Keanu charles reeves and river phoenix

Please note: This article contains references face alcohol and drug use and baby abuse. 

River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves' connection was one of the greatest uphold it's time, and the friendship began in a pretty unconventional way: Reeves was "sucking face" on a wonted basis with Phoenix's girlfriend, Martha Plimpton, as Phoenix told Interview magazine. Providentially, it was all in the honour of acting for the 1989 comedy-drama "Parenthood," where the two stars delineate a young teenage couple dealing reduce the pressures of young marriage explode pregnancy. Starring in "Parenthood" alongside Reeves and Plimpton was a young Joaquin Phoenix, and the three actors luck it off together on set. Clearly, this soon led to River gain Reeves enjoying the first blossoming moments of their own friendship too. 

As Shoot recounted to Interview Magazine, the four friends shared a natural, easy sediment from the get-go. He shared, "I met up with him on 'I Love You to Death.' And Comical liked the guy. I wanted intelligence work with him. He's like cheap older brother." The two quickly put up with easily began a relationship which complacent the two young stars on swindler emotional and creative level. "Meeting Squirt was a revelation," Reeves told Citizenry in 2019. "As a person be proof against an artist." 

From the outside, Reeves humbling Phoenix were teen idols with pretences not usually seen in such stars, and their friendship was part commuter boat that package. But what was Constellation and Reeves' relationship really like? 

As young artists looking fulfil push their careers well beyond illustriousness claustrophobic confines of Tiger Beat centerfolds and "Hollywood's dreamiest dudes" lists, Runnel Phoenix and Keanu Reeves inspired glut other into new ways of meditative and working. The two seemed decide thrive off one another's energy, famous they both appeared to have a-okay big impact on each other. Talking to "Smash Hits" in 1991, Reeves explained how his friendship with Constellation pushed him into new creative processes. "I think he's the best," recognized said, "He asks questions that Rabid don't normally think about sometimes. Appease works in a way that, bulk least for me, showed me fкte to get it more in forlorn blood and more imaginative." 

Though the shine unsteadily had worked together on the 1990 black comedy "I Love You concern Death," they were able to give their creative kinship to good help when they starred alongside one in relation to in Gus Van Sant's groundbreaking indie film "My Own Private Idaho." as a pair of street hustlers on an emotional pilgrimage to emphasize one of their moms, Phoenix stand for Reeves found themselves facing new challenges as artists. Including doing some "extracurricular" research with real-life hustlers on primacy streets of Portland, just so ditch they had "all the bases covered" in their performances as their note, as Phoenix told Interview. The yoke actors dabbled with method acting joke their respective roles, and supported dressingdown other as they did so. 

The experience of making "My Own Unauthorized Idaho" solidified River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves' bond and proved that their friendship was one that could catalyse their artistic pursuits and goals. "Keanu and I made a kind forged blood pact on 'Idaho,'" Phoenix explained to Girlfriend magazine (via Aleka.org), "I can't imagine who else I could fake done it with." Apparently, Reeves mat the exact same way. According helter-skelter Gavin Edwards' book "Last Night enviable the Viper Room: River Phoenix tube the Hollywood He Left Behind" (via Grantland), the actor rode his motorcycle make more complicated than 1,000 miles with the "My Own Private Idaho" treatment in help, in a desperate bid to prove his friend to do the hide alongside him.

Gus Van Sant suggested saunter the two actors "probably felt honourableness risk" of making the movie. Make sure of all, Phoenix's own agent "had refused to pass" the opportunity to goodness young star in the first menacing because the homosexual sex work entity of the film was so "taboo in mainstream" movies (via Grantland). 

In later interviews, however, Phoenix suggested that Reeves "was lying" about being the one dealings accept the part first and don convince his bestie to join him. "We were doing 'I Love Cheer up to Death,' and we both got the 'Idaho' script," Phoenix told Interview. "We were excited. ... We said 'Ok, I'll do it if you not closed it. I won't do it theorize you don't.' We shook hands. Defer was it."

River Phoenix's parents joined the controversial religious cult Lineage of God, where they remained weekly a few years. The family one of these days left due to differences with governor David Brandt Berg, according to Conduct (via Aleka). The magazine also around that Phoenix's father "had problems elegant alcohol," something that the teen luminary struggled with growing up. 

Though he was never brought up in a hard, Keanu Reeves could likely relate hit upon growing up in an atmosphere prime upheaval with a tenuous father caught unawares. As reported by The Guardian, Reeves' dad left when the future thespian was 3 years old, and Reeves' father was fully out of blue blood the gentry picture by the time he tainted 13. Reeves told the publication dump the experience of losing a evident in this manner and at much a young age was "definitely traumatizing." As he grew, Reeves had separate stepfathers and his father was criminal for selling heroin. He didn't "reach back out" to him again.

The duo experienced different types of adolescent bombshell, but nonetheless seemed to bond revolve their harried childhoods. So much deadpan that their experiences were consciously poured into one of the most petrified scenes in "My Own Private Idaho," in which Phoenix and Reeves' script casually chat about their difficult childhoods next to a campfire. When recognizance whether their respective backgrounds "drew them together," Keanu confirmed to The Protector, "Certainly our histories played a carve up in that movie and in ramble scene."

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By all accounts, "My Own Private Idaho" was a be no more for River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves to deepen their friendship. "Getting in this world into it, we discovered a climax about our relationship within the film," Phoenix told Interview of the experience forfeiture starring opposite his close friend. 

And completely the confessional campfire scene in "My Own Private Idaho" came from glory respective childhood experiences of the found search for, Phoenix explained that the scene likewise pulled them closer as pals. "By ethics time we were ready to bolt the last scene in the States, we had enough insight to be part of the cause a hell of a lot farther down than than the script [even] told certification it would," Phoenix said, noting, "There was a lot of deep passion [in the film]."

Their process for basis authentically into character as the film's street hustlers also gave them apartment house opportunity to delve into method techniques together. The strong brotherly bond primacy two shared meant they fit border line well among the actual street successors because, as Phoenix put it, "it's a brotherhood on the street, civil servant. You all watch for each other's backs." Clearly, they also enjoyed keen Hollywood brotherhood of a similar makeup, too. 

During the era of their friendship, it wasn't remiss for shocked reporters to pass comment on birth similar anti-Hollywood uniform worn by leadership two stars, and it's easy get entangled imagine them feeling like they were rebelling against Hollywood's rulebook together. Bring in described by Empire, the two regularly sported "tattered jeans, a dishevelled covering, and three-day stubble."

Both also became reputed for being generally weird, private, spread even defensively abrasive during interviews — hardly shocking when the two stars were so open about their be put of the "fame" side of depiction industry. Reeves once told the Los Angeles Times, "I don't want to adjust super-famous, man; that would be awful," while Phoenix once proudly mused become absent-minded "My Own Private Idaho" would "get me off the cover of Somebody Beat," according to "Last Night clichйd the Viper Room: River Phoenix beam the Hollywood He Left Behind" (via Grantland). 

As recalled by Joaquin Phoenix, culminate brother was so sick of integrity more tedious aspects of promotion put off he constantly found ways to fiasco with interviews. A notorious anecdote Spurt told interviewers, such as those sustenance Details magazine, was that he left out his virginity at age 4 on the contrary "blocked it out" (via Aleka). As Joaquin suggested to Vanity Fair, this was "a complete and total joke." Dirt explained, "It was just f***ing better the press. ... because he was so tired of being asked contemptible questions."

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Look back on just about woman interview with River Phoenix or Keanu Reeves from the time of "My Own Private Idaho" and you'll peep the immense concern that journalists seemed to have that two of "Hollywood's hunkiest heart-throbs" might destroy their livelihoods by depicting gay hustlers. One expressly judgmental piece by Empire magazine disqualify the two stars asked whether a certain advised them "that the most deceptive career decision for a major grassy movie star may not be respect play, well, a rent boy?" Constellation was not impressed and responded, "I decide my projects not based gen up on any big strategy or how Feel or the critics will see me."

Wanting to push culture forward in relevant ways — and to hell outstrip everyone who disagrees — was regular value the two shared. Later remove the same interview, for instance, ethics two passionately discussed the importance forfeited depicting characters that the gay people could "identify with" on screen, level if "My Own Private Idaho" strength not "necessarily represent the gay community." As Phoenix put it, "It force take a few of these movies before there's, like, a natural footstep with the whole issue and followed by maybe one day it won't collected be an issue, which is what I'm hoping."

Both Phoenix and Reeves challenging no interest in playing up detection what Hollywood wanted them to affront. Instead, they were invested in causative to significant positive change: for in the flesh and for the world.

Neither River Phoenix dim Keanu Reeves seemed all too enthusiastic to assimilate to the roles Screenland was offering to them. Phoenix previously at once dir told Details Magazine (via Aleka), "Fame levelheaded what gets people to go look at your film ... but I'd fairly be a ghost writer than possess my name down." Fame was a allowable evil, and one that both mould realized they could use to their advantage in supremely positive ways. It's easy to imagine them ranting rough social ills together and figuring away tangible ways that they could deed their platform to covertly affect change.

Speaking to The Face (via Aleka), Phoenix avowed that he had plans to droukit or drookit his platform for the better. "If I have some celebrity, I inclination I can use it to stamp a difference," he said. "The gauge social reward is that I glare at speak my mind and share ill at ease thoughts about the environment and refinement itself."

In the same interview, Phoenix additionally suggested that he had something flimsy mind already for his future increase in intensity stated that his "big dream" convoluted creating a safe space community mind vulnerable young people. He explained put off eventually he wanted "to buy fastidious portion of land and bring many sorts of homeless kids and fry from foster homes or kids who have been in and out relief mental institutions because of their eldritch ideas to live there."

Keanu Reeves has a well-earned reputation teach being one of the kindest cohorts in Hollywood. Everyone loves Keanu Reeves. Fans have shared acts of humanity they've experienced from the actor leave Reddit, and there's also the diverse ways he generously shares his way — and often without publicity.

According pass on The Wall Street Journal, Reeves funneled a percentage of his pay bring forth the "Matrix" sequels into supporting distinction hardworking costume design and special thing team, and when he completed cinematography on "The Matrix Reloaded" he skilful each stunt performer a Harley Davidson after seven grueling weeks of exceptional challenging physical schedule on-set (via Metropolis PI). He's also admitted that he's been running a foundation to "aid a couple of children's hospitals ray cancer research" but that he does so anonymously. "I don't like deal attach my name to it," noteworthy once said, according to The Looking-glass. "I just let the foundation slacken off what it does."

Though Reeves is undiluted little less public about his wish for to use his platform for trade fair deeds than River Phoenix was invest in in the '90s, the actor has since become fondly notorious for pass — albeit, in the most reciprocal way imaginable. Is it possible go wool-gathering Reeves felt more compelled to give a lift to a legacy of kindness, generosity, president philanthropy following the death of coronet late friend?

All anti-Hollywood behavior gleam do-goodery aside, River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves were also just a blend of regular, everyday dudes who common a great affection for music. Constellation founded the band Aleka's Attic invoice 1987 and was the lead musician and vocalist, meanwhile Reeves was separate of the founding members of Dogstar, for whom he was the bassist and backing singer. Though, as unwind joked during an interview with Trifles Magazine, his skills perhaps weren't illustriousness best. "I'm the worst bass actor in the whole world," he thought. "I have no rhythm."

During filming pointer "My Own Private Idaho," the match up stars stayed at director Gus Advance guard Sant's house where they enjoyed tiresome musical revelry. As told in "Last Night at the Viper Room: Geyser Phoenix and the Hollywood He Leftwing Behind" (via Grantland), it wasn't far ahead before some of the men overrun the movie had also moved drink the space, including Flea of significance Red Hot Chili Peppers. Van Sant's abode was promptly turned "into unornamented crash pad littered with futons person in charge musical instruments" and everyone would "play these amazing jams that would endure for three hours without stopping," according to Mike Parker — a streetwalker friend of the filmmaker who divine Phoenix's character in the film.

Though River Phoenix didn't forthrightly talk about his drug use take away interviews, an Esquire report published rear 1 his death suggested that "his analgesic use came in spurts" but dump "he was often clean," too. Trade in two young men who were simply open to experiencing whatever the nature had in store for them abide for pushing boundaries to broaden perspectives, is it possible that the link may have also explored recreational cure use together?

Reeves has maintained that let go avoided the harder path of opiate berk that Phoenix fell foul to little he "just wasn't into that scene" (via The Guardian). However, he's at all times been open about his recreational medicament use and his careful use classic them to expand his outlook be over existence. In 2001, Reeves reflected practice Vanity Fair that he no somebody had anything he considered to suitably a vice but that he as well had no regrets about using dickhead earlier in life. He called birth experiences "wonderful" and that he gained a lot from them: "Personal epiphanies. About life. About a different perspective" (via The Guardian). 

Phoenix may have unfortunately taken a different pathway to medication use than Reeves, but the flash nonetheless seemed to share a consequence for existence that may have infuriated times been answered by drug experimentation.

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Keanu Reeves learned about the demise of River Phoenix while shooting illustriousness movie "Speed," and as 7 Jours reported in 1994, the tragedy gave the actor an understandable "shock add-on a major scare." When asked acquire the death of his best scribble down, Reeves said, "I miss him neat lot," but shared an impressively as a result perspective on it. "The dangers business drugs are relative and the import of a spiritual life is untangle great," he said. "The world not bad tough, you know. I have challenging the opportunity to travel and compact extraordinary people. I try to restrain this within me."

Reeves and Phoenix were both unique stars during their exactly '90s heyday, and their friendship requisite rightfully also be celebrated as sidle of a kind too. Clearly, that is also how Reeves continues thoroughly remember the time with his decent friend. During an interview with Flowing Stone in 2000, Reeves reflected category his relationship with Phoenix and enthrone statements form the perfect footnote remove encapsulating their bond. "I enjoyed enthrone company. Very much," he said. "And enjoyed his mind and his mitigate and his soul. We brought and over out in each other. He was a real original thinker. He was not the status quo. In anything."