Joaquin Phoenix in Rehab

Joaquin checks into rehab


Joaquin Phoenix saw the signs and has decided to get some help for his alcohol problem, reports E!Online.

The Oscar-nominated actor has announced that he voluntarily checked himself into an undisclosed rehab facility two weeks ago to kick his booze habit.

Phoenix was ''uncomfortable with the way that he was living his life and found the courage to deal with his disease,'' said his publicist, Susan Patricola, in a brief statement. No further details were disclosed.

The 29-year-old star knows first-hand the tragedy of substance abuse. His older brother, River, died of a drug overdose in 1993 after a night of partying in Hollywood.

Despite starring in blockbusters including last summer's The Village, 2002's Signs and 2000's Gladiator, which earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination, Phoenix has managed to maintain a lower profile than his Hollywood peers.

But Phoenix is earning early Oscar buzz for his role as late music legend Johnny Cash opposite Reese Witherspoon in the anticipated biopic Walk the Line. Phoenix learned to play guitar and does his own singing in the film, which is due to be released in November.

Meanwhile, Piano Man Billy Joel has finished a 30-day stay at the Betty Ford Center in California for treatment of alcoholism, his second stint in rehab since '02, reports The New York Daily News.


I didn't realize he was River Phoenix' brother. Why do people not tell me those important details?????

I feel bad for him because I think addiction is a genetic thing and I don't think there is a cure -- it's something he has to live with for the rest of his life.

He is really cool actor!!! I hope he able to get over his addiction...

They share quite an uncommon last name... :P

Who is this River ?. Did he acted any movie or something...?

River was a very talented up and coming actor that overdosed and died in 1993.

:P:P:P

Because people would assume you know important details. :P



But of course. He was the four years older brother of Joaquin. There are 3 more siblings called Rain, Liberty and Summer, all of them more or less into acting. I guess you even know River. He played Chris Chambers in Rob Reiner's classic Stand By Me (1986) - co-starring Wil Wheaton, the later Ensign Wesley Crusher in Star Trek TNG, and Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Bauer in 24.
River also played together with Keanu Reeves in 1991's My Own Private Idaho, the role of his life regarding the drug abuse.

It's good that he went to get help. Hopefully he will not suffer his brother's fate.

Joaquim is a great talented actor and i thin k it's a good thing that he went in rehab as he needs it ..I hope nothingt bad will happen to him like to his elder brother River (this young man was such a great actor as well ... he died from an overdose but it was like a suicide- a very sad story )

You mean me? Since I'm the one who's always rambling about Joaquin :P And Crash was right: I assumed you already knew that. Like everyone else.

You really think that? Is that your personal opinion, or is there (scientific) proof for that?

you guys should know me by now Stuff like that doesn't come easy to me :P

Not sure if it is scientific proof or only a theory that there is an 'addiction gene'. Apparently the chances for people to become alcoholics if they had alcoholic parents are much higher than if they didn't have alcoholic parents. I think that is how the studies started out, but they added that an addicition can take on various forms and doesn't have to be translated into an alcohol or drug addiction, but could be an eating addiction or sports addiction.

So, it is more than my personal opinion, but I totally buy into it and from my own observations it makes total sense. As does the fact that an addiction can never be cured, only controlled and suppressed and hopefully channelled into a less destructive addiction.