If River Phoenix Was Still Alive

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

OK, I'm only doing two threads like this, but the question is, if he was still alive where would his career be?

[DiBiase is Good]

He wasn't exactly setting the world on fire. He showed early promise but wasn't doing much around the time of his death. He could have carried on starring in indie films.
Honestly, I think River Phoenix was an average actor who because of his young death is held in higher regard than he should have been.

[theryno665]

River Phoenix as Johnny Cash?

Nah, don't see it.

[Handsome Halfbreed]

I think River was poised for mainstream stardom. He had boyish good looks that Hollywood was chomping at the bit for but the guy was more than content doing indy films.
If Pheonix wanted to go mainstream he could of and been a real success. But instead we got Leonardo DiCaprio.

[ThereIsNoAbsurdistOnlyZuul]

Nov 15, 2009 20:47:17 GMT -5 Handsome Halfbreed said:

I think River was poised for mainstream stardom. He had boyish good looks that Hollywood was chomping at the bit for but the guy was more than content doing indy films.
If Pheonix wanted to go mainstream he could of and been a real success. But instead we got Leonardo DiCaprio.

Who is a very good actor. He's been in some bleh movies, but then so have a lot of people.

[Hulk With A Mustache]

Nov 15, 2009 20:47:17 GMT -5 Handsome Halfbreed said:

I think River was poised for mainstream stardom. He had boyish good looks that Hollywood was chomping at the bit for but the guy was more than content doing indy films.
If Pheonix wanted to go mainstream he could of and been a real success. But instead we got Joaquin Phoenix.

Fixed. ;D

[Young Game]

I'd like to think he could have had a Johnny Depp-esque level of success. Only, River Phoenix strikes me as the kind of person who would have quit while he was ahead. He would then retire to an undisclosed location for a number of years.

Finally, he would come out of seclusion for a bit role in Jim Jarmusch's "Independent Film: The Movie".

[Bub (BLM)]

Brad Pitt would have potentially been screwed. River Phoenix would have likely been a top contender for a lot of the roles that have gone to Pitt over the years.

[Munkie91087]

Probably doing Direct to DVD work. With an occasional bit role in a major release. He was an okay actor, but I don't think he really set the world on fire.

[Joie De Vivre]

He probably would've pursued his music career a little more.

[Mozenrath]

Nov 15, 2009 23:55:58 GMT -5 Young Game said:

I'd like to think he could have had a Johnny Depp-esque level of success. Only, River Phoenix strikes me as the kind of person who would have quit while he was ahead. He would then retire to an undisclosed location for a number of years.

Finally, he would come out of seclusion for a bit role in Jim Jarmusch's "Independent Film: The Movie".

Thing is, though, Depp is STILL ahead, particularly sales wise. So he still has plenty of time to do that.

On topic, though, I think Joaquim would still of been in movies, and probably surpassed him, but River could be just about anywhere from an Oscar winner to being a "oh yeah, that guy."

[Bravo Echo November]

His brother wouldn't have gone crazy and start a rap career.

[sloride]

I think he'd be doing pretty well. Not Brap Pitt/Di Caprio levels of fame but can see him being like Johnny Depp.

[Mozenrath]

Nov 16, 2009 4:00:50 GMT -5 sloride said:

I think he'd be doing pretty well. Not Brap Pitt/Di Caprio levels of fame but can see him being like Johnny Depp.

Depp is quite a bit more famous than DiCaprio, but I still get what you mean and all. I think he could transition into adult roles had he not had such serious drug problems.

[G✇JI☈A]

Probably being in a Direct to DVD sequel for The Explorers

[Dirty Hazy]

No mention yet of his role as young Indy in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade?

Seriously, what the meep!?!

[Dave at the Movies]

I honestly think he would have had a career very similar to Johnny Depp's. they had a lot of similarities.

[toddpolt]

Nov 16, 2009 4:58:06 GMT -5 Dave at the Movies said:

I honestly think he would have had a career very similar to Johnny Depp's. they had a lot of similarities.

They did. Both started out being targeted as teenie booper idols, and both rebelled to try to become would-be respected thespians.

Really reading some of this thread's postings is quite baffling. Don't many of you realize that the guy got an Oscar nod in the late 1980s? When he was 17? Worked with Oscar nominated/winning directors from Spielberg, Weir, Van Saint, Lumet, Phil Alden Robinson, Kasdan? Around the time he croaked, did some big/moderate studio movies (Indy 3 and Sneakers*) while doing respectable Indy cinema cred (My Own Private Idaho) ? Crap he was also supposed to play the journalist part in Interview with the Vampire.

So yeah, he probably would be Depp-esque and having a rivalry with Jack Sparrow. Or perhaps even take that niche instead of Depp?

[Back to being Cenanuff]

Anna Paquin won a Supporting Actress Oscar when she was like 10, and where did her movie career go? She played Rogue. That's about it. Past success is not an indicator of future success. I doubt he'd be having a rivalry with Depp or Pitt, because they're both a good 10 years his senior, and probably wouldn't be going after the same parts. As it stands, I can proudly say I'm a better actor than he is right now...unless the part involves death by drug overdose, then I think he has a leg up on me.