He first gained references in music with Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento writing the song "River Phoenix: Letter to a Young Actor" about him after having seen Phoenix in The Mosquito Coast (1986). The song appears on the 1989 release Miltons. read more
Commenting that while Phoenix maintained an image of a hippie vegan pacifist, the reality of his drug taking was much darker. On the night that he died, 'River and John stumbled in' to The Viper Room, writes Forrest. The pair met up with Phoenix's brother, Joaquin, their sister Rain and Red Hot Chili Pepper Flea and Johnny Depp. read more
It’s been 20 years since River Phoenix died on October 31, 1993 at the Viper Room, where the 23-year-old Oscar nominee drank a “speedball” of heroin and cocaine dissolved into a drink before chasing it with Valium. read more