THE VILLAGE

JOAQUIN PHOENIX, born in Puerto Rico, began his acting career as a small child. He has since demonstrated to audiences all over the world his ability to portray very diverse characters.

In 1986, at age ten, he had a role in the film "Spacecamp” and in 1987, he starred in "Russkies” with sister Summer and Carole King. In 1989, he landed the role of Dianne Weist's teenage son in the Ron Howard-directed film "Parenthood” for Universal Pictures.

In 1995, after taking a long hiatus from making films, Phoenix gave a stunning and critically-acclaimed performance opposite Nicole Kidman in Gus Van Sant's "To Die For” for Columbia Pictures. New York Times film critic Janet Maslin hailed the young man as "an actor to watch for.” He followed that film by costarring with Liv Tyler, Billy Crudup and Jennifer Connelly in "Inventing the Abbotts” for Fox 2000 in 1997. Also in 1997 he co-starred opposite Claire Danes, Sean Penn and Jennifer Lopez in Oliver Stone's "U-Turn”. Working nonstop, the actor starred in two films in 1998, "Return to Paradise” with Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn and, "Clay Pigeons” which reteamed him with Vaughn. The following year he starred opposite Nicolas Cage in Joel Schumacher's "8MM.”

The year 2000 was a banner one for Joaquin. The actor starred in three very different films. He co-starred opposite Russell Crowe as "Commodus” in the DreamWorks/Universal film "Gladiator” for director Ridley Scott. He received an award from the National Board of Review, The Broadcast Films Critics Award, and a Blockbuster Award. He was also nominated for an Academy Award® as well as a Golden Globe. That same year he starred opposite Mark Wahlberg, James Caan, Faye Dunaway, Ellen Burstyn and Charlize Theron in the Miramax film "The Yards.” He next appeared in "Quills” opposite Kate Winslet and Geoffrey Rush for Fox Searchlight. The film was based on Douglas Wright's Obie Award-winning play about the Marquis deSade.

Phoenix was cast opposite Mel Gibson in the M. Night Shymalan film "Signs” in 2002 for Disney and the following year became the voice of "Kenai” in the animated film "Brother Bear” also for Disney.

Scheduled for release in the fall of 2004 is "Ladder 49.” Phoenix is currently filming "Walk The Line” for director James Mangold and Fox starring as country music legend Johnny Cash. Additional film credits include "It's All About Love” and "Buffalo Soldiers.”

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