River Phoenix passed away on October 31, 1993, and it has already been more than 23 years since his passing. And yet, 29 years after he died from a cocaine and heroin overdose, the Oscar-nominated rock star and actor still looms over Hollywood.
Actor Michael J. Fox just last week recalled that Phoenix had been helpful to him in 1991 while he was filming his movie Doc Hollywood in Florida.
Fox explained to People that “River Phoenix and his brother [Joaquin Phoenix] had a home there, and River would take us out.” He used to pick us up and take us to his house where they would have a BBQ. It’s hilarious since that was a kind deed that was founded on a kind deed.
He described how Phoenix’s appearance on an episode of Fox’s popular television program Family Ties in 1985 brought the two together. The cast member was deeply impressed with Phoenix, who was nine years younger than Fox, but he was having trouble with a scene.
“So I approached him and asked, ‘What’s the issue?'” He then declared, “I feel like a d,” Fox remembered to the publication. You feel like a d, I asked. Why?’ He declared, “I feel silly, like a d***.” I then welcomed them to the company.
I’m done now. Feeling like a d*** is the highest level of achievement you can hope for. It’s foolish. It’s dumb to make a living doing it. For a living, we play the part of other people. We do silly things like use things we’re not really using, eat things we’re not really eating, and stand at a spot because it has better lighting. But if you persevere, you’ll eventually find a method to tell a tale that other people can’t.
Fox believed that Phoenix’s later friendliness was recompense for his counsel.