Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin was born to Children of God missionaries who traveled extensively throughout Central and South America on October 28, 1974 under the name Joaquin Rafael Bottom. Joaquin was six when the family finally settled in the Los Angeles area. The family changed its name to Phoenix to represent new beginnings. Joaquin and his four siblings worked in commercials and Joaquin's first acting situation was on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) with his brother River.
Joaquin made his big screen debut SpaceCamp in 1986 and starred in Russkies in 1987. 1988-9 found the Phoenix clan moving to Florida where Joaquin was cast in Parenthood (1989). Joaquin loved acting, but decided to lay low for a bit after this film. He travelled to Mexico with his father and returned three year later. On October 30, 1993 Joaquin was at the Viper Room when his brother River collapsed from a drug overdose and died. Joaquin when into isolation and it was not until 1991 when he played opposite Nicole Kidman's To Die For (1995). 1997 saw Joaquin in Inventing the Abbots, an engagement to Liv Tyler and a supporting role in Return to Paradise (1998). In 2000 Joaquin stared alongside Russell Crowe in Gladiator. His career took off and Joaquin had a starring role in Ladder 49 (2004), Walk the Line (he sang his own vocals) (2005), and as Mel Gibson's brother in Signs (2002).
Joaquin is characterized by the scar on his upper lip (just birthmark) and a deep husky voice. He generally plays emotionally and mentally doubled characters in his films and has darkened circles under his eyes. He is a strict vegan and refuses to wear animal skins or leathers. Joaquin checked himself into alcohol rehab in April 2005 and in 2008 he purported to retire from acting to become a rapper. This was just a ruse for the movie I'm Still Here (2010).