Joaquin Phoenix

last update 2007-05-28
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Joaquin Phoenix was born on October 28, 1974, in Puerto Rico as the middle child of parents who gave their children anything but a traditional upbringing. His parents joined a cult-like sect of soul searchers known as Children of God and moved around in South America and the Caribbean islands acting as missionaries before finally settling back in Los Angeles where they determined their children's future was in the movies. Nonetheless, in 2000 his role in Gladiator did just that. As the corrupt ruler Commodus, he was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe. Phoenix has worked non-stop since, with acclaimed performances in Signs (2002) as Mel Gibson's younger brother, Buffalo Soldiers (2003) and in The Village (2004), playing a painfully shy but courageous young man. He also provided the voice of Kenai, a boy who doesn't respect animal life until he becomes one in Brother Bear (2003). Although he gets a lot of questions about the scar on his lip, it was just something he was born with. A strict vegan, Joaquin doesn't eat meat and refuses to wear clothing made of animal products, including for his movie roles. His sisters Rain and Summer are also successful actors.