Joaquin Phoenix

Phoenix is a strict vegan, and will not wear costumes made from animal products. Reiser has written two books: Couplehood, about the ups and downs of being in a committed relationship, and Babyhood, about the toils and joys of having a baby. Night Shyamalan's Signs, and stoic Lucius Hunt in Shyamalan's The Village. Reiser married Paula Ravets in 1988; they have one son together, Ezra (born 1995). He portrayed a troubled teen in Gus Van Sant's To Die For, and has earned positive reviews for adult roles as Commodus in Gladiator (for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), a priest in Quills, washed-up baseball player Merrill Hess in M. He was active in campus theater productions, but it was during the summers between college, when he performed in New York City comedy clubs, that he found his calling. He changed his name from "Leaf" back to his birth name "Joaquin". Reiser graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City and earned his bachelor's degree at Binghamton University, where he majored in music (piano, composition).

Joaquin was reluctant to re-enter the world of acting again but, he did so at the insistence of his friends. Reiser and Baker performed the song together while appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, with Reiser accompanying the songstress on the piano. Joaquin came back to the public light under tragic circumstances—he was the person that dialled 9-1-1 when his brother River suffered a fatal drug overdose outside Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room. The most famous version of the song is the one recorded by Anita Baker prior to the 1997 season. He made his big screen debut in the interstellar romp Space Camp (1986), and his first starring role in the drama Russkies (1987), and went on to establish himself as a child actor in Parenthood (1989), before deciding to withdraw from acting for a while and move to Mexico with his father. Reiser co-wrote Mad About You's theme song, entitled "Final Frontier", with Don Was. Joaquin's first acting stints were guest appearances on two television shows with his brother River, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) and Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984). The show was so successful that, in the final 1999 season, he and Hunt were paid $1 million per episode for the show.

His parents contracted an agent who eventually got the five children on commercial spots. Despite enjoying a somewhat successful film career—most notably in James Cameron's 1986 Aliens, as a treacherous company executive—Reiser is most well-known for his role in Mad About You, a long running sit-com co-starring Helen Hunt. His mother started working as a secretary for NBC and his father became a landscaper. Reiser's TV credits include My Two Dads and an acclaimed performance in the British TV drama My Beautiful Son. The family moved to Los Angeles when Joaquin was 6 years old. Though known mostly for his starring television roles, he started his career as a stand-up comedian. Since his other siblings changed their names to match their earth monikers, "River"; "Rain" (or "Rainbow"); "Liberty" and "Summer", Joaquin followed and changed his name to "Leaf". Paul Reiser (born March 30, 1957) is an American actor.

His parents were members of the Children of God missionaries, and encouraged their children (Joaquin was the third of five) to develop their creative instincts. Diner (1982). He often plays supporting roles as conflicted characters plagued with self doubt. Beverly Hills Cop (1984). Joaquin Rafael Phoenix (born October 28, 1974 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is an actor in USA, also known as Leaf Phoenix. Odd Jobs (1984). Space Camp (1986). Aliens (1986).

Russkies (1987). Beverly Hills Cop II (1987). Parenthood (1989). Cross My Heart (1987). To Die For (1995). Crazy People (1990). U-Turn (1997). The Managing Man (1991).

Inventing the Abbotts (1997). 3 1/2 Blocks From Home (1992). 8 MM (1998). Family Prayers (1993). Clay Pigeons (1998). Bye Bye, Love (1995). Return to Paradise (1998). Get Bruce (1999).

The Yards (2000). The Story of Us (1999). Quills (2000). Pros and Cons (1999). Gladiator (2000). One Night at McCool's (2001). Signs (2002). Purpose (2001).

Brother Bear (voice) (2003). Buffalo Soldiers (2003). Ladder 49 (2004). The Village (2004).

Hotel Rwanda (2004).