River Phoenix’s Mom Honors Her Late Son On His 53rd Birthday: ‘He Is Very Much Alive In Me’

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Image Credit: Elisa Leonelli/Shutterstock

River Phoenix’s ma is remembering her beloved lad connected his birthday. Arlyn “Heart” Phoenix, 78, penned a heartfelt connection successful grant of River’s day connected August 23. Heart said the time River was calved successful 1970 was “one of the astir astonishing days of my life.”

She continued, “Just arsenic helium tried to bash with astir people, River Jude embraced each of his siblings (who entered done the aforesaid portal aft him) with his humor, wisdom, authenticity, talent, compassion, vulnerability and undying Love. I would accidental helium was and inactive is our top teacher.”

River’s ma revealed that the “greatest pain” she’s experienced successful beingness was “the symptom of earthy childbirth” and “the symptom of my son’s passing.” River tragically passed distant connected October 31, 1993, astatine the property of 23 aft overdosing connected drugs astatine The Viper Room successful Los Angeles. His younger siblings, Joaquin, present 48, and Rain, present 50, were with him astatine the time.

Heart continued, “But astir instantaneously connected some occasions, the gifts that helium brought were imbued successful each of america and truthful we transportation connected celebrating his beingness for those 23 precious years. There are nary guarantees successful beingness and I don’t judge immoderate of america were promised that we would not acquisition ‘tragic moments’. I number it 1 of the top blessings by surviving successful the infinitesimal and drafting upon interior knowing arsenic a ineffable pathway to navigate done life’s galore challenges. River’s beingness and decease taught maine that, successful nary uncertain terms. I americium successful awe of the information that helium is precise overmuch live successful me. Thank you for each the precious messages that I person received done these past 30 years.”

River Phoenix successful 1988. (Elisa Leonelli/Shutterstock)

River was the oldest of Heart and John Lee Bottom’s 5 kids. At the clip of his death, River was 1 of Hollywood’s astir talented young stars. He had his archetypal breakout relation successful the coming-of-age drama Stand By Me and earned his archetypal Oscar information astatine 17 for his relation successful Running On Empty.

During his Oscars acceptance code for Best Actor successful 2020, the Joker actor gave his older member a shoutout. “When helium was erstwhile helium was 17, my member wrote this lyric,” Joaquin told the audience. “He said, ‘Run to the rescue with emotion and bid volition follow.'”