River Phoenix survived a turbulent childhood to become one of the greatest young actors of the 1980s. He shined in movies like Stand By Me, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Running on Empty (for which he received an Oscar nomination).

By 1990, he was starring in more adult-oriented arthouse flicks like My Own Private Idaho, where he took method acting to a new level -- and received critical acclaim.  Underneath his public image, however, was something darker. Pressure and fame got to him. Drugs became his friend. And they would be his undoing. 

It all happened one infamous night at the Viper Room on the Sunset Strip, Halloween 1993.  Who's responsible? Could he have been saved? What does Roger Ebert have to say about it? Find out all that and more!

Death in Entertainment is hosted by Kyle Ploof, Mark Mulkerron and Alejandro Dowling.

New episodes every Wednesday!

https://linktr.ee/deathinentertainment

Send us a message!

Support the show

Death in Entertainment is hosted by Kyle Ploof, Alejandro Dowling and Ben Kissel.

New episodes every week!

https://linktr.ee/deathinentertainment