9 Portraits of Joaquin Phoenix, the Actor Who Portrayed the Joker in 'JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX' - Has Been Career Since Age 8

Joaquin Phoenix was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to parents John Lee Bottom and Arlyn Bottom. His father founded a plant company, while his mother worked as a secretary at NBC. The third of five siblings, he and his siblings also ventured into the entertainment industry.

His family was once part of a religious group called Children of God, which took them around South America and the Caribbean. However, in 1977, they decided to leave the group because they felt the rules were no longer suitable.  

After that, the family adopted the surname "Phoenix," symbolizing rebirth from the ashes, as a symbol of a new beginning.

Joaquin began his acting career in the early 1980s alongside his brother, River. He debuted on television through the series SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS at the age of 8, then moved on to feature films with SPACECAMP and his first leading role in RUSSKIES.  

Critical acclaim began to be achieved through the films TO DIE FOR and GLADIATOR, which earned him an Oscar nomination.

His career shone even brighter after playing Johnny Cash in WALK THE LINE, which earned him a Golden Globe and a Grammy. His success continued with his role as the Joker in the film JOKER, which brought him an Oscar for Best Actor.  

Currently, he is back in the spotlight thanks to his role in the sequel JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX, which has successfully captured the audience's attention.

Interesting facts about Joaquin include his vegan lifestyle that he has followed since the age of 3 and his involvement in animal rights. He also once changed his name to "Leaf" as a child due to his dissatisfaction with his birth name.  

In 1993, he made headlines after calling 911 following the death of his brother, River. At the age of 30, Joaquin underwent rehabilitation to overcome alcohol addiction and lost more than 20 kilograms for his role as the Joker.