River Phoenix anniversary - HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON FOREVER

The death of the talented actor at 23 had a ripple effect in Hollywood – altering the course of many lives

Labelled the James Dean of his generation, River Phoenix was on the path to become one of the most famous actors in the world.

But after a fateful night out in Los Angeles on October 31, 1993, his life was cut short – creating a ripple effect through Hollywood and changing the course of the lives and careers of some of Tinseltown’s biggest stars.

In the year that would have marked River’s 50th birthday – and with the arrival of brother Joaquin’s son, who he named River, last month – Woman’s Day looks back on the celebrities whose lives were forever changed after that fateful night at the Viper Room.

JOAQUIN PHOENIX

Just 19 at the time, Joaquin was the one to dial 911 as he watched his older brother convulse on the pavement on Sunset Boulevard.

After River’s death, Joaquin, also an actor, took three years off in order to grieve. But it was ultimately his late brother’s influence that made him return – with Joaquin, now 45, crediting River for some of his most iconic roles, in Gladiator, Walk The Line and Joker.