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Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Rafael Phoenix (born October 28, 1974) 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 older brother River. His first major film roles were in SpaceCamp (1986) and Parenthood (1989). During this period, he was credited as Leaf Phoenix. He began being credited as Joaquin Phoenix in To Die For, his first adult role. 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 of 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.

Known for

Made in Eddington
Made in Eddington
2025 • Self
Eddington
Eddington
2025 • Joe Cross
Joker: Folie à Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux
2024 • Arthur Fleck
Joaquin Phoenix: An Actor of Extremes
Joaquin Phoenix: An Actor of Extremes
2024 • Self - Actor (archive footage)
Napoleon
Napoleon
2023 • Napoleon Bonaparte
Finally Home: Making Beau is Afraid
Finally Home: Making Beau is Afraid
2023 • Self
Beau Is Afraid
Beau Is Afraid
2023 • Beau Wassermann
C'mon C'mon
C'mon C'mon
2021 • Johnny

Full filmography

Eddington
Eddington
2025 • Joe Cross
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Joker: Folie à Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux
2024 • Arthur Fleck
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Joaquin Phoenix: An Actor of Extremes
Joaquin Phoenix: An Actor of Extremes
2024 • Self - Actor (archive footage)
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Napoleon
Napoleon
2023 • Napoleon Bonaparte
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Beau Is Afraid
Beau Is Afraid
2023 • Beau Wassermann
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C'mon C'mon
C'mon C'mon
2021 • Johnny
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My Darling Vivian
My Darling Vivian
2020 • Self (archive footage)
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Joker
Joker
2019 • Arthur Fleck
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The Sisters Brothers
The Sisters Brothers
2018 • Charlie Sisters
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Lou
Lou
2018 • Karl
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Dominion
Dominion
2018 • Narrator (voice)
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Unity
Unity
2015 • Narrator (voice)
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Inherent Vice
Inherent Vice
2014 • Larry "Doc" Sportello
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Her: Love in the Modern Age
Her: Love in the Modern Age
2014 • Self (archive footage)
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Her
Her
2013 • Theodore
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The Immigrant
The Immigrant
2013 • Bruno Weiss
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The Master
The Master
2012 • Freddie Quell
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I'm Still Here
I'm Still Here
2010 • Joaquin Phoenix
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Two Lovers
Two Lovers
2008 • Leonard Kraditor
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We Own the Night
We Own the Night
2007 • Bobby Green
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Reservation Road
Reservation Road
2007 • Ethan Learner
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Final 24: River Phoenix
Final 24: River Phoenix
2006 • Self (voice) (archive footage)
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Earthlings
Earthlings
2005 • Narrator (voice)
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Walk the Line
Walk the Line
2005 • John R. Cash
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Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda
2004 • Jack Daglish
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Ladder 49
Ladder 49
2004 • Jack Morrison
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The Village
The Village
2004 • Lucius Hunt
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Brother Bear
Brother Bear
2003 • Kenai (voice)
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Making 'Signs'
2003 • Self / Merrill Hess
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Buffalo Soldiers
Buffalo Soldiers
2002 • Ray Elwood
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Signs
Signs
2002 • Merrill Hess
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Quills
Quills
2000 • Abbe du Coulmier
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Gladiator
Gladiator
2000 • Commodus
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The Yards
The Yards
2000 • Willie Gutierrez
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8MM
8MM
1999 • Max California
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Clay Pigeons
Clay Pigeons
1998 • Clay Bidwell
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Return to Paradise
Return to Paradise
1998 • Lewis McBride
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U Turn
U Turn
1997 • Toby N. Tucker
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To Die For
To Die For
1995 • Jimmy Emmett
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Walking the Dog
1992 • Mischievous Teenage Boy
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Parenthood
Parenthood
1989 • Garry Buckman-Lampkin
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Secret Witness
Secret Witness
1988 • Drew Blackburn
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Russkies
Russkies
1987 • Danny
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Polaris
Polaris
Unknown year • The Devil
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Joaquin Phoenix – Biography, Known For & Filmography