Joaquin Phoenix was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to parents who were missionaries in a millenarian Christian religious cult called the Children of God. His family later returned to the United States and changed their surname to Phoenix.

Phoenix began his acting career by appearing in television series with his brother River. He made his debut in a 1982 episode of the series "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and later costarred in an "ABC Afterschool Special" about dyslexia in 1984.

Phoenix made his film debut in "SpaceCamp" and later played a withdrawn teenager in Ron Howard’s "Parenthood" (1989). During this period, he was credited as Leaf Phoenix, a name he gave himself.

Following River’s accidental death from a drug overdose, Joaquin took a break from acting but later returned to the screen with the critically acclaimed "To Die For" (1995).

Phoenix’s breakthrough role was that of the Roman emperor Commodus in "Gladiator", for which he received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.

Phoenix channeled musician Johnny Cash in the biopic "Walk the Line", earning him a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Phoenix starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s "The Master", playing a tormented World War II veteran with alcoholism. His performance was highly praised and won him an award for best actor at the Venice International Film Festival.

Phoenix starred as the titular comic-book villain in the psychological thriller "Joker", which was a blockbuster hit. He won the Academy Award for best actor for this role.

Phoenix assumed the title role in Ridley Scott’s "Napoleon", a biopic about the legendary French emperor. This marked another significant milestone in his career, showcasing his versatility in historical roles.

Phoenix returned to the grim world of Gotham City in "Joker: Folie à Deux", a sequel to the 2019 hit. He reprised his role as the Joker, falling in love with Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn.