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Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara named their baby River after the actor’s brother who died in 1993

Actor Joaquin Phoenix welcomed his first child with actress actor Rooney Mara. The couple named River’s baby after the actor’s brother.

River Phoenix, known for his performances in “Stand By Me”, “Running on Empty” and “My Own Private Idaho”, died on October 31, 1993, when he was 23, after a drug overdose in the Viper Room in West Hollywood. Joaquin, then 19, was with him at the time and called 911.

Actor, Soundtrack
Biography: River Phoenix was born River Jude Bottom in Madras, Oregon. His mother, Arlyn (Dunetz), a Bronx-born secretary, and his father, John Bottom, a carpenter, met in California in 1968. They worked as itinerant fruit pickers, and later joined the Children of God religious group (John was originally Catholic, while Arlyn was born Jewish). By the time ... See full bio >>
Born: August 23, 1970 | Madras, Oregon, USA
Died: October 31, 1993 (age 23) | West Hollywood, California, USA

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“In just about every movie I did, there was a connection to River in some way,” Phoenix told Anderson Cooper in an interview “60 Minutes” that aired in January.

Phoenix, 45, who won the Oscar for best actor in February for the 2019 movie “Joker” (shot in New Jersey), is an animal rights advocate and a vegan. He used his Oscar acceptance speech to talk about it.

Actor, Producer, Soundtrack
Biography: Joaquin Phoenix was born Joaquin Rafael Bottom in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Arlyn (Dunetz) and John Bottom, and is the middle child in a brood of five. His parents, from the continental United States, were then serving as Children of God missionaries. His mother is from a Jewish family from New York, while his father, from California, is of mostly... See full bio >>
Born: October 28, 1974 | San Juan, Puerto Rico

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35-year-old Mara was nominated for two Oscars for “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (2011) and “Carol” (2015). She is also a member of two football dynasties. His great-grandparents founded the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers and his family still own both teams.

Actress, Producer, Soundtrack
Biography: Actress and philanthropist Rooney Mara was born on April 17, 1985 in Bedford, New York. She made her screen debut in the slasher film Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2005), went on to have a supporting role in the independent coming-of-age drama Tanner Hall (2009), and has since starred in the horror remake A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), the ... See full bio >>
Born: April 17, 1985 | Bedford, New York, USA

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Actress, Producer, Soundtrack
Biography: Actress and philanthropist Rooney Mara was born on April 17, 1985 in Bedford, New York. She made her screen debut in the slasher film Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2005), went on to have a supporting role in the independent coming-of-age drama Tanner Hall (2009), and has since starred in the horror remake A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), the ... See full bio >>
Born: April 17, 1985 | Bedford, New York, USA

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The couple became engaged in 2019. The news that Mara was pregnant first appeared in May.