Joaquin Phoenix Quits Acting

by Josh Wigler on October 31st, 2008 at 2:53 am
Posted In: News

When it comes to Hollywood, Joaquin Phoenix has "been through that." So now, the 34-year-old actor is taking a cue from Sean Connery and quitting the acting business.

In a video interview, Phoenix told E! Online that his upcoming film Two Lovers will be his last performance as an actor. The film’s co-star, Casey Affleck, was present during the impromptu announcement. When the interviewer laughed at Phoenix’s remarks, the actor got visibly annoyed and emphasized that this wasn’t a joke announcement: Phoenix is done. Affleck, clearly taken off guard, further confirmed the news to E!, suggesting the actor will focus on his music full time from here on out.

Later, Phoenix confirmed the news to Extra, saying: "[Two Lovers] will be my last performance as an actor … I’m not doing films anymore … I’m working on my music. I’m done. I’ve been through that."

Phoenix’s representatives confirmed the news to Extra. "That is what he told me," says the actor’s rep.

Joaquin Phoenix has been in Hollywood since he was eight years old. His first role was, according to IMDb, on television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He gained mainstream appeal in his role as the villainous Emperor Commodus in Gladiator, and later appeared in two M. Night Shyamalan films, Signs and The Village. His turn as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line gained the actor an Oscar nomination.

This article feels a lot more like an obituary than it should. It’s definitely a bummer that Phoenix is hopping out of Tinsel Town so early, but, hey, whatever makes the guy happy. Honestly, he looks pretty stressed out in the video interview with E!, which you can check out below. Here’s hoping Joaquin lives up to his last name and rises up from the ashes of this seemingly Johnny Cash inspired moment.