River Phoenix was plastered on every girl-of-a-certain-age's bedroom wall and school locker in the early '90s. The young actor earned a devout following, not just for his California skater kid good looks, but for his work in films like A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, Little Nikita and The Mosquito Coast. As a young actor, Phoenix earned a reputation for diving into roles head first and whole-heartedly, leaving everything on the screen. At the age of 23 and at what was most likely the beginning of a remarkable career, he died of heart failure due to a drug overdose.

He left behind a legacy of noteworthy roles and on what would have been the actor's 44th birthday, we look back at some of his most memorable performances:

Chris Chambers in *Stand By Me*

Phoenix shined as a young tough with a heart of gold in this 1986 adaptation of the Stephen King story. Even as a young star, Phoenix was able to tap into and telegraph emotions that far more experienced actors struggled to convey. While the film focused on the journey of Gordie LaChance, it was Chambers who captured viewers' hearts.

Young Indiana Jones in *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade*

Phoenix played the young Indiana Jones in the memorable opening sequence to the franchise's third installment. Although his role ended some 30 minutes into the film, the scenes were packed with stunt-filled action, including a horse chase, a run across the top of a moving circus train and a tumble into a snake-filled pit. Phoenix imbued the role with straight-laced morality and straight-faced fun, making the iconic Indiana Jones character, for a moment, all his.

Mike Waters in *My Own Private Idaho*