River Phoenix was an American actor, musician, and activist. Born in Oregon, River began his career at the age of ten, appearing in commercials. As a teenager, he played a main role in the science fiction film 'Explorers.' Directed by Joe Dante, the film was much loved by the audience and received a cult status. However it was a commercial failure. A few years later, he played a significant role in the drama film 'Running on Empty,' which was directed by Sidney Lumet. Though the film failed to be a commercial success, his performance won him an ‘Oscar’ nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actor.’ He also had a huge passion for music. A talented guitar player, he, along with his sister Rain, formed a band named ‘Aleka's Attic.’ They worked on a self-titled album which was never released due to River's untimely death. As an activist, River was involved with animal rights as well as environmental and political issues. He was an active spokesperson for the organization, ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.’ The young man had a lot to offer to the world but his promising career was cut short by his untimely death at the age of 23. At the time of his death, River was working on the film 'Dark Blood.' The film was eventually released after a period of nearly 20 years.