Joaquin Phoenix

Biography

Joaquin Rafael Phoenix is an American actor. Known for his roles as dark, unconventional and eccentric characters, particularly in period dramas, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2020, The New York Times named him one of the greatest actors of the 21st century.

Phoenix began his career by appearing in a television series in the early 1980s with his brother River. His first major film roles were in SpaceCamp (1986) and Parenthood (1989). During this period, he was credited as Leaf Phoenix, a name he gave himself. He took back his birth name in the early 1990s. He received critical acclaim for his supporting roles in the comedy-drama To Die For (1995) and the period film Quills (2000). Phoenix received further critical acclaim and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Commodus in the historical drama Gladiator (2000). He had success with the horror films Signs (2002), The Village (2004) and the historical drama Hotel Rwanda (2004). He won a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of musician Johnny Cash in the biopic Walk the Line (2005).

Following a brief sabbatical, Phoenix starred in the psychological drama The Master (2012), winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and earning his third Academy Award nomination. He gained praise for his roles in the romantic drama Her (2013) and the crime satire Inherent Vice(2014) and won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for the psychological thriller You Were Never Really Here (2017). For his performance as the titular character of Joker (2019), Phoenix won the Academy Award for Best Actor. He has since starred in the independent films C'mon C'mon (2021), and Beau Is Afraid (2023) and portrayed the title role in the historical drama Napoleon (2023).

Outside acting, Phoenix is an animal rights activist. A vegan, he regularly supports charitable causes and has produced several documentaries on global meat consumption and its impact on the environment.

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CritifyHub Reviews Featuring Joaquin Phoenix

Love in the Cloud: How ’Her’ Still Haunts Our Digital Hearts

on Her | Aug 23, 2025

What happens when you fall in love with a voice that knows you better than you know yourself? Spike Jonze’s Her (2013) dares to ask, weaving a sci-fi romance that feels achingly human, even a decade l... Read more

The Quiet Courage of Hotel Rwanda: A Testament in the Face of Horror

on Hotel Rwanda | Jun 06, 2025

Terry George’s Hotel Rwanda (2004) is a film that wields restraint as its sharpest weapon, turning a harrowing true story into a portrait of humanity’s resilience amid unimaginable atrocity. Set again... Read more

"Put on a happy face." This ironic and unsettling invitation hints at the fractured psyche and tragic transformation at the heart of "Joker."

on Joker | May 31, 2025

Todd Phillips’s Joker is a chilling and divisive character study that delves into the origin story of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a mentally ill and struggling clown living in a decaying Gotham Ci... Read more

"What we do in life echoes in eternity." This powerful quote encapsulates the themes of legacy and honor in Ridley Scott’s epic "Gladiator."

on Gladiator | May 31, 2025

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator isn’t merely a historical epic; it’s a visually stunning and emotionally resonant tale of betrayal, revenge, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Set in ancient Rome at... Read more