River's Rise
As the kids got more and more acting jobs, there was a clear frontrunner for the most successful member of the Phoenix family. River was collecting better and higher-paying jobs than any of his siblings. He was in Stand By Me (1986), Running On Empty (1988), and My Own Private Idaho (1991). Joaquin was an underdog, but maybe not for very long...
Disgraced Return
Disgraced in his failure, Joaquin and his father returned to Puerto Rico. However, after getting back, they learned that River had overdosed outside of a bar called The Viper Room. He was pronounced dead hours later. Tabloids turned to Joaquin for comments and outbursts, but instead, Joaquin retreated from the limelight to mourn his brother.
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