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Joaquin Phoenix is one of the biggest actors in Hollywood today, starring in classics such as Gladiator and Walk the Line, As well as more recent hits such as The Master and Her. Known for his eclectic choice of roles, Phoenix has been in the limelight for much of his life.
With his varied filmography and critical praise, what could Phoenix’s net worth be? The answer shouldn’t be too much of a surprise:
Joaquin’s Net Worth as of 2019: $35 Million
How did such an enigmatic actor achieve such success? Find out below!
Early Life
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Phoenix was born on October 28th, 1974 in Puerto Rico. The third of five children, Phoenix’s siblings include the late River Phoenix, who died in 1993. As a youth, he changed his last name from “Bottom” to “Phoenix”, while also adopting the moniker Leaf, which followed him into early roles. Phoenix’s family moved around quite a bit, venturing across locations such as South America, until eventually settling in Los Angeles, where Phoenix and his siblings began acting in small parts.
Initial Roles
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Some of Phoenix’s early work includes roles in TV programs such as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and ABC Afterschool Special Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia. Phoenix appeared in both of these projects with his brother River. After landing parts in films such as Russkies and Parenthood, Phoenix temporarily withdrew from acting to travel around Mexico and South America with his father. He further withdrew from the public eye when his brother River died on October 31, 1993 from a drug overdose.
Return to the Screen/Rising Star
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Phoenix eventually returned to the screen, establishing a reputation for playing brooding, complex characters, starring in films such as To Die For, U Turn and Clay Piegons. It wasn’t until 2000 however where Phoenix would land the role that would skyrocket his career.
Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, saw Phoenix portray Commodus, the film’s main antagonist. Phoenix received widespread acclaim for his performance and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
After this, Phoenix partook in films such as M. Night Shyamalan’s science-fiction thriller Signs, later reuniting with Shyamalan in 2004’s The Village. In 2005, Phoenix portrayed singer Johnny Cash in the biopic Walk the Line, where he garnered additional praise and another Oscar nomination.
“Retirement” and Second Return
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In 2008, Phoenix announced that he would retire from acting and pursue a career in music, although this turned out to be a stunt used to create the narrative for his mockumentary film I’m Still Here. Afterward, Phoenix returned to acting once more, starring in films such as The Master and Her, the former of which earned him another Oscar nomination.
In 2019, Phoenix starred in Joker, in which he portrays the titular supervillain.
Personal Life
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Phoenix is a long-time animal rights activist and is a vegan. He has collaborated with various organizations to spread information about animal cruelty and veganism. He also is a member of In Defense of Animals and PETA and has actively campaigned for both organizations. As a personal rule, he does not wear clothing made of animal skin.
Politically, Phoenix has supported Democratic politicians, such as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 election.
In 2016, Phoenix began actress Rooney Mara, eventually becoming engaged to her in July 2019.
