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A dedicated animal rights activist and environmentalist, River was a strict vegetarian and a member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). River was a talented musician as well as an actor and he played Aniguitar, sang, and wrote songs for his band, Aleka's Attic, which also included his sister Rain Phoenix. While living in Gainsville, Florida, he formed a band with his friends called "Aleka's Attic". Although they never released their own album, their song "Across The Way" can be found on PETA's Tame Yourself album, used to fight animal abuse. (Also a charity River was a dedicated member of.) River was in the middle of filming Dark Blood (1993), playing the character "Boy" when he died. The film couldn't have been finished due to too many unfilmed crucial scenes. His mother was later sued.Phoenix died at age 23 from a drug overdose of heroin and cocaine (speedball) outside the Viper Room, a Hollywood night club partly owned by actor Johnny Depp. The autopsy also revealed traces of cough syrup and cannabis in his blood. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Michael Balzary, also known as Flea, was present at the time, as was River's younger brother Joaquin. He was rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center but any attempts to resuscitate him were of no avail. He was pronounced dead at 1:45 AM. At the time of his death, Phoenix was acting in the starring role of the movie Dark Blood, which was never completed. He was also due to start filming on Interview With the Vampire as the interviewer, Daniel Molloy. Christian Slater eventually took on his role, donating his fee for the film to charity in honour of Phoenix. Phoenix was cremated in Gainesville, Florida a few days later, and the ashes were spread at the family's ranch.
