Above: Phoenix in Gus Van Sant’s “My Own Private Idaho” (1991)

Alex Matthew

Last Thursday marked what would have been the forty eighth birthday of beloved actor and cult hero River Phoenix who sadly passed away a quarter of a century ago at the tender age of twenty three, a result of drug overdose. Phoenix has now been dead longer than he was ever alive. He began working from an early age, appearing in various children’s television shows and movies before breaking into the spotlight in 1986 when he starred in Rob Reiner’s classic, “Stand By Me”. What followed was a short lived but impressive career as he starred in remarkable films such as Gus Van Sant’s “My Own Private Idaho”, cameoed in Steven Spielberg’s rollicking adventure flick “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and even earned an Oscar nomination for his astounding performance as Danny Pope in “Running on Empty” in 1989.

However Phoenix was not only known for his acting. Carrying a great degree of charm and sensitivity in his few filmed interviews, he was a devoted vegetarian from the early age of just eight and a passionate advocate for environmentalism, publicly supporting several charities surrounding the issue. Furthermore his unique fashion sense and style ensured cult status which still continues into today. Take a stroll on social media sites such as Tumblr and it won’t be long before you stumble upon an image of the star.

In honour of Phoenix’s astounding work we list five essential films of his which are must-watches for film lovers and casual movie-goers alike!