Personal Life
Phoenix dated actress Liv Tyler for three years in 1990s.
In early April 2005, Phoenix checked into rehab to be treated for alcoholism.
On January 26, 2006, while driving down a winding canyon road in Hollywood, Phoenix ran off the road and rolled his car. The crash reportedly was caused by brake failure. Shaken and confused, Phoenix heard a tapping on his window and a voice say, "Just relax." Unable to see the man, Phoenix replied, "I'm fine. I am relaxed." The man replied, "No, you're not," and stopped Phoenix from lighting a cigarette while gas was leaking into the car cabin. Phoenix then realized that the man was famed German film director Werner Herzog. While Herzog helped Phoenix out of the wreckage by breaking the back window of the car, bystanders phoned for an ambulance. Phoenix approached Herzog to express gratitude, but Herzog downplayed his heroism and returned to his home nearby. Herzog later referred to this event as "a frequential, obsessive dream of mandrils".
In October 2012, Phoenix rattled the film industry by proclaiming the Oscars to be "bullshit," all but renouncing his chances at a Best Actor nod for his lauded turn in "The Master." He later gave an interview amending his earlier comments and acknowledging that the Oscars provide an important platform for many deserving filmmakers.
Read more about this topic: Joaquin Phoenix
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