River Phoenix Biography & Movies

RIVER PHOENIX Date of Birth: August 23, 1970 Date of Death: October 31, 1993 (Age 23) Born in Madras, Oregon, River Jude Bottom, was the first child of Arlyn Sharon Dunetz and John Lee Bottom. He was named after River of Life from the Herman Hesse novel Siddhartha, his middle name was derived from the hit Beatles' song "Hey Jude," and his last name was changed from "Bottom" to "Phoenix" as a sign of renewal. River's parents made a life-changing decision in 1972 when they joined the... See All