River Phoenix Research Paper

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“I don't want to die in a car accident. When I die it'll be a glorious day. It'll probably be a waterfall.” (River Phoenix) River Phoenix may not have died in one of the best ways, a heart failure due to an overdose, but he did live a very interesting life. His life began August 23, 1970 in Madras, Oregon, and ended October 31, 1993 in front of the nightclub, the Viper Room in Los Angeles, California. River was an actor, musician and activist who got his start when he was only ten years old. Although River Phoenix died young, he lived a successful life, where he believed in and stood for many amazing things. On August 23, 1993 in a log cabin in Oregon, Arlyn Dunetz and John Lee Bottom gave birth to River Jude Bottom. River’s parents …show more content…

Flea from the band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, had invited him there to sing with him on stage. River discovered he could not perform that night because there were already too many acts performing. He was with his girlfriend at the time, Samantha Mathis, Joaquin and Rain Phoenix. One of his friends came up to him and said “Hey, Riv, drink this, it’ll make you feel fabulous.” River decided to drink it even though he did not know what was in it. After drinking it, he instantly did not feel good. He asked his friend what was in it and found out it was cocaine and heroin. He took Valium to try and calm his stomach, but it did not work. He then became unconscious and his girlfriend decided to call a friend instead of the paramedics. After about 15 minutes River woke up and said that he wanted to go outside for some fresh air. Once he stepped outside with Joaquin he fell to the ground and started to have seizures. Rain sat on his body trying to restrain it and Joaquin called the paramedics. Some people walked past and did not do anything to help. When paramedics arrived, he was not breathing and did not have a pulse. They started to do CPR and inject Narcan to stop the effects of the drugs but it did not work. He was taken to Cedars-Sinai Hospital. He was pronounced dead an hour later at 1:51 a.m. (Edwards) In conclusion, River Phoenix had an unconventional childhood. He and his siblings traveled the world with their free-thinking and poverty-stricken parents. These early and hard years of his life shaped him into a caring and sensitive young man. He was adored and loved by many for possessing these attributes. Instead of remembering River Phoenix for the sordid way in which he died, he should be remembered for his acts of humanitarianism and the joy he gave people through his acting and musical

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