Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix began acting as a child after moving to Los Angeles in 1979, following his father’s injury. He made his television debut in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) and appeared in early TV roles including Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984), Murder, She Wrote (1985), The Fall Guy (1985), Hill Street Blues (1985), and the TV film Kids Don’t Tell (1985).

He made his feature film debut in SpaceCamp (1986), followed by roles in Russkies (1987) and Parenthood (1989), where he played Garry. He continued working in film throughout the early 1990s, including To Die For (1995), Inventing the Abbotts (1997), U Turn (1997), Clay Pigeons (1998), and 8mm (1999).

Phoenix’s breakout year came in 2000, when he appeared in Gladiator, The Yards, and Quills. He continued with Buffalo Soldiers (2001), Signs (2002), It’s All About Love (2003), Brother Bear (2003), The Village (2004), Ladder 49 (2004), and Hotel Rwanda (2004). In 2005, he starred as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line.

He later appeared in We Own the Night (2007), Reservation Road (2007), Two Lovers (2008), and I’m Still Here (2010). He starred in The Master (2012), The Immigrant (2013), Her (2013), Inherent Vice (2014), and Irrational Man (2015). He also narrated the documentary Unity (2015).

Phoenix’s later work includes You Were Never Really Here (2017), Mary Magdalene (2018), Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (2018), and The Sisters Brothers (2018). In 2019, he starred as the title character in Joker.

In the 2020s, he appeared in C’mon C’mon (2021), Beau Is Afraid (2023), Napoleon (2023), and Joker: Folie à Deux (2024). He also served as an executive producer on Gunda (2020).