Joaquin Phoenix

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October 28, 1974

Joaquin Rafael Phoenix

Actor

2013 Her

2013 Lowlife

2012 Dark Blood (voice)

2012 The Master

2008 Two Lovers

2007 Reservation Road

2007 We Own the Night

2005 Walk the Line

2004 Ladder 49

2004 Hotel Rwanda

2004 The Village

2003 Brother Bear (voice)

2003 It's All About Love

2002 Signs

2001 Buffalo Soldiers

2000 Quills

2000 Gladiator

1999 8MM

1999 The Yards

1998 Clay Pigeons

1998 Return to Paradise

1997 U Turn

1997 Inventing the Abbotts

1995 To Die For

1991 Walking the Dog (short)

1989 Parenthood
Garry Buckman-Lampkin (as Leaf Phoenix)

1989 Superboy (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1989 Still the Beaver (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1988 Secret Witness (TV movie) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1987 Russkies (as Leaf Phoenix)

1986 SpaceCamp (as Leaf Phoenix)

1986 Morningstar/Eveningstar (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1986 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1985 Anything for Love (TV movie) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1985 Kids Don't Tell (TV movie) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1984 Murder, She Wrote (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1984 Hill Street Blues (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1984 The Fall Guy (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1984 ABC Afterschool Specials (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1983 Mr. Smith (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1983 Six Pack (TV movie) (as Leaf Phoenix)

1982 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (TV series) (as Leaf Phoenix)

Producer

2010 I'm Still Here (producer)

2007 4Real (TV series documentary) (executive producer)

2007 We Own the Night (producer)

Writer

2010 I'm Still Here

Appearances

2013 Unity (documentary)

2010 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV series)

1998-2010 Late Show with David Letterman (TV series)

2010 I'm Still Here

2009 CMT Star Crossed (TV series)

2008 The Making of 'We Own the Night' (video documentary)

2008 Tension: Creating 'We Own the Night' (video short)

2008 The 34th Annual People’s Choice Awards (TV special)

2007 4Real (TV series documentary)

2000-2007 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(TV series)

2004-2007 Live! With Kelly and Michael (TV series)

2001-2007 Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV series)

2007 Entertainment Tonight (TV series)

2007 The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV special)

2006 40 Dumbest Celeb Quotes... Ever (TV special)

2006 Becoming Cash/Becoming Carter (video documentary short)

2006 Ring of Fire: The Passion of Johnny & June (video documentary short)

2006 The 78th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)

2006 CMT Insider (TV series)

2005-2006 Sunday Morning Shootout (TV series)

2005-2006 Film '72 (TV series)

2006 The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV special)

2005-2006 Corazón de... (TV series)

1999-2005 HBO First Look (TV series documentary)

2005 Magacine (TV series)

2004-2005 The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV series)

2005 Earthlings (documentary)

2005 Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of 'Walk the Line' (TV documentary short)

2004 Inside 'The Village': A Movie Special (TV short)

2004 On the Set: Ladder 49 (TV documentary)

2003 GMTV (TV series)

2003 RI:SE (TV series)

2003 Common Ave. (TV series)

2003 Making 'Signs' (video documentary)

2003 It's All About Love... og Thomas Vinterberg (TV documentary short)

2002 The 2002 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (TV special documentary)

2001 Anatomy of a Scene (TV series documentary)

2001 Breaking the Silence: The Making of 'Hannibal' (video documentary)

2001 Quills: The Marquis on the Marquee (video documentary short)

2001 Quills: Dressing the Part (video documentary short)

2001 Quills: Creating Charenton (video documentary short)

2001 The 73rd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)

2000 Gladiator Games: The Roman Bloodsport (TV documentary)

2000 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (TV special documentary)

1997 Showbiz Today (TV series)

1993 Canceled Lives: Letters from the Inside (video documentary) (voice)

ALMA Awards

2009 Nominated ALMA Award Actor in Film for: Two Lovers (2008)

Academy Awards

2013 Nominated Oscar Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for: The Master (2012)

2006 Nominated Oscar Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for: Walk the Line (2005)

2001 Nominated Oscar Best Actor in a Supporting Role for: Gladiator (2000)

BAFTA Awards

2013 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Leading Actor for: The Master (2012)

2006 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for: Walk the Line (2005)

2001 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for: Gladiator (2000)

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

2001 Won Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Villain (Internet Only) for: Gladiator (2000)

British Independent Film Awards

2003 Nominated British Independent Film Award Best Actor for: Buffalo Soldiers (2001)

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

2013 Nominated Critics Choice Award Best Actor for: The Master (2012)

2006 Nominated Critics Choice Award Best Actor for: Walk the Line (2005)

2001 Won Critics Choice Award Best Supporting Actor for: Quills (2000) Also for Gladiator (2000) and The Yards (2000)

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Nominated CFCA Award Best Actor for: Walk the Line (2005)

Chlotrudis Awards

2001 Nominated Chlotrudis Award Best Supporting Actor for: Quills (2000)

1996 Nominated Chlotrudis Award Best Supporting Actor for: To Die For (1995)

Csapnivalo Awards

2000 Nominated Golden Slate Best Male Performance for: Return to Paradise (1998)

Golden Globes

2006 Won Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for: Walk the Line (2005)

2001 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for: Gladiator (2000)

Grammy Awards

2007 Won Grammy Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for: Walk the Line (2005). Shared with: T-Bone Burnett (producer)

Hollywood Film Festival

2005 Won Hollywood Film Award Actor of the Year

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

2012 Won LAFCA Award Best Actor for: The Master (2012)

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

2000 Nominated Sierra Award Best Supporting Actor for: Gladiator (2000). Also for Quills (2000)

MTV Movie Awards

2006 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Performance for: Walk the Line (2005)

2001 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Line from a Movie for: Gladiator (2000) for "It vexes me, I am terribly vexed!"

2001 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Villain for: Gladiator (2000)

MovieGuide Awards

2005 Nominated Grace Award Most Inspiring Movie Acting for: Ladder 49 (2004)

National Board of Review

2000 Won NBR Award Best Supporting Actor for: Gladiator (2000). Also for Quills (2000) and The Yards (2000)

New York Film Critics Circle Awards

2012 3rd place NYFCC Award Best Actor for: The Master (2012)

Online Film Critics Society Awards

2010 Nominated OFCS Award Best Actor for: Two Lovers (2008)

2006 Nominated OFCS Award Best Actor for: Walk the Line (2005)

2001 Nominated OFCS Award Best Supporting Actor for: Gladiator (2000)

People's Choice Awards

2008 Won People's Choice Award Favorite Leading Man

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

2001 Nominated PFCS Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role for: Gladiator (2000)

2001 Nominated PFCS Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role for: Quills (2000)

San Diego Film Critics Society Awards

2012 Nominated SDFCS Award Best Actor for: The Master (2012)

2000 Won Special Award For the body of work in the last year

Sant Jordi Awards

2011 Won Sant Jordi Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero) for: Two Lovers (2008)

Satellite Awards

2012 Nominated Satellite Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture for: The Master (2012)

2005 Nominated Satellite Award Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for: Walk the Line (2005)

2001 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama for: Gladiator (2000)

Screen Actors Guild Awards

2006 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for: Walk the Line (2005)

2005 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for: Hotel Rwanda (2004)

2001 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for: Gladiator (2000)

2001 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture for: Gladiator (2000)

Teen Choice Awards

2005 Nominated Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor: Drama for: Ladder 49 (2004)

Venice Film Festival

2012 Won Volpi Cup Best Actor for: The Master (2012). Shared with: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards

2012 Nominated WAFCA Award Best Actor for: The Master (2012)

2005 Nominated WAFCA Award Best Actor for: Walk the Line (2005)

Young Artist Awards

1990 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture for: Parenthood (1989)

1985 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actor in a Family Film Made for Television for: "ABC Afterschool Specials: Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (#12.6)" (1984). Shared with: River Phoenix

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I enjoy humor more than anything, I don't really sit around banging my head and crying all the time.

I changed my name because no one in the States could pronounce 'Joaquin' and I used to get really embarrassed about it as a kid. All the other kids in my family had gorgeous names and I got 'Joaquin', you know what I mean? So I said 'This is not good. Even I can't say it'.

I had a really wonderful upbringing. We were a tight family. It was wonderful to grow up with so many siblings. We were all just a year or two apart, and we were always so supportive of each other. I learned everything from my older brother and sister and taught it to my younger sisters.

"The less someone knows about me, the better, because my intention is to play a variety of characters." - on maintaining a lower profile then some of his other Hollywood peers.

After River's death, I felt like I was in an altered state. It took me over a year to get my life back.

My significant other right now is myself, which is what happens when you suffer from multiple personality disorder and self-obsession.

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Actor, director, producer, musician and and social activist, Joaquin Rafael Phoenix (formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix) was born in Puerto Rico to Children of God missionaries "John Bottom Amram" and "Arlyn Dunetz Jochebed" (a.k.a. Heart).

His parents eventually became disenchanted with the Children of God; they made the decision to leave the cult and returned to the U.S. in 1978. They changed their last name to "Phoenix" to symbolize a new beginning. This was also around the time Joaquin had begun calling himself "Leaf", desiring to have a nature-related name like his siblings and inspired by spending time outdoors raking leaves with his father.

In order to provide food and financial support for the family, the children performed on the streets and at various talent contests, singing and playing instruments.

Phoenix and his siblings were eventually discovered by one of Hollywood's leading children's agents, Iris Burton, who got the five children acting work, mainly doing commercials and television show appearances.

The death of his brother River Phoenix in 1993, and the media intrusion into his life proved to be overwhelming; and he retreated from the public eye. A year later, at the insistence of his friends, Phoenix reluctantly re-entered the world of acting.

He is known for his work as a social activist, particularly as an advocate for animal rights.

On October 27, 2008, he announced his retirement from film in order to focus on his music career.

Joaquin and River are the first brothers in Hollywood history to be nominated for an Academy Award in the acting category.

Is a spokesperson for PETA.

Donated $2,000 in 2003 to Dennis Kucinich's (DSA) campaign for president - along with such other famous contributors as Willie Nelson, Danny Glover, and Edward Asner

He has directed music videos for the following bands: Ringside, She Wants Revenge, People in Planes, Arckid, Albert Hammond Jr., and Silversun Pickups.

Once refused to wear shoes during a photo shoot for Prada because they were made out of leather.

He is a strict vegan. He refuses to wear any costumes made out of animal skin. For the movie Gladiator (2000), Quills (2000) and Walk the Line (2005), among others, he requested that his "leather" costumes be made from synthetic materials.

Contrary to popular belief, the scar on his lip is not the result of a repaired cleft lip or palate. It is simply a birth mark. Phoenix has stated in interviews that, while pregnant with him, his mother felt a sharp pain one day, and he was born with a mark on his lip.

Reportedly never reads his own press or reviews.

Checked himself into rehab to be treated for alcoholism in early April 2005.

Phoenix was in car accident January 2006 on a winding canyon road that flipped his car over. Shaken and confused, Phoenix heard a tapping on his window and a voice say, "Just relax". Unable to see the man, Phoenix replied, "I'm fine. I am relaxed". Then managed to see that the man was famed, eccentric German auteur Werner Herzog, and Herzog replied, 'No, you're not'. After helping Phoenix out of the wreckage, Herzog phoned in an ambulance and vanished.

Kate Winslet calls him the best actor of his generation.

Salary

Walk the Line (2005) $3,500,000

Ladder 49 (2004) $850,000

The Village (2004) $5,000,000

Signs (2002) $1,000,000

Buffalo Soldiers (2001) $700,000

Quills (2000) $375,000

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