Who Are Joaquin Phoenix’s Four Siblings?
Most people know actor Joaquin Phoenix as the Oscar-winning star of movies such as Gladiator, Walk the Line and the Joker franchise, including the new film Joker: Folie à Deux, which opens on Oct. 4. You may also know him as the younger brother of ’80s and ’90s film star River Phoenix, who passed away tragically in 1993.
But you may not realize that 49-year-old Joaquin is one of five siblings, born to parents John and Arlyn “Heart” Phoenix.
Dianna Whitley/Getty Images
The family was at one point part of the controversial religious organization Children of God, but left around 1977. After leaving, the Phoenixes realized that many of their children had a talent for performance and began to pursue show business careers for them.
Arlyn is now 79, while John passed in 2015. What are the rest of the Phoenix siblings up to today?
River Jude Phoenix (died on Oct. 31, 1993)
Everett Collection
Oldest son River was the first Phoenix to catch Hollywood’s eye and was considered both a promising actor and a teen heartthrob throughout the late ’80s and early ’90s. He starred in films such as Stand by Me, Sneakers, My Own Private Idaho and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and was moving into more lead roles when he tragically died at the age of 23 from a drug overdose. The Thing Called Love was his final project completed before his death; he was dating costar Samantha Mathis when he passed. Although he proved to be an amazing actor with tons of potential, some of his family has said that his true passion was music. He played guitar and sang in the band Aleka’s Attic, alongside his sister Rain. He was also an outspoken animal rights activist.
Rain Joan of Arc Phoenix (51)
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Rain has created an acting and singing career for herself, and most famously appeared in Family Ties. She also cofounded several bands including Papercranes, Venus and the Moon, and the Causey Way with her sisters, and has performed with R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers and as a solo artist. She has said that music has helped her with the healing process after her brother’s sudden death. Rain and Joaquin are on the board of directors for a nonprofit organization called The Lunchbox Fund, which provides meals to children in South Africa. She also serves on the board of River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding and founded the nonprofit Gift Horse Project.
Liberty Mariposa Phoenix (48)
Eric Charbonneau/WireImage for 20th Century Fox Studios
Liberty’s acting and singing career was much more short-lived than those of her famous siblings, and now she mainly focuses on philanthropy. All of the siblings are vegan, and many have continued the work that River began as an activist for animal rights and environmental causes. Liberty opened an eco-friendly store in Florida in 2007 and has also worked as a teacher at the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery. She is married to Andy Lord (she was previously married to Ernesto Asch from 1996-2004) and has five children.
Summer Joy Phoenix (45)
Sonia Recchia/Getty Images
Summer has appeared on shows such as Murder, She Wrote, ER and Growing Pains. In 2006, she married Casey Affleck; the couple had two children together before divorcing in 2016. Summer and her sister Rain now host a podcast together called LaunchLeft, which functions as an extension of their company of the same name, which helps emerging artists.
Remind 
Favorite TV Families
April 2019
Celebrate the best of the best of TV families!
Buy This Issue