would have accomplished had he lived. After his death, one Hollywood star in particular took several roles originally meant for River Phoenix: an actor named Leonardo DiCaprio. Without a doubt, had River not passed away that night his future would have rivaled the Leo’s and Brad’s of the industry. But we’ll never know. I’d like to think that River’s true passion, music, would have flourished. Perhaps he would have finally reached a record deal for Aleka’s Attic. He would have continued his true talent in acting, but he could further dedicate himself to creating music.

It is all too easy to categorize River as a hippy, a junkie, a hypocrite, the tragic, fallen Hollywood golden boy. Actress Martha Plimpton, River’s first girlfriend and whom many consider to be the true love of his life, said bluntly in 1993: “He was just a boy, a very good-hearted boy who was very fucked up and had no idea how to implement his good intentions.” I honestly believe this is a fair statement. And what Lawrence makes very clear in his book, through his research and interviews, is how kind and caring River was: to his family, to his friends, and to his fans.   However you may perceive him, there is no denying that some kind of magic occurs when River appears on the silver screen. The individual may be gone, but his essence, passion, and talent live on, reborn, just like his name: the mythical phoenix, rising up from the ashes, forever eternal.

~LMC

In Search of River Phoenix: The Truth Behind the Myth by Barry C. Lawrence, Wordsworth Publishing, USA, 2004, 456 pages

Last Night at the Viper Room: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind by Gavin Edwards, HarperCollins, USA, 2013, 273 pages