River Phoenix's Sister Rain Marks His 54th Birthday, More Than 30 Years AfterStand by MeActor's Death

Mar. 15, 2025

Rain Phoenix and River Phoenix.Photo:Randy Shropshire/Getty; Robin Platzer/Getty

Randy Shropshire/Getty; Robin Platzer/Getty

Rain Phoenixis keeping her brotherRiver Phoenix’s memory alive on what would have been his 54th birthday.

“Happy Birthday River 🩵,” she simply wrote in a caption to her post.

Red Hot Chili PeppersbassistFlea, who was friends with River and present when the actor collapsed outside the Los Angeles nightclubThe Viper Room— heaccompanied River to the hospital— wrote in a comment on Rain’s post, “Happy birthday most beautiful one.”

L-R Summer Phoenix, River Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix, John Lee Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Arlyn Phoenix at their home in Los Angeles, California, US, circa 1986.Dianna Whitley/Getty

Dianna Whitley/Getty

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River received anAcademy Awardnomination in 1988 for his role inRunning on Emptyand appeared as a young Indiana Jones in 1989’sIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He also befriended many Los Angeles-based musicians and actors likeKeanu ReevesandJohnny Depp— who co-owned the Viper Room at the time of Phoenix’s death — in the years before he died.

River Phoenix during a 1988 Los Angeles, California, photo portrait session.George Rose/Getty

George Rose/Getty

Rain and Joaquin were present at the time of River’s death on Oct. 31, 1993. Joaquin called 911 to the scene, while Rain attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, asEntertainment Weeklyreported at the time.

Rain, her sibling and their motherHeart Phoenixtypicallyshare tributes to Riveron the anniversaries of his birthday and death. Last year, Heart, 79, shared a photo of River playing the guitar toInstagramas she wrote that his birth was “one of the most amazing days of my life.”

“Just as he tried to do with most people, River Jude embraced each of his siblings (who entered through the same portal after him) with his humor, wisdom, authenticity, talent, compassion, vulnerability and undying Love,” she wrote in part in a caption at the time. “I would say he was and still is our greatest teacher.”

source: people.com